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Advances in climbing rope technology continues to make rock climbing easier and safer. I'm sure Jan and Herb Conn would have loved to tie into a modern dynamic climbing rope rather then the 60 foot piece of manila climbing rope they had. Poor quality climbing ropes were a main reason that early adventures climbed with the motto "the leader must not fall." Imagine sport climbing without leader falls. The first rope I bought was a bright pink Edelweiss 12mm tank. If I had it to do over again, I'd buy that same rope. The current crop of skinny ropes are great to haul around, but don't take the abuse of a good old fat string. We are trading durability for lightness in our climbing gear. Now days, I love the 9.8mm ropes. They slither up routes really well, and feed through my belay device with ease, and if I take care of them, last long enough. If you are looking for a rope to abuse out sport climbing or dragging up a big wall, consider something with some meat to it.
Many people ask me about Dry Treatments. My stock answer is that if it rains where you climb, or you are going to drag your climbing rope into the mountains or out ice climbing, then get the best super duper dry treatment you can. If you climb here in the Black Hills where its dry as ever on most days, save your cash to buy a cold drink at the end of a hot day climbing Devils Tower.
Blue Water
Eliminator 10.2 Rock Climbing Rope
- These ropes are the work horses of Sylvan Rocks Climbing School.
Believe it or not, falling is part of learning to climb, and these
ropes seem to take the abuse in stride. The only Eliminator we had to
retire early was the one Cheryl put her crampon spike through. These
ropes are a great mix of light weight and durability. Consider this...
it only weighs 3 grams more per meter then the Glider 9.9mm, and I can
tell you, its a heck of a lot more durable. The only reason we started
buying other ropes is that we had so many Eliminators that we needed
ropes in new colors to keep them all straight. Now that Blue water has
new colors, we will see a fresh batch here in the spring.
Sterling Climbing Ropes
Marathon Pro 10.1 Rock Climbing Rope - We bought several of these this spring in the 70 Meter variety, and are very satisified with the preformance and durability. They have a nice mix of stiffness and suppeness that makes tying in conforting. Ropes that are to stiff don't seem to hold a knot as well, and nobody likes that.
Evolution Velocity 9.8 Rock Climbing Rope - Matt carried a set of these around for most the season, and spoke highly of them. If I can buy a 9.8mm rope that stands up to a season of abuse like that, I'll buy them again. They kept there shape, didn't fuzz out, get fat, or have the seath stretch off. Best of all, Matt said they were easy on his precious joints, and pulled through his device easy. If you have ever spent a week climbing and belaying every day, you quickly understand the importance of not wasting energy belaying.
Fusion 9.8 Rock Climbing Rope - I have a set of these in the box, but haven't used them yet. First impression is that they are a bit on the limp side. I like ropes with a little stiffness to them. Time will tell how they hold up and how much energy it takes to pull them through a belay device.
New England - Maxim Climbing Ropes
Glider 9.9 Rock Climbing Rope - These ropes are great. We will be ordering more of them. A little more expensive then some of the strings in our line up, but I agree with Rock & Ice Climbing Magazine - " a fabulous feel with out being soft and mushy...noticably reduces drag...joy to handle..." Plus the tight stiff seath wears well.
Apex 9.9 Rock Climbing Rope - Worst ropes we've ever bought. The weave is loose and they had holes in the sheath within weeks... one had to be retired after just days. It amazed me that one rope company could have both our most favorite and least favorite ropes. Total waste of money!
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