Yale Black Beeline 10mm, by the Foot

Yale Black Beeline 10mm is a friction hitch cord sold by the foot, so you can cut exactly the length you need for split tails, prusiks and other hitches. It is the same Beeline cord Yale uses in its finished hitch cords, in a black color that is easy to tell apart from your climbing line.

Why buy hitch cord by the foot

Climbers tie different hitches with different lengths of cord, and the right length depends on the hitch, your climbing line and how many wraps you use. Buying by the foot lets you cut a split tail that fits your Distel or VT, or tie spare prusiks for the gear bag, without paying for sewn terminations you do not need.

A 10mm cord gives a bit more bite and durability than an 8mm, and pairs with many 11.5 to 13mm climbing lines. Test any new hitch on the ground and adjust wraps before climbing on it.

Keep track of how much cord each hitch takes once you settle on a setup, so you can cut replacements to the same length every time. Many climbers also keep a spare length of the same cord in the gear bag, so a worn split tail can be swapped out on the job instead of climbing on a tired one until the end of the day.

Tying, inspection and retirement

Tied terminations must be dressed and set correctly and checked every time you climb. Heat and wear take their toll on hitch cord faster than on rope, so inspect for glazing, flat spots and cover damage and retire it early. Finished split tails and eye-to-eyes are in tech cordage.

Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard, be used per the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI Z133, be inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.