lineGrip cooling – dealing with high temperature
lineGrip cooling – dealing with high temperature
Heat is the biggest enemy of reliable grip on webbing!
This doesn’t concern the lineGrip itself, of course. It relates to the rubber plates, more specifically, the rubber’s adhesion capability to webbing. Up to about 30°C theres no friction issue at all when using lineGrip Type-3™ rubber. But as the temperature approaches 40°C, adhesion power begins to decrease even with this best of all rubber compounds. Therefore it is important to avoid excessive heat. Ambient temperature is rarely the problem, solar radiation more so. The sun can easily heat up the lineGrip within minutes by 20°C or more.
The gripping power of rubber at 25°C is significantly higher, than at 45°C!
Discover the unique lineGrip Type-3™ rubber properties >
Learn more about how heat affects rubber adhesion power >
So, how do I know the temperature without a thermometer?
Learn how to estimate by the touch >
This Knowledge-Base article will introduce you to some lineGrip (rubber plate) cooling techniques.
#1 Sun shade – avoid excessive heating up of your lineGrip during use in the sun
#2 Active cooling – cool your lineGrip up to 10°C below ambient temperature
#3 Water cooling – pour water over the lineGrip (the clamping plates)
Sun Shade
Protecting the lineGrip from direct sunlight is your best bet to retain the rubber’s reliable gripping power. Albeit, sometimes it is unavoidable to use the lineGrip in the sun, so whenever you do, cover it – preferably with the lineGrip-Shell.
The Shell can be unfolded completely, and thus is suited well to subsequently wrap around a lineGrip that is installed on the webbing and attached to a tensioning device. The front of the Shell will adjust snugly to any gear attached to the lineGrip, by pulling tight the cord.
If no Shell is at hand, simply cover the lineGrip with a bright colored cloth, preferably a damp one.
Active Cooling
All you need for this active cooling effect is some water!
Either moisten the Shell before wrapping it around the lineGrip, by folding it up in your hand, pour some water over it and squish it hard to distribute the water evenly in the felt. Then wrap the moist shell around the preinstalled lineGrip.
Or if you have plenty of water, simply pour water over the Shell-Wrapped lineGrip until the felt is soaked.
No matter if dripping wet, or just moist, the water will evaporate and thus cool the lineGrip inside the Shell well below the ambient (air) temperature – in the shade or in the sun.
Depending on the situation (temperature) you may need to reapply water after some time to retain sub-ambient temperature of the lineGrip.
Water Cooling
If neither a lineGrip-Shell, nor a bright colored cloth is available, temporary cooling may be achieved by simply pouring fresh, cool, clean water over the plates of the installed lineGrip to cool the rubber.
Positive effect: Pure and clean water also increases traction on uncoated and clean polyester (PES) and polyamid (PA) webbing 😉
Another option for water cooling, if you are near a lake or river, is to dip the lineGrip in the water for a few seconds before attaching it to the slackline. The lineGrip is fully water proof, so theres no concern with submerging it.
Be aware, though, that for all these types of cooling without a cover, the effect is temporary! If the lineGrip is subjected to direct sunlight, it will eventually heat up – in the summer, when the sun is powerful, this might be up to +20°C within a few minutes!
