Just received enough $$$$ to buy a new rope and have not purchased one in awhile. Anyone want to help me out on what the good trad ropes are now. My last rope was a 70m Beal Flyer II and it wore out quicker than any rope I've ever owned. I am thinking of 60m this time around. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm pretty sold on Mammut ropes; mine have been very durable. Have you considered doubles?

JL

I like edelweiss, they seem to last a long time, but they don't always handle the best, I prefer longevity to handling though. And personally, I would go with the 60m. My thought is how often do I really need the 70m? and the rest of the time I am just carrying and coiling more than I need. But they are nice to have for those certain routes and raps. I let my friends buy them though.

In my experience, Blue Water ropes wear out pretty fast... but they are cheap. Which leads to perhaps a better discussion. You can buy two cheap ropes for almost the same price as one nice one. I usually go cheap, unless the nice ones are on serious sale. It just depends on the type of climbing you are doing really. If you are going to thrash a rope and you know it, then pay more for something that will hold up. Cheap ropes work great for cragging, but abuse them (jugging, rough edges, etc.) and they'll fall apart.

I've always liked Edelrid ropes, creamy feel, handle well.
Beal is my current fave, they already have mid marks on the ropes, or you can purchase the bi-colored ropes too. Love their 9.3 - 9.7
sizes. Check the web out, google on cheap ropes and you should be
able to find a bargain somewhere. Good luck!

I started a similar thread, may help.

http://www.mountainproject.com/v/climbing_gear_discussion/su>>>>>

The Esprit ropes don't have the "creamy" feel of , well, any other rope. They are the most durable ropes i've ever climbed with though. I always felt good around edges with them. They are stiff like cables when handling, but if you get a 9.1 then you are sure to have a nice soft catch. Definitely not the rope for everyone, but if you are a tradster, who occasionally does some aid, or jugging, and is cheap, then I'd recommend the Esprit 9.7 .

I'm more than happy with my PMI Spire (10.2); water treatment, hand, and durability are better than most I've handled, and I love the available bi-pattern sheath. However, PMI's are a bit pricy and tend to weigh 1 to 2 grams more per meter than most comparable ropes. I will definately buy another, though, and am pretty stoked to try out their 9.7 when its time to get a skinny.

Gotta say I love my sterling marathons. Nothing like aset of duals to handle most all your needs.

i've liked bluewater, and sterling ropes.
trying a beal right now

I echo the warning that Beal ropes wear out much quicker than any others. I've had the most success with Mammuts, but they are pricey.

If you have to go cheap, I'd go with an Edelweiss. I've used an Edelweiss 10.5 for a sport-cragging rope and it's held up well. I would imagine, though, if you're looking for a trad rope, you'll be much more abusive to it than a regular sport cragging rope.

Despite what others are saying, I really love my Beal Flyer. I've been trad and sport climbing on it all last season, and no complaints. It still handles well, cleaned up great after a soak, and has a good dynamic stretch.

I also recently picked up a set of PMI doubles, and I'm totally sold on doubles. Sorting them out at belays is worth the ability to link pitches for me, especially in Eldo (and don't forget about alpine raps.) Unless I know a route to be straightforward, I'll bring the doubles from now on.

I'd put my money on 60m doubles.

I'm not sure how the rope knows what kind of pro you're clipping, but chances are that sport climbing will wear it out a lot faster than your average trad climber might, what with all the whipping and taking and shenanigans. Unless you climb gear routes like most people sport climb, I guess.

Certain ropes have a thicker sheath, designed to take lots of abuse. Sterling Marathon is one of these.

Anyone heard of Mammut Supersafe? I was checking it out and it seems pretty great.

I am 195lbs also so I dont know if I want to go below 10mm

I would definitely recommend the mammut supersafe. I weigh 230 and have dragged that rope over more sharp edges than i care to remember. The only downside is that it is heavy. Mammut claims that it is 10.2 mm but it seems to be the fattest 10.2 rope i have ever seen. If your looking for durability though, it will definitely fulfill the qualifications

Hey, what about the 'supporting American Jobs' aspect of this, as raised in the BD-China thread?!?! Mammut isn't a US company.... the shame, Jimn :)

Just had to throw a little irony in there for those fervently against BD cams being 'offshored' ;)

I have the 70m Petzl Nomad (the 9.8mm diameter). Has a dry coating, handles real nice, and has markings for the middle and 6m from the ends. The 70m allows me to do a lot of 3-rap decents in 2 raps.

You forgot Sterling.

I quite like my Metolius monster rope http://www.backcountry.com/store/MET0192/c5/s34/Metolius-Mon>>>>>

Aren't New England, Maxim, Sterling, and PMI all the same company??? For some reason I was thinking so, but have never owned one.

I avoided Maxim after buying some tech cord(elette) on a spool, to find several big lumps in it. When I contacted their QC manager, they told me they had quality checks for their ropes, but not for cordelette cord (as if anchor cord is much less important). From that point I decided I was not a customer.