The Splice Shop Aluminum Ring

The Splice Shop aluminum ring is a solid ring climbers use to build friction savers, redirects, and spliced eye-and-ring setups. Aluminum keeps it light on the saddle while giving the rope a smooth, rounded surface to run over.

How climbers use a ring

Rings are the building blocks of a lot of climbing systems. Two rings on a sling make a ring-and-ring friction saver; a single ring on a cambium saver or anchor sling makes a smooth redirect; and a ring spliced into an eye-and-eye gives a hitch or device a clean bearing point.

Aluminum rings are lighter than steel and run rope smoothly, but they wear faster when a moving rope runs over them all day. For a high-wear tie-in point, some climbers choose steel instead. Compare other climbing rings if you are deciding.

Rings also make it easy to build systems that can be retrieved from the ground, since rope runs cleanly through them.

Inspection

Look at the inside radius before every climb. Moving rope cuts grooves into aluminum over time, and a sharp-edged groove will damage rope. Retire the ring if you find grooves, cracks, sharp edges, or deformation, or if it has been dropped onto a hard surface from height.

Check that the ring's rating suits the system you are building and that every connection loads it the way the maker intends. Treat it as life-support equipment: it must meet ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions, be inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.