Safety Equipment in Adventure High-Ropes Courses

Safety is the foundation of every high ropes course. While many adventure parks still rely on traditional self-belay systems, these methods require participants to manually manage two carabiners, disconnecting and reconnecting at each course transition. This process introduces risk, especially for younger or inexperienced climbers, as accidental detachment can occur if both carabiners are unclipped at the same time.

Climbing incidents linked to self-belay systems highlight the need for more advanced solutions. Today, innovative belay technologies have made it possible to eliminate these risks entirely. Modern options like smart belay systems use interconnected carabiners that prevent both from being detached simultaneously, ensuring continuous connection to the safety line throughout the course.

Continuous belay systems take safety a step further by keeping participants permanently connected from start to finish. With these systems, climbers attach to the safety line at the beginning and remain secured through every obstacle, including ziplines and transitions, until the end of the course. This not only reduces the risk of accidents but also streamlines the experience, requiring less instruction and supervision, and allowing for smoother visitor flow.

When selecting a belay system, consider factors such as safety level, ease of use, staffing needs, instruction time, visitor turnover, retrofitting potential, and ongoing maintenance. Continuous and smart belay systems stand out for their superior safety, operational efficiency, and positive guest experience. By choosing advanced belay technology, operators can provide a safer, more enjoyable adventure for all participants.

	Self-belay	Permanent belay	Continuous belay
Overall safety level
Customer handling
Staff required
Instruction time
Visitor turnover
Retrofitting
Set up costs
Maintenance costs
Recommended by Skywalker*
Products available	Various	Edelrid: Smart Belay X LockD Clips	Speedrunner: Saferoller