Help me avoid gravity...somewhat.

May 21, 2008 1:01 PM

What are those things called that you see on badge clips and rock climbing walls that automatically retract a nylon cord?

It's like a spring-loaded spool of cord that will give under tension, but as soon as tension is released the cord gets "sucked" back up into the spool. The ones on the rock climbing gyms (or American Gladiators(tm)) attach to a body harness and make you almost weightless, so if you fall you won't get hurt that bad. The badge clip things make it to where you just let go of your badge after swiping it or showing it and >>zip<< it returns to the clip.

Bottom line: I'm looking for one that's stronger than a badge clip but not as large or strong as a harness holder. Adjustable tension and/or cord length would be GREAT but are not requirements. Mainly I'm just looking for what they're called. Thanks!

posted by ostranenie to technology (10 comments total)

just guessing here, but might you be talking about a carabeiner with strategic rope-tying?
posted by alpha_betty at 1:09 PM on May 21

Sounds like you want a retractable leash.
posted by mumkin at 1:16 PM on May 21

At the hospital, the freebies we got were called retractable badge reels.
posted by Ugh at 1:17 PM on May 21

AFAIK, the badge version is just called a "retractable badge holder" or "retractable badge clip," and those seem to bring back quite a few hits on Google for those things, so I think that's the common name. I'm not aware of any other name for them. But that's probably not that helpful in looking for something similar-but-different.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:19 PM on May 21

I think you'd call that kind of device a reel. Maybe an automatic reel.
posted by sully75 at 1:31 PM on May 21

I've always heard them called lanyards. Here's one on Amazon.com. Looks about the strength you want. They call it a "zinger."
posted by i_love_squirrels at 1:32 PM on May 21

Some people call them Zingers. But these are the same in strength as badge clips.

ah, squirrels beat me to it!
posted by LoriFLA at 1:34 PM on May 21

The ones at rock-climbing walls are called auto-belays. At least at my gym.

Here's a very hastily-found link:

Auto Belay (Redpoint Descender).
posted by TimeTravelSpeed at 1:41 PM on May 21

If you go to Mcmaster-Carr and search for "wire reel" you will fin a variety of retractable, return, counterbalancing reels in all sorts of sizes, strengths, and configurations.
posted by TedW at 1:52 PM on May 21

Thanks for all the answers! A retractable dog leash is about the strength I need for my application. Lanyards are too short/weak and the industrial strength stuff is too expensive/heavy. Thank you thank you thank you!
posted by ostranenie at 2:07 PM on May 21