The Chain Reactor is a multi-functional, 104cm long daisy chain manufactured using 18mm nylon loops.

 

Sterling chose nylon as it has slightly more give than polyester and nylon/dyneema blends. This in the only anchor chain we know of rated to hold three factor two falls.

 

It is most frequently used for personal anchor connections, connecting to a hand ascender, and extending belay or abseil devices.

 

The disadvantage of most traditional daisy chains is that although the sling as a whole will meet the EN 566 requirement of 22kN, the individual pockets will blow at 2-3kN. Thus, a heavy fall or load risks blowing pockets causing the user to drop onto the next pocket and if that breaks falling onto the next one.

 

The Sterling Chain Reactor and Metolius PAS were the original daisy chains using an alternative design whereby the sling was constructed of several interlocking full-strength loops. This gives far higher breaking strength for each pocket.

 

There are other versions now available, but copying is easy, so we stick with the two originals.