Via ferrata equipment
The terms Via Ferrata (iron path) and Sentiero Attrezzato (equipped path) indicate routes with fixed equipment (iron cables, ladders, chains, bridges, etc.) installed along an itinerary in order to facilitate the ascension and provide better safety. They create an opportunity to climb mountains and vertical walls without the standard gear (i.e. rope, pitons, etc.) and specific climbing skills. Grading systems help with not underestimating the physical requirements to climb via ferrata when choosing a route.
The difference between an equipped path and a via ferrata is that an equipped path is a hiking itinerary in which only some brief sections are equipped in order to facilitate progressing and increase the security of the path. While via ferrata is an itinerary with (possibly long) equipped parts, in which climbing capacity is necessary, as well as specific gear: via ferrata set, harness and helmet for safety, and a carabiner, sling & quickdraw for stops.
Via ferrata set
Via ferrata set is designed specifically for use with the metal cable in via ferrata routes. It is made of carabiners that hook to the cable, bungee arms that allow for freedom of movement, energy absorber that dampens the forces in the event of a fall, and the tie-in loop that is used to connect to the harness.
The most dangerous moment in via ferrata is when the climber reaches the anchor point and changes the carbiners into the next part of the steel cable - it's the moment with the potentially biggest fall height. Via ferratas must be constructed according to the European standard EN 16869 in such a way that the fall height is no more than five metres. This requirement is tested in the EN 958 standard for via ferrata sets. The core element of a via ferrata set is the energy absorber, designed as a progressive-tear energy absorber, which consists of two webbings sewn together to allow progressive tearing in case of a fall. It lengthens the braking distance and thus reduces the forces during a fall.
