What Is a Safety Tape, and Do You Need One?
Despite the name, the Palm Safety Tape isn't repair tape — it's a compact rescue tool built for a kayaker's or open canoeist's PFD pocket. Made from 5m of 25mm tubular nylon, it stores coiled and held by a velcro strap so it sits flat and out of the way until you need it. In use, it opens out into a sling, a short tow line, or an anchor point — one item covering three of the jobs a whitewater or touring paddler's rescue kit needs to do.
Sling, Short Tow or Anchor Point — Where It Performs Best
The Safety Tape is a short-range tool, not a dedicated long-range throwline. At 5m, it's built for close-quarters rescue work: slinging around a person or a boat, taking a quick tow of a swamped kayak the last few metres to the bank, or rigging a temporary anchor point when you're setting up a rescue system. For longer-range throws — getting a rope to a swimmer who's out of reach — choose a dedicated throw bag such as the Palm Lightning; see our Throw & Tow Lines range for the wider range. High-visibility yellow webbing makes it easy to spot and hand off quickly when conditions are moving fast.
Who It's For (and When You Need Something Else Instead)
This is a natural fit for anyone building or topping up a personal rescue kit — whitewater paddlers who already carry a PFD and want something small and versatile for the pocket, and paddlers assembling their first full safety kit alongside a helmet, throwline and cowtail. If prusik use is also a requirement, the 4m Palm Snake Sling is the better-suited sling: Palm explicitly lists prusik use alongside towing and anchoring. It's rescue equipment, not a general-purpose strap, and it performs a genuine rescue function — towing, anchoring or slinging a person or boat — so it's worth using it with proper training, such as a whitewater safety and rescue course, rather than improvising technique on the water for the first time. If what you actually need is a long-range throw to a swimmer, a dedicated throwline is the right tool, not this.
25mm Tubular Nylon, 10kN Static Rated — Construction & Safety
The tape itself is 25mm tubular nylon webbing, rated to 10kN static breaking strength. That figure describes a static rescue-tape rating, not a climbing-rated strength — the Safety Tape is not suitable for climbing or any life-support application, and shouldn't be substituted for climbing-rated hardware. Within its intended use — rescue slinging, short towing, anchor points — it's a genuinely capable, purpose-built piece of kit from Palm Equipment, a brand with a long track record in whitewater safety gear.
Ordering & Delivery
The Palm Safety Tape ships as a Small Item — check the delivery page for current timescales before you order. It's a low-cost, high-repeat addition to any rescue kit, and pairs naturally with the rest of our Rescue Kit range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a kayak safety tape used for?
A kayak or canoe safety tape is a compact rescue tool, not adhesive repair tape — the Palm Safety Tape opens out into a sling, a short tow line or an anchor point, and stores coiled in a PFD pocket via a velcro strap.
What's the difference between a safety tape and a throwline?
A safety tape is a short-range tool (5m) for close-quarters rescue work — slinging, short tows and anchor points — and can be used for a short throw. A dedicated throwline is rope stored in a bag for throwing to a swimmer at distance. The 18m Palm Lightning is the better fit for that job; see our Throw & Tow Lines range for alternatives.
When is the Palm Snake Sling a better choice than the Safety Tape?
Choose the 4m Palm Snake Sling if you need a rescue sling that Palm specifically lists for prusik use as well as towing and anchoring. Choose the Safety Tape when a 5m, flat-coiling tape for close-quarters sling, short-tow and anchor work is the better match for your kit.
What does 10kN static breaking strength mean, and is it climbing-rated?
10kN static describes the tape's rescue-rated breaking strength under a static load — it is not a climbing rating, and the Palm Safety Tape is not suitable for climbing or any life-support use.
Is the Palm Safety Tape suitable for climbing?
No. It's rated for rescue use — slinging, short towing and anchor points — not for climbing or any application where a climbing-rated strength is required.
Do I need training to use a rescue sling or tape safely?
Rescue tapes and slings are genuine rescue equipment, and using them well relies on technique, not just the gear — a whitewater safety and rescue course is the best way to learn how to use a sling, tow tape or anchor point safely and effectively.