Taz Lov/rope TRS question

Hey Folks, 

I've been experimenting a bit with my Taz Lov and different ropes for TRS.  It's a bit of a "Princess and the Pea" situation.

Edelrid Performance Static 10 mm -- A bit too much friction, doesn't run really nicely. 

Petzl Club 10 mm -- Not enough friction!  Runs nicely but despite the diamenter the device slowly slides down the rope (does not catch) with my weight.  

What ropes are folks using for a nice balance between smooth running and catching?

I am using Fixe Pro Endurance semistatic 9.5 mm. It's in the spec range for the Tazlov for decending and dynamic rope belaying, even if it's not in spec for industrial fall arrest. Feeds extremely smooth. The Tazlov does slide down depending on the rope weight, but for me that is a plus. Sometimes I want to sag back down onto straight arms to rest after standing up, I don't want the device to lock immediately and make me feel like I'm on a too tight top rope. I use a spoc on a basket hitched 30 cm sling as a backup below the Tazlov, never had any issues with catches. Sometimes it takes half a moment to engage but it's never hitting the spoc and the semistatic makes the catch a bit less jarring then a full static.

Thanks Rock O'Clock. 

That sounds good. 

Just to be clear, the "disconcerting" behavior with the Taz Lov and a (new) Petzl Club 10 mm was not simply that the rope slid a little before catching. 

On an overhanging route, unless I held the brake strand down hard, the device would slide down the rope with my weight. 

No bueno. 

Wow. Haven't had that happen. Very no beuno. Maybe contact Taz? I see no reason why that would happen with a popular rope within spec beyond a defect

Yeah, it was weird.  I've used the TAz Lov a lot for several years, with all sorts of ropes, also when wet and icy, and never had this problem.  

The Petzl Club 10 seems thin for the stated diameter, and it has a very slick coating, which likely is a contributing factor. 

Happy here with mammut 9.7 dynamic and a possibly beal (but unsure since I cut the ends off) 9.0 static. 

Backed up with mt on a locker qd below it.  Depending on the route height I'm either on one strand or two.

Sort of a non-answer, but clean and lubricate your Taz. It makes it a ton "catchier." Mine is very worn out (it sometimes slips down the rope ever so slowly after it's caught me and I've fully weighted it), but a a clean/lube buys me a few weeks of nice responsive catching. For me, it's made the rope selection thing a lot less of an issue.

I use a Maxim Glider 9.9, but it's bit of a compromise to be able to lead on it as well. With a mildly dirty taz it was never perfectly catchy in trs mode. My buddy had a 10.2 static that made the taz function like a microtraxion even when it was filthy and filled with sand (before I started cleaning it), which was sweet. Diameter is an incomplete metric though, as you've discovered. Further, it's my opinion that there is meaningful varition in taz devices. Sometimes you see people using 9.2 dynamic and reporting it catches fine. Humidity and rope wear also plays a role. The unfortunate answer to the rope question, if you want to get it perfect, is "the one the works for you."

I use my taz lov 3 with a petzl club 10mm and don't have an issue. Many static ropes perform better after a 24hr soak in water. See if that helps ☺️