DeWalt 6-Foot Energy Absorbing Lanyard

Why I picked it up

I spend a lot of days clipped to steel and concrete, and I’m picky about what hangs off my D‑ring. I wanted a 6-foot energy-absorbing lanyard that trimmed the bulk of traditional “brick” shock packs without cutting corners on hardware or traceability. The DeWalt lanyard checked those boxes on paper—internal energy absorber, 3,600 lb gated hooks, and built-in QR/RFID for inspections—so I took it onto a few jobs to see how it behaved in real-world use.

Design and build quality

This is a one-piece, 6-foot web lanyard with the energy absorber integrated into the body rather than stuffed into a separate pouch. That design matters in tight work where snag points multiply; the profile is flatter against the harness and there’s no big bump at the dorsal connection. The webbing is polyester with a firm weave—abrasion resistant without feeling like rebar. It’s finished in bright yellow/black, which makes quick inspections easier and boosts visibility around busy crews.

The hardware is plated steel, not stainless. That’s a fair trade-off for most inland or indoor work: rugged, economical, and solidly finished. In marine or chemical environments I’d be more vigilant about corrosion and may lean toward stainless, but the plating on this unit held up to rain, mud, and a few weeks of jobsite grime with just routine wiping down.

Weight comes in at 60.8 oz. You feel that. It’s not unbearable, and the internal absorber keeps the mass distributed better than a bulky external shock pack, but if you’re used to ultra-light rigs or SRLs, expect a little more tug on your harness keepers when the free leg is stowed.

Connectors and handling

Both ends are equipped with plated-steel snap hooks with 3,600 lb (16 kN) gated strength. The action on the gates is crisp and consistent—glove-friendly without being loose. The latch tolerances are tight enough that you can’t fake a closure; you hear and feel the gate seat. That confidence is welcome when you’re stretched over a beam trying to clip in blind.

The throats handle standard anchorage rings, rebar hooks, and rated eye bolts without drama. This is not a tie-back lanyard and it’s not meant to be choked around structure, so I kept it on proper anchors or dedicated connectors. The lack of a rebar hook will be a deal-breaker for some users; for me, the standard snaps were fine for the anchors I chose.

The label pack is protected by a tough housing that didn’t crack in the cold, and it keeps the documentation legible. The integrated impact indicator is easy to read at a glance—a simple, unmistakable signal if the lanyard has seen a load and needs to come out of service.

In the field

I ran this lanyard on a harness across roof work, steel mezzanine installs, and a catwalk retrofit. The internal energy absorber made a real difference getting through tight transitions and around guard posts. With less protruding bulk at the connector end, I caught on less hardware, and stowing the free leg on my harness keepers was cleaner.

The webbing maintained flexibility from early fall mornings through afternoon heat without getting gummy or overly stiff. Dirt brushed off; paint overspray was more stubborn but didn’t embed deeply. The bright color helped me spot contamination and frays quickly during pre-use checks.

I appreciated the balance between stiffness and drape. Some lanyards coil and fight you; this one laid where I put it. The only times it annoyed me were when the free hook swung and tapped against my side on ladders—more a symptom of a two-leg setup than this specific unit, but weight amplifies that.

As always with 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyards, fall clearance is the planning challenge. I kept it on overhead anchors where possible and avoided foot-level tie-offs. The internal absorber doesn’t magically shorten deceleration distance; it just packages it smarter. If your work routinely forces foot-level anchors or exposes you to leading edges, you’re better served with a properly rated SRL or an edge-rated solution.

Safety and compliance

This lanyard is billed for fall arrest and lists compliance with ANSI Z359.3. The hooks meet the modern 3,600 lb gate requirement, and the user weight capacity is 310 lb, which covers most workers plus gear. As with all life safety equipment, make sure this device fits your company’s fall protection plan and is paired with compatible, rated anchors and harnesses. Plan your clearance, avoid sharp edges, and don’t tie back unless the lanyard is explicitly rated for it—which this one is not.

A quick note on compatibility: the snap hooks engaged cleanly with common anchor types, and the gates resisted roll-out when pushed against small-diameter eyes. I still favor dedicated anchorage connectors or beam straps rather than clipping to improvised points.

Inspection and tracking

DeWalt built in a QR code and an RFID tag. I scanned the code with a phone to tie it into our asset system—simple and effective for recording inspections and tracking service life. For crews subject to frequent audits, that traceability is a win. The protected label pack kept serials and standards readable after weeks of wear.

The impact indicator is clear and conservative. If it shows deployment, it’s done—remove from service. Beyond that, my daily checks focused on:

• Webbing: cuts, glazing, pulled stitches, chemical stains
• Hardware: corrosion spots, smooth gate action, latch seating
• Stitching at terminations: uniformity and color changes that could hint at UV or chemical damage
• Labels: legibility and intact protective cover

Nothing in my sample raised flags, but I logged a small nick in the web guard after catching a sharp bracket—proof that edges are the enemy of web lanyards. If your site is littered with sheet metal and burrs, consider edge protection or route differently.

What I’d change

• Weight: While the internal absorber trims bulk, the overall weight is still on the heavier side. A lighter build—or at least a version with aluminum hardware—would make long days a bit more comfortable.
• Salt/corrosive environments: Plated steel is fine for most jobs, but I’d welcome a stainless option for coastal or chemical plants.
• Connector options: A variant with a rebar hook on the anchor end would suit more ironwork without adding adapters.

None of these break the deal, but they’re worth noting for specific users and environments.

Who it suits

• Trades working with overhead anchors and clear fall distances: ironworkers, general commercial construction, mechanical installers.
• Crews that value clean profiles: the internal absorber is less snag-prone than external shock packs.
• Companies with formal inspection programs: the QR/RFID tagging makes recordkeeping easy and audit-friendly.
• Users up to 310 lb (including tools and clothing) who need a straightforward, ANSI-compliant fall arrest lanyard.

I would look elsewhere if your work routinely involves leading edges, foot-level tie-off, or highly corrosive environments—use the right tool for the hazard.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt lanyard for everyday fall arrest where a 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyard is appropriate and anchors are positioned at or above the D‑ring. It’s compact where it counts, the hardware inspires confidence, and the inspection/asset features are genuinely useful. The weight is noticeable, and it’s not a do‑everything solution for edge cases or tie-back scenarios, but as a reliable, durable lanyard that meets the core demands of commercial sites, it earns a spot in my harness rotation.