Silva Prusik Pro: EN564 Prusik Cord with Dyneema® SK78 Core and Technora® Cover

Silva Prusik Pro is a technical EN564 certified prusik cord manufactured by English Braids in Malvern, Worcestershire. It combines a 12-strand Dyneema® SK78 core with a 32-plait cover constructed from a 50/50 blend of Technora® (polyamide-aramid) and polyester, producing a cord engineered specifically for friction hitch applications where heat generation, sustained load and mechanical wear are primary concerns.

The SK78 core delivers the low creep characteristics that make it the correct choice for sustained-load applications. Where SK75 fibre creeps under constant tension, SK78’s engineered molecular architecture resists long-chain sliding, maintaining load position over time. For friction hitch use, where the cord may be under load for extended periods, this creep resistance has direct operational relevance.

The Technora® component of the cover addresses the heat generated at the friction interface. Technora® is a para-aramid fibre with a melting point exceeding 500°C, significantly higher than the polyester used in standard prusik cords. In high-speed descents or repeated hitch loading, cover temperature rises sharply at the contact point. The Technora®/polyester blend maintains cover integrity at temperatures the Silva Prusik polyester equivalent cannot match.

Average breaking load is 21.4 kN to EN564. At 8mm diameter, the cord is narrower than the standard 9mm Silva Prusik while delivering a higher breaking load, a direct consequence of the higher-tenacity fibres used in both core and cover.