The Best Via Ferrata Sets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO

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The Scorpio Vertigo does everything a via ferrata lanyard has to do at the lowest published weight in this group, and Petzl lists both the CE EN 958 and UIAA marks on it. The Cable Kit VI gets you an absorber Edelrid states meets the 2024 revision of the standard, plus 92 cm arms and a rest loop on the absorber, for less outlay.

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 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.

RBE top pick

Petzl

SCORPIO VERTIGO

Buy it

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.

$$$ · premium

Why we like 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 November 2025 edition of UIAA 128 sets a tighter impact-force limit for a 40 kg test mass than EN 958 alone.

Know before buying

• 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's page does not say which edition of UIAA 128 the label was granted under, and the tighter 40 kg limit only arrived in the November 2025 edition.
• Premium tier for a lanyard that has the same 40 to 120 kg window as every other certified set.

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Edelrid

Cable Kit VI

Buy it

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.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• 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.

Know before buying

• Edelrid's product page does not show a weight figure, so check it against the 365 g Scorpio Vertigo before you buy.
• 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.

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Black Diamond

Easy Rider Via Ferrata Set

It depends

Extra-large-gate carabiners and a steel swivel aimed at easy clipping and untangled arms, 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.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Black Diamond describes ergonomic carabiners with an extra large gate opening for easy clipping, which helps with gloves on.
• A steel swivel prevents the arms twisting, and a steel loop on the swivel takes a carabiner as a self-belay point.
• Black Diamond lists the same 40 to 120 kg user weight range as the rest of the field.

Know before buying

• 585 g is 220 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo, all of it hanging off your harness.
• The product page does not say which carabiner type goes on the self-belay loop, so read the instructions before you buy one.
• Black Diamond does not publish an arm length figure on the product page.
• Black Diamond's European product page lists the set against CE EN 958:2017, not the 2024 revision, the same edition Climbing Technology lists for the Top Shell.

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We'd skip it

Climbing Technology

Top Shell Compact Twist

Skip it

A well-made Italian set that is the heaviest here at 640 g, has the shortest reach at 70 cm extended, and rests on a webbing loop rather than a metal one.

Best for: Only worth it if you specifically want the anti-wear carabiner shells and the short arms suit your build and route style.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• 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.

Know before buying

• 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, a gap it shares with the Black Diamond.
• The rest point is a webbing loop integrated into one arm rather than a load-rated metal loop at the absorber.

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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 2024. Third is the connector: via ferrata sets use large, self-locking klettersteig carabiners, 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 intended place on the system to clip yourself to an anchor when you rest.

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, 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 68 cm and extend to 106 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, though Petzl does not say which edition its label was granted under. 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.

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. Edelrid’s page does not show its weight, and Edelrid does not list a UIAA mark on it. For a first set at a sensible outlay, that is a good trade.

The Black Diamond Easy Rider is the specialist. Black Diamond describes ergonomic carabiners with an extra large gate opening for easy clipping, which matters in gloves or when your hands are cold. A steel swivel stops the arms twisting into a knot, and a steel loop on the swivel takes a carabiner as a self-belay point rather than relying on a webbing loop. The catch is 585 g, 220 g more than the Scorpio Vertigo, and the fact that Black Diamond’s European product page lists the set against CE EN 958:2017, the same superseded edition as the Climbing Technology set, and does not say which carabiner type goes on the self-belay loop, so read the instructions before you buy one. 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.

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 106 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. Climbing Technology’s own product page also lists the set under EN 958:2017, the edition the 2024 revision superseded, which it shares with the Black Diamond. What separates the two is the rest: the Black Diamond gives you a steel self-belay loop on its swivel and extra-large gates at 55 g less, while the Top Shell rests on a webbing loop integrated into one arm and adds the shortest reach in the group. A set certified to the older version is not unsafe, but when it is also the heaviest and shortest here, 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 106 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, although that limit arrived in the November 2025 edition, so ask which edition applies to the set you buy. 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 give up the UIAA listing, and Edelrid’s page does not state a weight to compare. 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 2024, so look for a maker that names EN 958:2024 rather than leaving the year off or citing the 2017 edition.
• Self-locking klettersteig carabiners only: the set’s own connectors lock automatically and open wide enough for cable and anchors, so never swap them for ordinary climbing carabiners.
• Date of manufacture, not date of purchase: the maker’s stated lifespan runs from the manufacture date 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 106 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, rests on a webbing loop, and, like the Black Diamond, is 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.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO vs Edelrid Cable Kit VI.

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