Lost my tagline, replace with half?

So I was out with my 70m 9.5 and my 7mm tagline the other day on Bald Mountain. Somehow, still not sure how, I ended up losing my tagline on the bushwhack out. It was actually the first time I used it, (on Crack Attack specifically). Doing a full 160+ foot rappel was pretty sweet, I must say. I really want a tagline again. Or do I?

Now that I get a re-do on the tagline, I’m wondering if it’s worth the extra money to just buy up to a BD 7.9, 70m half rope? It only weighs 6 lbs, 2 oz, which is less than 2 lbs more than the tagline did. It’s also lead-worth if doubled up, and can still be rapp’d down by itself. I do a lot of mountaineering/ 4th class stuff in the Sierra where I only need to rapp a pitch or two in a whole day of climbing. And sometimes glacier stuff.

All that said, it seems like buying a half-rope instead of a tagline would be a better idea for me. Anyone have any thoughts? 

I tried the whole static tagline/biner block thing. Found out the hardway how it can fuck you over if the bolts are too far apart and it twists around itself. I now use a 7.9 half rope that i love. Definitely not going back. 

Keep your eyes out at Sierra for cheap 1/2 ropes... just scored a 50m Beal 8.6 for $75. I love my edelrid skimmer 7.1 70m, it's never twisted badly for me and actually leads very nicely on moderate terrain, doesn't weigh much more than a tag line (36g/m). It is stiffer than my Beal Gully 7.3, which ties together a bit nicer with lead lines (the Beal is soft and the EDK cinches down very nicely). 

I came close to buying a dedicated tag recently but just don't need that many ropes when a super skinny 1/2 will do double duty for not much more $$...

ederid rap line maybe?  Just ordered one. Will try to update once I use it. Looks to almost be the best of both worlds. 

I have a edelrid rap line I kind of like the original better as it's stiffer so tangles less but the new one is quite a bit lighter, but I would recommend petzl's our line, it's really durable, pure dyneema and not actually that expensive for what it is.

I think there’s a half rope called the skimmer 7.3 that might be good for you. Can’t remember the manufacturer though.

the Beal Gully 7.3 might be a good option for you.  

Greg, the Edelrid Skimmer is 7.1. I have it, and the Beal Gully, 7.3. The beal is much softer, ties together a bit more securely but the edelrid ties just fine for comfort (to be fair, recently learned to just put a second EDK in the line from a buddy, which gives a bit more peace of mind). Never had a problem pulling either of them, but I used gloves. w/out gloves, would be a PITA, for sure.

I assume your 9.5 single is also rated as a half rope?

Obviously, in that case, a second half rope is your most versatile option.

 Of course, two half ropes would be even lighter. 

If you got 1 70m and 1 60m half/twin rated ropes, you could use one of them for your current use. 

Or if the hike in was long, you could carry the new pair(If 60m is long enough for the routes) 

For mountaineering/scrambling, you could take the 70m half, use it doubled up for 35m pitches or rappels. And use either half rope for glacier travel, depending on the length you need.

Christian Heschwrote:

Greg, the Edelrid Skimmer is 7.1. I have it, and the Beal Gully, 7.3. The beal is much softer, ties together a bit more securely but the edelrid ties just fine for comfort (to be fair, recently learned to just put a second EDK in the line from a buddy, which gives a bit more peace of mind). Never had a problem pulling either of them, but I used gloves. w/out gloves, would be a PITA, for sure.

Thanks, I was running out the door and I guess my brain just mashed the two ropes together. That definitely made it hard to remember who made the rope I suggested!

Lots of good suggestions here, thanks for all the input!
I'm going to get a half now, it's just a question of which one. I'll probably lay off the BD though, and go for something that is made in a pair with another color; I'd just buy one for now, but in the future I'll probably buy the other half and have a full half set and my single. 

What about the Mammut Alpine Sender? 7.5? 

I’ve been using a 6mm 70m Esprit alpine PER for a tagline lately, and really like it. It’s light, stiff, doesn’t tangle, you rap normally with both lines and pull the climbing rope. Definitely worth looking into, unless you really like the idea of a single half. 

Colin Haley has a great piece about the various “rap” lines he has used over the years. He describes the Petzl Pur’line as the lightest and most advanced, though expensive. 20g/m and $239 MRSP for 60m.

https://www.colinhaley.com/nugget-1-the-petzl-purline/

That Purline is tempting. But elusive. It’s also only 65 meters. There are actually a number of 70 meter-ish crag pitches near me. But  for other things it could be useful.

I need to figure something out in the next week or two as I have some stuff I want to go do...

YOLOLZ Bicarbonatewrote:

That Purline is tempting. But elusive. It’s also only 65 meters. There are actually a number of 70 meter-ish crag pitches near me.

It also sells in 200m lengths, but $649. You could just cut off the length you need. ;-)

YOLOLZ Bicarbonatewrote:

That Purline is tempting. But elusive. It’s also only 65 meters. There are actually a number of 70 meter-ish crag pitches near me. But  for other things it could be useful.

I need to figure something out in the next week or two as I have some stuff I want to go do...

I am skeptical.  Do you live in Spain?  Many '70m' crags are sport crags that require a 70m to lower off and are 35m-ish long.  200+ ft pitches are rare unless you are linking.

I picked up a pur'line a couple weeks ago.  It's awesome.  It is about half the weight of a typical half/twin rope.  I bought my rope from Climb-On in Squamish and I believe they sell it by the metre.  Probably other shops do too.  I think that was the idea behind the 200m spool.  You could buy a 75m length to pair with your 70m lead rope.