Play and learn

What is Slackline?

Slackline is pure enjoyment! The short of it is that you mount a line between two trees (or fixed objects) and then balance yourself on the line. This may at first glance seem the stuff of circus acrobatics, unattainable to common man… but in fact, most people can walk a few steps after just a couple hours of practice. Man has toyed with walking tightropes and slackline since the dawn of time, but it is not until today that he has had the proper equipment. The greatest challenges have always rested in the tightening of lines and the untying of knots after use. We are proud to say we’ve solved these problems by developing products that make it possible for everyone to partake in this great activity. Some call it sport, some call it meditation—we call it play and enjoyment!

Who walks Slackline, and why?

Slackline as an activity has very few limitations. Did you know 95-year-old philosopher Arne Næss, Sr., does it? On the other end of the scale, we’ve seen five-year-olds walk the line unaided! Many of our customers use Slackline for exercise; whatever sport you’re into, physical and mental balance, as well as coordination, dexterity and reflexes, are sure to be important. We also have many customers who use Slackline as a typical park activity: a fun thing to do, chilling with good friends. And last but not least, Slackline is the activity that engages the whole family, outdoors!

                                        Photo: Torleif Bore Halseth

The back-story

In the winter of 2001 Christian Schou and Eiliv Ruud met in Chamonix. After having skied together for a couple of days, they descended the North slope of Aiguille du Midi together, and the following summer they traveled to Yosemite to climb the enormous granite walls found in the national park. Back in the climbers’ own camp, Camp 4, they spent their nights chilling with good friends by the campfire. Some told epic climbing stories, others strummed the guitar—good times! At the camp, Christian and Eiliv found climbing webbings mounted between trees and so were introduced to the phenomenon that is Slackline. Say the two: “In the winter of 2002 we mounted a line over a crevasse on the Valle Blanche glacier in Chamonix. This was a pioneer thing in Europe, and the interest was soon staggering. We’ve been on a lot of adventures and expeditions since then, and by 2004 the interest had grown so much that we established www.slakkline.no. As there was no proper Slackline equipment in existence at the time, we sold the best thing then available: climbing webbings. Now, however, we’ve started manufacturing our own products that are specially designed for Slackline—safer, better, and more user-friendly.”

The Products

In each of our Slackline kits you’ll find all you need to get started: Slings, carabiners, and a line. We have developed an ingenious system in which the line and the carabiners form the tightening system—this is why we can sell very user-friendly kits that weigh little over 1 kg, all included! Our products are the fruits of many years’ experience, rigorous testing and intense product development. We manufacture CE certified equipment, the best, safest and most user-friendly out there. Our lines have very high tensile strength, rated to 21kN, and perfect elasticity. This makes tightening the mounted kit much easier than with regular elastic climbing webbing (normal tensile strength rating 15kN). Further, our kit minimizes the uncontrollable line-slips that are common when using regular elastic climbing webbing. Please remember: industrial equipment is not made to Slackline spec, and the use thereof for Slackline purposes can be outright hazardous.

Safety

Any activity involving elevation and motion has an element of hazard. Our products are the fruits of years of experience, rigorous testing and intense product development with the goal of minimizing this hazard. We manufacture CE certified equipment, the best, safest and most user-friendly out there. Hence, buying one of our kits means buying the best product available, but equally important: it also means you’re getting a richly illustrated User’s Manual with loads of good advice, so that you will be able to learn from the mistakes of others instead of simply trying and failing. Further, our customers have access to our full experience, skill and competence; we will answer any and every question that you email to us about Slackline. Read the Manual closely and keep in mind that the lower, shorter and less tightly you mount the line, the easier and safer it is. We recommend that you master short and slack-mounted lines, and practice and learn the right falling techniques, before working your way up to the longer spans. Any questions, please contact us!

Tricks

Slackline has no limitation on what you can do except the limitation of your own fantasy. But for starters: Walk forwards, walk backwards, sideways, hands-in-pockets or eyes closed; lie down on the line, sit or swing on the line, jump onto it or off of it—but please be careful and make sure you choose a spot that is nice and soft, for example a sandy or grassy place. And feel free to send us pics and movies!