Outdoors & Fitness
The Best Via Ferrata Sets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four current via ferrata lanyards on the things that actually decide whether the system works: the certified user weight range, which version of EN 958 the maker tests to, connector type, weight on the harness, and how the rest loop is built.
The short version
The Petzl Scorpio Vertigo is the set to buy for most people: 365 g, the lightest of the four, with auto-locking wire-lock gates and both the CE EN 958 and UIAA marks. The Edelrid Cable Kit VI is the value pick, with an absorber Edelrid states conforms to EN 958:2024, 92 cm arms, a rest loop built into the absorber, and One Touch II carabiners designed so your fingers do not get trapped between gate and cable. The Black Diamond Easy Rider suits anyone who clips with gloves or hates twisted arms, because of its huge squeeze-gate carabiners and steel swivel, but it is 585 g and its rest loop only accepts an EN 12275 type H carabiner you buy separately. Skip the Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist: at 640 g it is the heaviest here, its extended arms reach only 70 cm, and Climbing Technology's own product page still lists it against EN 958:2017 rather than the 2024 revision. Whatever you buy, the certified window is 40 kg without kit to 120 kg including kit, and a child under 40 kg or an adult over 120 kg with a pack needs a rope belay instead. Best for: anyone buying their own cable route kit who wants the weight range and the retirement date understood before the first climb.
Our picks at a glance
- Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO - Buy. The lightest set of the four at 365 g, with keylock wire-lock gates and both CE EN 958 and UIAA marking.
- Edelrid Cable Kit VI - Buy. Edelrid states the absorber conforms to EN 958:2024, and the 92 cm arms plus an absorber-mounted rest loop make it the most complete set for the money.
- Black Diamond Easy Rider Via Ferrata Set - It depends. Huge squeeze-gate carabiners and a steel swivel make it the easiest set here to clip with cold or gloved hands, at 585 g.
- Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist - Skip. A well-made Italian set that is the heaviest here at 640 g, has the shortest reach at 70 cm extended, and is still listed by its maker against the superseded EN 958:2017.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Certified user weight range
- Published set weight
- Standard version cited by the maker
- UIAA mark listed
- Connectors
- Swivel
A via ferrata set is a Y-shaped lanyard with two arms, two big self-locking carabiners, and a sewn energy absorber that rips open in a controlled way to keep the force on your body survivable. It is the only thing between you and the cable, and unlike most outdoor gear it has a hard certified weight window and a hard expiry date. The European standard was revised in June 2024, so the field right now is split between sets tested to the current version and sets still listed against the 2017 one. We looked at four current models from Petzl, Edelrid, Black Diamond and Climbing Technology.
The lightest set of the four at 365 g, with keylock wire-lock gates and both CE EN 958 and UIAA marking.
Best for: Someone who will carry the set up a long approach and wants the lightest current option with the UIAA mark on it.
- At 365 g it is the lightest published weight in this group, which you notice on a long approach.
- The VERTIGO WIRE-LOCK carabiners use an automatic double-action locking system, so nothing has to be screwed shut.
- Petzl lists both CE EN 958 and UIAA on the product, and the UIAA 128 standard sets a tighter impact-force limit for a 40 kg test mass than EN 958 alone.
- The 22 cm rest arm ships without a carabiner, so you have to buy one to use it.
- Petzl's page states the CE EN 958 mark without naming the 2024 revision, so ask the retailer which version the batch you receive was certified to.
- Petzl recalled a 2021 production run of the sister model, the Scorpio Eashook, in February 2022 for a gate component defect, which is a reminder to register and check any set you buy.
- Premium tier for a lanyard that has the same 40 to 120 kg window as every other certified set.
Edelrid states the absorber conforms to EN 958:2024, and the 92 cm arms plus an absorber-mounted rest loop make it the most complete set for the money.
Best for: The rider who wants the current standard, long arms and a built-in rest loop without paying the premium tier.
- Edelrid states the energy absorber conforms to EN 958:2024, the current version of the standard.
- The One Touch II carabiners are shaped to stop fingers being pinched between the gate and the steel cable.
- A rest loop sits directly on the shock absorber, so you do not need a separate attachment point on an arm.
- At 514 g it is 149 g heavier than the Scorpio Vertigo.
- Edelrid lists EN 958 and EN 12275 on this set but does not list the UIAA mark.
- Edelrid called in all Cable Comfort Tri lanyards up to batch Y-2024-0364 for a swivel inspection in late 2024, so if you also own that different model it needs checking.
- One size only, so the arm length is not adjustable to your reach.
Huge squeeze-gate carabiners and a steel swivel make it the easiest set here to clip with cold or gloved hands, at 585 g.
Best for: Cold-weather or glove-wearing riders, and anyone who finds twisted lanyard arms genuinely annoying and will accept the extra weight.
