Comments on: Help me avoid gravity...somewhat.

Question: Help me avoid gravity...somewhat.

ostranenie — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:01:46 -0800

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!

By: alpha_betty

alpha_betty — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:09:59 -0800

just guessing here, but might you be talking about a carabeiner with strategic rope-tying?

By: mumkin

mumkin — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:16:34 -0800

Sounds like you want a retractable leash.

By: Ugh

Ugh — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:17:38 -0800

At the hospital, the freebies we got were called retractable badge reels.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:19:55 -0800

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.

By: sully75

sully75 — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:31:08 -0800

I think you'd call that kind of device a reel. Maybe an automatic reel.

By: i_love_squirrels

i_love_squirrels — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:32:53 -0800

I've always heard them called lanyards. Here's one on Amazon.com. Looks about the strength you want. They call it a "zinger."

By: LoriFLA

LoriFLA — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:34:56 -0800

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

ah, squirrels beat me to it!

By: TimeTravelSpeed

TimeTravelSpeed — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:41:38 -0800

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).

By: TedW

TedW — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:52:16 -0800

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.

By: ostranenie

ostranenie — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:07:02 -0800

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!