Ropes (specifically dry coating)

Anyone who has owned dry coated/core ropes: do you think the additional price is worth the added life to you rope if you don't regularly climb in overly wet/humid conditions?  Buying a new rope!    

and any specific brands/styles appreciated too!  

No

Yes. Or no. Half the people I know like dry ropes. The other half don't. That should clarify things. I currently have a dry rope and a non dry. I like them both. I have used mammut sterling petzl maxim and maybe something else. I liked them all. Anything between 9.2 and 10.3 I like. 

Get one that will look good as a rug when you retire it!!!!

Dry treatment supposedly helps prevent dirt from penetrating the rope, and theoretically extends life, so even if you don't expect to get it wet, there may be some benefit. Whether that benefit is proportional to the extra cost, however, remains to be seen. Has anyone on here used (and retired) both dry and standard ropes, in similar usage environments? I'd love to hear comments on just how much longer a dry rope actually lasts, if at all.

I personally sprang for dry ropes (I have 2), but have only been using them for 2 seasons; They both have a lot of life left in them before they need to be retired.

Andrew Krajnik wrote:

Dry treatment supposedly helps prevent dirt from penetrating the rope, and theoretically extends life, so even if you don't expect to get it wet, there may be some benefit. Whether that benefit is proportional to the extra cost, however, remains to be seen. Has anyone on here used (and retired) both dry and standard ropes, in similar usage environments? I'd love to hear comments on just how much longer a dry rope actually lasts, if at all.

I personally sprang for dry ropes (I have 2), but have only been using them for 2 seasons; They both have a lot of life left in them before they need to be retired.

I have used and retired dry and non-dry ropes.  If you aren't going to be using it where it is wet (mountaineering, ice climbing, etc), then the extra cost of dry treatment is really not worth it.  It will be totally worn off your rope within three months if you use it regularly.  I personally believe that for heavy cragging, you should focus on getting a good deal on a rope rather than the features - I figure that you replace ropes every 1-2 years anyway.

Tomily ma wrote:

Yes. Or no. Half the people I know like dry ropes. The other half don't. That should clarify things. I currently have a dry rope and a non dry. I like them both. I have used mammut sterling petzl maxim and maybe something else. 

Since you have both, do you feel like the dry rope coating has helped the sheath "Last longer".  And do you think it has improved the overal longevity of the rope?  and is your dry rope dry coated sheath or "sheath and core"

Thanks!  

Nick Sweeney wrote:

I have used and retired dry and non-dry ropes.  If you aren't going to be using it where it is wet (mountaineering, ice climbing, etc), then the extra cost of dry treatment is really not worth it.  It will be totally worn off your rope within three months if you use it regularly.  I personally believe that for heavy cragging, you should focus on getting a good deal on a rope rather than the features - I figure that you replace ropes every 1-2 years anyway.

So if the dry rope coating is worn off in 3 months with reagular use, that means it won't work well in a wet environment either.  and are you speaking in the context of dry coating of the sheath or dry coating of "sheath and core" It seems if you get the core coating that would likely stay with use?  

If anyone knows of articles on the specs of dry coating sheath and/or core/sheath coating, let me know! feel free to post here.  Or reviews on different types of ropes :)  or deals!  thanks mountain project community!  

If you aren't climbing ice / alpine don't bother with dry coating.

Absolutely not. Dry coatings are not worth the $50+ they add to the rope, especially considering they can wear off in as little as three weeks, unless you're climbing ice, snow, ect.

Since no one else said it, if you are climbing ice don't bust out the dry ropes you've drug over a lot of rock. Unless you forgot your belay parka and want to break apart a frozen cable to get through your belay device.

If you have money to burn, get a bi pattern dry rope. Otherwise you can at least 3 standard ropes to 2 dry ropes. You can get great ropes on sale for the low $100s. You can get a great rope for $350 too.  Just buy a rope already and like it! Nothing beats a new rope!

I always use a dry rope for gym leads.  

Just in case.

Dave Kos wrote:

I always use a dry rope for gym leads.  

Just in case.

this definately made me smile.