- The carabiners use a squeeze-activated internal locking mechanism that works one-handed, which helps with gloves on.
- Black Diamond's 2025 instructions mark the product to EN 958:2024, EN 12275:2013 type K connectors and the UIAA 128 safety label.
- A steel swivel reduces twisting and knotting of the arms, and the steel rest loop is a proper load-rated attachment point.
- 585 g is 220 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo, all of it hanging off your harness.
- The instructions allow only an EN 12275 type H carabiner on the rest loop, and it is not supplied.
- Black Diamond does not publish an arm length figure on the product page.
- Black Diamond's European product page still describes the set against EN 958:2017 even though the 2025 instruction sheet marks it to EN 958:2024.
A well-made Italian set that is the heaviest here at 640 g, has the shortest reach at 70 cm extended, and is still listed by its maker against the superseded EN 958:2017.
Best for: Only worth it if you specifically want the anti-wear carabiner shells and the short arms suit your build and route style.
- The K-ADVANCE SHELL carabiners carry an anti-wear shell, which is a real answer to the rubbing that kills gates on rusty cable.
- An integrated connector swivel stops the arms twisting up.
- The absorber pouch is compact and robust, with the safety label placed on the inside where it stays legible.
- 640 g is the heaviest of the four and 275 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo.
- Extended arm length is 70 cm, well short of the Cable Kit VI's 92 cm, which matters when you are reaching past an anchor or a bridge.
- Climbing Technology's own product page lists the set under EN 958:2017, not the 2024 revision that superseded it in June 2024.
- The rest point is a webbing loop integrated into one arm rather than a load-rated metal loop at the absorber.
| Criteria | SCORPIO VERTIGO | Cable Kit VI | Easy Rider Via Ferrata Set | Top Shell Compact Twist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Someone who will carry the set up a long approach and wants the lightest current option with the UIAA mark on it. | The rider who wants the current standard, long arms and a built-in rest loop without paying the premium tier. | Cold-weather or glove-wearing riders, and anyone who finds twisted lanyard arms genuinely annoying and will accept the extra weight. | Only worth it if you specifically want the anti-wear carabiner shells and the short arms suit your build and route style. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Certified user weight range | 40 to 120 kg | 40 to 120 kg | 40 to 120 kg | 40 to 120 kg |
| Published set weight | 365 g | 514 g | 585 g | 640 g |
| Standard version cited by the maker | CE EN 958 (version not stated) | EN 958:2024 absorber, EN 12275 | EN 958:2024 per 2025 instructions | EN 958:2017 |
| UIAA mark listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes, UIAA 128 | Not listed |
| Connectors | VERTIGO WIRE-LOCK, automatic double-action, keylock nose | One Touch II, double-action, anti-pinch shape | Squeeze-activated one-hand gate, extra large | K-ADVANCE SHELL, double gate with anti-wear shell |
| Swivel | No | No | Yes, steel | Yes, integrated connector swivel |
| Arm length | 72 cm retracted, 108 cm extended | 92 cm | Not published | 37 cm retracted, 70 cm extended |
| Rest attachment point | 22 cm short arm, carabiner not included | Rest loop on the absorber | Steel rest loop, EN 12275 type H carabiner required and not included | Webbing loop on one arm |
Which one is right for you?
- Someone who will carry the set up a long approach and wants the lightest current option with the UIAA mark on it. Buy it Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO
- The rider who wants the current standard, long arms and a built-in rest loop without paying the premium tier. Buy it Edelrid Cable Kit VI
- Cold-weather or glove-wearing riders, and anyone who finds twisted lanyard arms genuinely annoying and will accept the extra weight. It depends Black Diamond Easy Rider Via Ferrata Set
- Only worth it if you specifically want the anti-wear carabiner shells and the short arms suit your build and route style. Skip it Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a via ferrata set is right for you, and only one of them is comfort. First is the certified user weight range, because it is the one specification that can make a set actively dangerous for the person wearing it rather than merely annoying. Second is which version of EN 958 the maker tests to, since the standard was revised in June 2024 and the revision changed the maximum impact force and the dynamic test method. Third is the connector: EN 958:2024 requires a type K klettersteig carabiner with an automatic locking device and a 21 mm minimum gate opening, and how that gate feels in the hand is the difference between clipping cleanly and fumbling on a ladder. Fourth is weight, because the set hangs off your waist all day. Fifth is the rest attachment point, which is the only place on the system where you are allowed to clip yourself directly to an anchor.
Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO - buy
The Petzl Scorpio Vertigo is the set we would hand to someone buying their first one. At 365 g it is the lightest published weight in this comparison by 149 g, which is not a rounding error when it is dangling off your harness for six hours. The VERTIGO WIRE-LOCK carabiners use an automatic double-action locking system with a keylock nose, so there is no screw sleeve to forget and no notch to snag on the cable. The arms retract to 72 cm and extend to 108 cm, the longest reach here, which is what you want when the next clip is above a bulge. Petzl lists both CE EN 958 and UIAA on the product, and the UIAA 128 standard is meaningful for lighter riders because its November 2025 edition caps impact force at 3.5 kN with a 40 kg test mass rather than the 4 kN EN 958:2024 allows. Two caveats: the 22 cm rest arm needs a carabiner you buy separately, and Petzl’s page does not name the 2024 revision. For most people who want one set that does everything, this is it.
Edelrid Cable Kit VI - buy
The Edelrid Cable Kit VI is the value pick and it is not a compromise. Edelrid states the energy absorber conforms to EN 958:2024, which is more than Climbing Technology’s page claims for the Top Shell and more than Petzl’s page spells out. The 92 cm arms sit between the Petzl and the Climbing Technology set for reach, and the rest loop is built directly onto the shock absorber rather than sewn into one arm, which is the tidier arrangement. The One Touch II carabiners are shaped specifically so your fingers do not get pinched between gate and steel cable, which is the small injury that actually happens on via ferrata. Edelrid also publishes a bypass-save absorber design that keeps working if the second arm is wrongly clipped to a load-bearing part of the harness, a mistake beginners make. It is 514 g, so 149 g heavier than the Scorpio Vertigo, and Edelrid does not list a UIAA mark on it. For a first set at a sensible outlay, that is a good trade.
Black Diamond Easy Rider Via Ferrata Set - it depends
The Black Diamond Easy Rider is the specialist. Its carabiners are enormous and use a squeeze-activated internal locking mechanism that opens one-handed, which is genuinely easier in gloves or when your hands are cold and stupid. A steel swivel between the arms and the absorber stops the arms twisting into a knot, and there is a steel rest loop rather than a webbing one. Black Diamond’s 2025 instruction sheet marks the set to EN 958:2024, EN 12275:2013 type K connectors and the UIAA 128 safety label, which is the full set of credentials. The catch is 585 g, 220 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo, and the fact that the rest loop only accepts an EN 12275 type H carabiner that is not supplied, a detail most buyers will miss. Black Diamond also does not publish an arm length. If you climb in cold conditions or in gloves, the handling is worth the weight. If you count grams, it is not.
Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist - skip
The Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist is a well-made set that most people should still pass on. It weighs 640 g, the heaviest of the four and 275 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo, and its arms extend to only 70 cm against 92 cm for the Cable Kit VI and 108 cm for the Scorpio Vertigo. That short reach shows up when you are stretching past an anchor bolt or crossing a wire bridge. The K-ADVANCE SHELL carabiners are the best thing about it, with an anti-wear shell that answers the real problem of gates worn by rusty cable, and the integrated swivel does its job. But Climbing Technology’s own product page lists the set under EN 958:2017, and the 2024 revision superseded that in June 2024 with a changed impact force requirement and a changed dynamic test. A set certified to the older version is not unsafe, but when the alternatives are lighter, longer and tested to the current rules, that is a hard sell. For riders who want proven Italian hardware and do not mind the mass.
Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO vs Edelrid Cable Kit VI: which should you buy?
The choice between the Scorpio Vertigo and the Cable Kit VI comes down to grams against paperwork. Petzl gives you the lightest set in the group at 365 g, the longest extended arms at 108 cm, and the UIAA mark, which matters more than it sounds if you or a family member is near the bottom of the weight window: UIAA 128 requires the absorber to hold impact force below 3.5 kN with a 40 kg test mass, where EN 958:2024 permits 4 kN. What Petzl does not do on its product page is name the 2024 revision of the standard.
Edelrid does the opposite. The Cable Kit VI states in plain text that the absorber conforms to EN 958:2024, and it adds a rest loop on the absorber that you can use out of the box rather than a short arm waiting for a carabiner purchase. You pay for that with 149 g and no UIAA listing. If you are a light rider, a smaller adult, or you are buying for a teenager who has just crossed 40 kg, take the Scorpio Vertigo for the UIAA mark. If you are a mid-weight adult who wants the current standard, the longer usable rest loop and a lower outlay, take the Cable Kit VI. Either way, weigh yourself with your pack on before you order.
What to look for
- Weight window first: every certified set covers 40 kg without equipment to 120 kg including equipment, so weigh yourself dressed and packed before you decide the set will work for you.
- Which EN 958 version: the standard was revised in June 2024, so look for a maker that names EN 958:2024 rather than leaving the year off or citing the 2017 edition.
- Type K connectors only: EN 958:2024 requires an EN 12275 type K klettersteig carabiner, which means an automatic locking device and a 21 mm minimum gate opening rather than the 15 mm of a normal climbing carabiner.
