Rope Suggestions

After a long run with my previous rope, I'm in the market for a new one. I was wondering what people had for suggestions?

Most of my climbing will be single pitch, with the occasional multipitch fun. I'm thinking just one rope will do the trick for both ice/rock, but that puts me into a pretty expensive rope when it comes to 70m + dry treated. My previous rope was 10.2mm, but I'm thinking about something along the lines of 9.8 so its note quite as bulky while keeping some durability.

Options I'm looking at:
-70m (necessary to rap off many ice routes)
-dry treated (for ice)
-9.8mm?
-bi color (or marked center) - not a necessity

Let me know if anyone has any suggestions or recommendations! Any reasons to get a certain type/brand/style would be appreciated, especially if you know some good deals out there.

Thanks!
-Alex

Mammut infinity is what 90% of posters will say for good reason. 9.5 is good weight/confidence ratio for me. I've also had excellent experience with similar diameters from bluewater.

mammut tusk has all that you want.

Don Ferris wrote:Mammut infinity is what 90% of posters will say for good reason. 9.5 is good weight/confidence ratio for me. I've also had excellent experience with similar diameters from bluewater.

+1 for mammut infinity. i don't own one but i've used one before and like it much better than my rope

what belay device ...

and how many whippers will you be taking ...

;)

+1 for the Mammut Tusk

I've had the Tusk (superdry, 9.8mm x 70m) for about two years now, and it's a great rope. Durable, supple, and feeds very easy (but not too easy) through any device I've used. "Big Blue" hasn't let me down yet!

Using the Mammut Tusk on Boilerplate in The Crossroads at the Red River Gorge.

Have you washed the mammut tusk yet? I'm afraid to wash mine but it certainly needs a cleaning (heard some horror stories). Have a rope brush and just going to soak/clean it in water. If so did yours come out fine?

But certainly +1 for the Tusk - love how it handles

Ben Dubs wrote:Have you washed the mammut tusk yet? I'm afraid to wash mine but it certainly needs a cleaning (heard some horror stories). Have a rope brush and just going to soak/clean it in water. If so did yours come out fine? But certainly +1 for the Tusk - love how it handles

Yep, I washed mine about two months ago. I have a side-load washer, and I ran a clean cycle (to wash out any residue detergent) before washing it on a warm gentle cycle. I shortened the rope using a Chain Sinnet and it didn't get too terribly tangled. You can actually use a mild synthetic detergent if it's really dirty, similar to what you would use with wool (see Mammut link below)

My dryer has a removable shelf for drying shoes and stuff, so after washing I placed it on that to dry with the cool air dry/no heat setting. You could also hang it, but at 70m that takes up quite a lot of space. The rope looked nearly new after all was said and done, and handles just the same.

Source: Mammut on Rope Care

Blue Water Lighting Pro 9.7. Comes in bi-colour and with double dry treatment.

I've had mine 2 years and love it.

Let me add to the pile and day that the Mammut Infinity is a damn fine rope. I recommend it without hesitation. Mammut makes great ropes in general, it's a hard to go wrong with them. The Infinity is a cool rope: it's light, but not fragile.

I am really spoiled these days by bi-pattern ropes. They are annoyingly expensive, but dang the pattern change in the middle is awesome.

I also have a Mammut Galaxy 10.0 : good rope. And a Maxim Glider 10.2. Also a good rope, but more of a workhorse.

Have you looked at a Sterling Velocity in a 70m double dry bi-pattern?
I use Sterling's Photon 7.8's for ice and the Helix 9.5 for rock, but The gym has Velocity's for lead ropes and they are great.

Why not stick with 10.2mm? I bought a Bluewater Eliminator 10.2mm 70M last winter for single pitch climbs. If I'm cragging it sometimes means I'm leading on up to setup a TR for others. We take a few laps then on to the next route. The 10.2mm is a little heavy but im not carrying it.. Unless my partner is my wife. I like a thicker rope that will last longer for those single pitch gangropes. The best part was the price. I bought the Eliminator for $139 from Campsaver.

I have a Bluewater Icon 9.1mm 70M for multipitch or days when no top roping is happening. No one seems to enjoy TRing with me and that 9.1, hehehe..

I have a Mammut Tusk 9.8. Don't like it much. Really stiff, attracts dirt like nothing else I've seen. Got a core shot in it from tying in near mid-point for a 1.6 rope length top rope set up - really wasn't too upset about it. Most of my previous ropes were Beals and Sterlings which I have much preferred. I recently acquired two thinner diameter Mammuts which I really like, but the poor handling of the Tusk just doesn't do it for me.

Edelweiss Energy Arc. Lol

I have always been very happy with Mammut ropes- I have one that is retired and am currently using a 60m Supernova 10.0mm and just bought a 70m Tusk, 9.8mm that is a really nice rope. I really liked that it was coiled "ready to use" and I didn't have to go through the hassle of uncoiling the factory coil like I did with the Supernova

Just get the cheapest one you can find.

The Beal Booster with the safety control (SC). Its a great catch!

Another +1 for the Tusk or infinity. The infinity has got to be my favorite single rope for ice climbing.

Bluewater lightning pro is a great 9.7 70m. I've never had the dry treated or bicolor version though.

FrankPS wrote:Just get the cheapest one you can find.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lehigh-CF450W-1-4in-X-50-Camouflage-Polypropylene-Twisted-Rope/19870489

mammuts have generally been quite stiff after some use ... especially the tusk/galaxy ...

most folks i know find em fairly durable though, ive owned 5 mammuts myself

these days my favorite rope is tendon ... its a poor mans beal ... soft catches but decently durable as well

;)