Independent arborist gear picks · Typical prices shown, checked at the retailer

Representative photo for Marlow Boa 9mm Prusik Cord Tech Cordage

Representative photo. Check the retailer listing for the exact model, color and size.
Photo: Coiling the Rope by blachswan, CC BY 2.0

Marlow

Marlow Boa 9mm Prusik Cord

A 9mm hitch cord for climbers who like to tune their own friction hitch.

$2 Typical price. Retail prices change, so check today's price before you buy.
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  • 9mm hitch cord from Marlow
  • Cut to the length you need
  • For Distel, Valdotain and similar hitches
  • Good match for mid-size climbing lines
  • Inspect often and replace when glazed

ClimbingPro grade

Marlow Boa prusik cord is a 9mm cord for tying friction hitches on arborist climbing lines. Buy it in the length you need to make up a Distel, Valdotain or similar hitch, then have eyes finished by a qualified splicer or use a tested termination.

Matching hitch cord to your line

A friction hitch is only as good as the pairing between hitch cord and climbing line. A 9mm cord sits in the middle of the range, giving a balance of grip and smooth tending on most common arborist ropes. Thinner cord grabs harder, thicker cord runs smoother, so test your combination before you commit.

Buying by the foot lets you cut a hitch to suit how you climb. Many climbers make up a short eye-to-eye for MRS and a slightly longer piece for experimenting with wraps.

Marlow is a long-standing British rope maker with a full line of arborist ropes and cords, so it is easy to pair this cord with one of their climbing lines. Whatever line you run, keep a spare length of hitch cord in your kit; it is the part most likely to need replacing mid-season.

Terminations, wear and care

Eyes on a hitch cord carry your full weight, so use sewn or spliced eyes made by a qualified provider, or a properly dressed and tested knot taught in your training. Do not improvise.

Life-support gear must meet ANSI Z133 requirements and the manufacturer's instructions, be inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers. Hitch cord wears faster than any other part of your system. Replace it when the cover glazes, fuzzes heavily or stiffens from heat. See more tech cordage.