{{Short description|Type of hook used in climbing}} thumb|150px|A fifi hook The '''fifi hook''' is a small question mark shaped piece of equipment used principally in aid climbing,<ref name="Kublak2014">{{cite book|last1=Kublak|first1=Thomas|title=Mountaineering Methodology - Part 2 - Gear and Accessories|date=2014|publisher=Tomas Kublak - MMPublishing|isbn=9788087715130|pages=146–147|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iv7uAwAAQBAJ&q=%22fifi+hook%22&pg=PA146|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en}}</ref> to quickly connect a climber to gear to take their weight.<ref name="Van_Leuven2016">{{cite web|last1=Van Leuven|first1=Chris|last2=Roberston|first2=Ashby|title=Tool Users: Fifi Hooks - Alpinist.com|url=https://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP54/tool-users-fifi-hooks|website=www.alpinist.com|date=9 May 2016 |access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref> It can also be useful for free climbing, alpinism, mixed climbing and ice climbing.<ref name="Lowe1996">{{cite book|last1=Lowe|first1=Jeff|title=Ice World: Techniques and Experiences of Modern Ice Climbing|date=1996|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=9780898864465|page=181|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yBKJl40YsmIC&q=fifi&pg=PA181|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en}}</ref>
Typically made of stamped steel or forged alloy, it has a large hole at the bottom for connecting to one's harness and a smaller hole at the top for attaching a retrieval cord in case of a fall.
Due to its open shape, it offers very little strength and requires a great deal of caution when used. If a fifi hook is being used as main rest support, using a backup carabiner is recommended.<ref name="Hattingh1998">{{cite book|last1=Hattingh|first1=Garth|title=The Climber's Handbook|date=1998|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=9780811727068|page=[https://archive.org/details/climbershandbook00hatt/page/99 99]|url=https://archive.org/details/climbershandbook00hatt|url-access=registration|quote=fifi hook skyhook.|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * Rock-climbing equipment
==References== <references/>
{{Climbing-nav}} {{Climbing-stub}} Category:Climbing equipment