- Date of manufacture, not date of purchase: the 10-year textile lifespan runs from the manufacture date stamped on the set, so a shop-worn unit is already partway through its life.
- Rest loop that works out of the box: check whether the rest point is a metal loop at the absorber or a short arm that needs a carabiner you have not bought yet, and whether the maker restricts which type of carabiner goes on it.
- Arm reach for your body: extended arm length ranges from 70 cm to 108 cm across current sets, and short arms make clipping past an anchor harder if you are tall or the route is steep.
Our final take
Buy the Petzl Scorpio Vertigo if you want the lightest current set with the UIAA mark, and the Edelrid Cable Kit VI if you want an absorber the maker explicitly states meets EN 958:2024 without the premium outlay. Take the Black Diamond Easy Rider only if gloved clipping and untangled arms are worth 585 g to you. Pass on the Climbing Technology Top Shell Compact Twist, which is heavier and shorter-armed than the field and still listed against the superseded 2017 standard. Then do the part nobody enjoys: weigh yourself with your pack, check the manufacture date, add an EN 12277 harness and an EN 12492 helmet, and put a note in your calendar for the year the set retires.
Questions, answered
What weight do I have to be for a via ferrata set to work properly?
EN 958:2024 covers users weighing not less than 40 kg without equipment and no more than 120 kg including equipment, and every set in this comparison states that same window. Below 40 kg the absorber may not start tearing at all, so the fall is arrested by a system that behaves more like a static sling. Above 120 kg with your pack, boots and water the absorber can run out of braking length. Black Diamond's instructions say plainly that a rope belay should be considered when the climber plus equipment is heavier than 120 kg or the climber without equipment is lighter than 40 kg. Petzl says the same about children: most weigh under 40 kg, so the child should be belayed on a dynamic rope by someone competent to do it.
Can I just use my normal climbing carabiners on the cable?
No. EN 958:2024 clause 4.1.2 says that if the connecting device is an EN 12275:2013 connector it has to be a type K, the klettersteig connector. Type K has a minimum gate opening of 21 mm against 15 mm for a standard basic or HMS carabiner, because it has to swallow the cable and the anchor hardware without jamming. Type K also has to have an automatic locking device, so it locks itself the moment you let go rather than needing a screw sleeve. Its gate-open strength requirement is 8 kN against 7 kN for a basic carabiner. A screwgate you forgot to close is exactly the failure mode the type K rule exists to remove.
Have via ferrata sets actually been recalled?
Yes, repeatedly, and the notices are worth reading before you buy. Mammut ran a voluntary recall of the Skywalker Pro and Skywalker Pro Turn sets, model numbers 2040-02840, 2040-02850 and 2040-02870, announced in March 2025 and listed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in August 2025, because the carabiners could be opened without pressing the safety latch. Edelrid called in every Cable Comfort Tri lanyard supplied up to batch Y-2024-0364 in November 2024 after tests found strength fluctuations in the metal parts of the triple-jointed swivel, and states that batches from Y-2024-0384 onward are not affected. Petzl recalled Scorpio Eashook lanyards from 2021 production in February 2022 over a material strength defect in a component inside the connector gate. Back in 2012 and 2013 the industry recalled rope-friction brake sets outright after testing showed aged examples could fail. None of these notices covers the four sets compared here, but check the maker's recall page for your exact model and batch before every season.
How long does a via ferrata set last, and what happens after a fall?
Textile gear has a hard ceiling. Black Diamond's instructions give a maximum lifespan of 10 years after the date of manufacture for plastic or textile products, even if the set was never used and was stored properly, and Petzl publishes the same 10-year limit for its plastic and textile products. That clock starts at manufacture, not at purchase, so a set that sat in a warehouse for two years gives you eight. After a fall the set is finished: once the absorber has started to tear it cannot safely arrest a second fall, and Edelrid states that once the shock absorber has deployed the entire lanyard must be replaced. Black Diamond also asks for an inspection by a competent person at least once a year, and explicitly discourages buying second-hand because you cannot know the history.
Do I need a helmet and a harness as well, and what kind?
Yes to both, and the lanyard makers say so. Black Diamond's instructions state the device should only be used with harnesses compliant to EN 12277, the mountaineering harness standard. Petzl's own complete via ferrata kit pairs the Scorpio lanyard with a Corax harness certified to CE EN 12277 type C, which is the sit harness category, and a Boreo helmet certified to CE EN 12492, the mountaineering helmet standard. Do not substitute a cycling or work helmet, because EN 12492 is the standard that covers impact from above and from the side plus a retention system that stays on in a fall. On a via ferrata the realistic head injury is rockfall dislodged by the party above you, or your own head hitting rock as you swing.
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