Arkyris 0 #1 May 18, 2016 What exactly is the difference?? I can't find any info anywhere Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #2 May 18, 2016 http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000174/H358/FRENCH-RAPIDE-LINKSMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dpreguy 14 #3 May 18, 2016 A Rapide is not a "Slink". Slink is a trademarked product of Performance Designs. A combo of the two words: soft links. Yes, as sparky said, Rapides are available at Paragear and the strengths of each are listed on the page. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 May 18, 2016 Wow! Over a mere 20 years the language has changed. Back during the mid-1990s "SLinks" were "those wimpy new gadgets that Performance Designs copied off the French." Now the term has shifted to cover all connector links. Hah! Hah! 3.5 millimetre Ralide oval steel links have fallen out of fashion. 3.5 refers to the barrel diameter in millimetres. For a while they were fashionable as main connector links, because they small enough that you could pull your slider down past them. These days, 3.5 Maillon Rapide are only used for things like bridle attachments. OTOH 5 mm Maillon Rapide are still widely used as reserve connector links. 5 mm links will hold a 3,000 pound load, the same as most MIL SPEC links. 6mm links are more common on tandems. I keep using the French word "Maillon" to differentiate high-quality, French-made hardware from cheap Asian hardware of unknown quality. Genuine French-made "Maillon Rapide made in France" have that stamped on the barrel. "Inox France" means that is stainless steel. The only other trustworthy metal oval links are the Italian-made links installed on Precision reserves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MelStowe 0 #5 May 18, 2016 ArkyrisWhat exactly is the difference?? Answer: #1.5 Someone had to say it... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
