The two words abseiling and rappelling are often confused simply because they sound similar, but what is the difference between them?
Before we compare abseiling vs rappelling it is important to note that in the English language there are many words which appear to be identical but have very different meanings. For example:
• Affect and Effect
• Allowed and Aloud
• Allow and Except
• Clothes and Cloths When it comes to abseiling vs rappelling, the difference is however quite clear. Abseil is a general term used when descending down a steep incline or cliff face. A rope is attached to your harness which can be controlled with an abseil device. The other end of the rope is attached to another person or anchor point who can hold you should you slip and fall. In basic terms, abseiling is a controlled way of descending down a steep incline.
Rappel is also a term used when descending down a steep incline or cliff face, but unlike abseiling a person is not attached to an abseil device. Instead, a rappeller will have the rope threaded through their belay device for safety and grip before being tied into the end of the rope. The entire weight of your body rests on your harness as you control the speed of your descent with friction on the rope by using a hand or foot brake. Rappelling never uses the other person holding the other end of the rope for safety.
Rappelling is not as safe as abseiling because you are completely unsecured and if you slip and fall, your life could be in danger. If you rappel down a cliff face and cannot reach the bottom it can take much longer to ascend back to the top as opposed to abseiling down and having your safety secured. The term rappelling also refers to a specific type of military or rescue descent down a vertical, or near-vertical surface, using a rope.
The main difference between abseiling vs rappelling is that rappelling is done without the use of an abseil device and the other person holding the rope. Abseiling is done with the use of an abseil device and will always have another person at the bottom to ensure your safety.
What is the difference between abseiling and rappelling?
In Summary:
- Abseiling uses an abseil device and another person to make sure your safety is not at risk
- Rappelling does not use an abseil device and has no safety net if you slip and fall. If you rappel down a cliff face and cannot reach the bottom it can take much longer to ascend back to the top as opposed to abseiling down and having your safety secured.
- The term rappelling also refers to a specific type of military or rescue descent down a vertical, or near-vertical surface, using a rope.
- Rappelling is dangerous and not advisable unless you are being supervised by another person.
- Abseiling is the safer version of rappelling because you have a safety harness with abseil device attached to the other end of the rope which secures your safety. The other person can also hold you should you slip and fall. Rappelling down a cliff face can be dangerous if there is no other person holding the other end of the rope. Abseiling should always have another person at the bottom to ensure your safety.
What is better abseiling or rappelling?
It all depends on what you are doing and why. Understanding that abseiling vs rappelling are not interchangeable is important. Abseiling is the safer version of rappelling because it uses an abseil device and another person to make sure your safety is not at risk. Rappelling however, does not use an abseil device and has no safety net if you slip and fall. If you rappel down a cliff face and cannot reach the bottom it can take much longer to ascend back to the top as opposed to abseiling down and having your safety secured.
What do I need to know before abseiling or rappelling?
If you are abseiling, attach yourself to the rope with an abseil device and have another person at the bottom to ensure your safety. If you are rappelling down a cliff face, make sure there is another person holding the other end of the rope to ensure your safety. It’s important to be aware of the different between abseiling and rappelling so that you can make sure you are safe.
