... I've got this rope, an 11.5, great rope barely used it, but...

I got it in 1992, so its now 16 years old.

It's never taken a leader fall of any kind, I've used it periodically over the years for top roping.

Upon visual inspection, it appears good to go. It doesn't feel dried out or stiff, no nicks, stains, or serious abrasions. It looks and feels almost new.

So... How long is a ropes life? Is it more dependent on how much it's used? Or if you take care of it do ropes last indefinitely?

Don't want to buy a new rope but, ya know...

thanks to all for their input.

//SS

An article from 2000
Another article from 2002
Both from the UIAA site.

Was it stored well? Sun light is the ropes natural enemy.

...Thanks for asking... yes, its been stored in a dry bag at all times and only brought out for short uses.

//SS

While we're on the subject, what about heat and ropes? I've been paranoidly storing my ropes in the basement rather than the garage since the latter can heat up to 90-95 degrees on a hot summer day. Is this overly paranoid, or a wise precaution?

I checked wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life

As near as I could tell from the article, your rope is not now nor has ever been alive.

If my partner showed up at the crag with an 11.5mm rope, I'd whack him upside his head. No matter how new or old it was. 16 years is plenty old to retire on general principles. 11.5 would be really fun to try and thread into a gri-gri, and would likely to be a bit obnoxious in even ATC style devices.

If properly stored and not exposed to anything, it is likely "just fine", still, just get a new rope. Replace your other synthetics from that era as well (slings, harness, draws, etc). Just worth it for the piece of mind.

True dat moof. replace it all

Just remember Langston, the rope is not dead, until it's warm and dead.

Way more than 16 years ago, I worked at Forrest Mountaineering. Ken Trout in the retail store, Bill Forrest in the back office. I learned so much...Anyway, one day a guy brought in a 10-year-old rope that he'd never climbed on, but had stored in a bag in a closet (allegedly perfect conditions, in other words). He wanted to know if it was still okay to climb (lead) on. We cut off a 10' length, put it on the dynamometer and hit the "pull" switch. It broke at 1600 lbs. He decided it would make a dandy leash for his St. Bernard.

..the fact that you are even asking means that you have a concern.....

Remember
Rope = $150 bucks
Rope not breaking and killing you > $150 bucks