Metolius 11mm slings?

I just bought some Metolius 11mm slings from REI (Item #868319), which is exactly the same as I had bought from them previously, but they seem to be thicker, not in width, but like two of what I had previously bought sewn together, so in depth I guess and the new ones are definitely heavier than my old ones

Here is the product on the REI website: https://www.rei.com/product/868319/metolius-sling-11mm

Here is what I see on the Metolius website: https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/11mm_open_loop_slings.html 

I think these are the same thing, but the REI website says the 120cm (which I bought) should weigh 45g, while the Metolius website says it should weight 70g

What is going on here?

Not sure but i know WeighMyRack also lists the 120cm 11mm Metolius sling at 45g.

I have a couple Metolius slings (120cm and 240cm) and they definitely seem much thicker than my BD slings of the same lengths. Haven't busted out the gram scale for them all yet but it seems like they're probably heavier but that extra thickness does also inspire a little more faith in their strength.

Reached out to Metolius and this is what they said, "Currently in our inventory we have two different supplies of 11mm slings. They are both qual in strength and durability, and eventually we will switch over to a singular sling. It sounds like you received the slings with the measurements matching our website. I have gone ahead and reached out to REI to clear up the information on their website to reflect our current sling specs. Hope you have a great new year!"

Still very confused 

Josh Rappoportwrote:

Reached out to Metolius and this is what they said, "Currently in our inventory we have two different supplies of 11mm slings. They are both qual in strength and durability, and eventually we will switch over to a singular sling. It sounds like you received the slings with the measurements matching our website. I have gone ahead and reached out to REI to clear up the information on their website to reflect our current sling specs. Hope you have a great new year!"

Still very confused 

Typically in manufacturing this means that they are sourcing from two different factories/vendors making this sling to the same specifications. They have stopped ordering from the one that produces the lighter sling (various reasons... cost, reliability/lead time, capacity, raw materials, etc) and they have started using the second vendor/factory - but given the global scale of their distribution it will take at least months (if not longer) to sell all the old slings through all the channels that they sell to. So the newer one that meets the specs listed on their website is what they are currently producing and planning on continuing to produce, the old (lighter) model is obsolete.

Happens all the time in manufacturing that you have to change sourcing, esp in today's world...

Covid supply chain snafus forced companies to change suppliers. 

Thanks for the replies - I get how this could happen, but I would like to understand how it did happen...

Of course, REI selling the wrong thing isn't that surprising, but it would be nice if the weight spec on their website matched the actual item!

This also raises a perennial annoyance I have with MBS as a measure and I wish breaking strength of different slings were actually measured and marked, or at least MBS scaled to some extent with what the actual breaking strength might be

As a follow-up, I ended up getting the Trango 11mm slings (120cm = 39g)

Also, in response to my queries, REI changed their website to reflect the correct spec for the Metolius!

Hello,

So the 13mm Metolius nylon/dyneema blend sling is 1g heavier than the 11mm for the same length. And the 18mm nylon sling is 17g heavier.

Heavy and overweight.

Thank you