Best Climbing Ropes Reviews 2020

A cheap climbing rope is never a good idea, since it’s your lifeline in harrowing places. Always go with a reputable brand that has a good UIAA rating. On the low end, you can get a decent climbing rope for around $120-$150. Some of the top-of-the-line climbing ropes will cost you up to $250, depending on the length, manufacturer, and extra attention to detail like extreme weather proofing.

There is a lot of design technology that goes into every climbing rope, and certain safety features are important to look out for. Of course, where you climb and your climbing style will come into play.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider before purchasing a climbing rope:

• Length
• Diameter
• Weight per Meter
• Number of Factor 1 Falls
• Static Elongation
• Dynamic Elongation
• UIAA Certification
• Single, Twin, or Double
• Sheath slippage
• Impact Force
• Warranty

Also keep an eye out for the color and bi-pattern options, as well as weather-proofing. Now we’ll get into these factors in greater detail…

Are you looking to add some curve to your swerve with a smooth payout and a high factor 1 fall rating in your new climbing rope? Then let’s get into a little more detail about what all these bullet points mean, including the UIAA rating system.

Factor 1 Fall Rating

In order to receive a UIAA certification, a climbing rope must be able to withstand five or more successive falls without breaking. The UIAA test drops a heavy payload of 176 pounds about 7.5 feet above an anchor system repeatedly until the rope breaks. If say, the rope breaks on the seventh fall, it will receive a UIAA Factor 1 fall rating of 6. So you want a higher fall rating on your climbing rope, right? Not so fast…

If you buy a rope with a higher fall rating, this usually requires a thicker core, which means a thinner sheath around it to ensure it still has a smooth payout through your belay device, and that it isn’t too heavy to carry.

The sheath is the outer shell, and it’s what protects your rope from abrasions. Any climber worth their salt knows there are lots of sharp edges vying for your rope’s attention. So, do you go for a thicker core, or a thicker sheath? I mean, you have to pick one, or else the rope is too fat and heavy to handle. If you know you are likely to fall a lot, choose a rope with a higher fall rating. If you rarely fall (or at least that’s the plan), then pay more attention to enhancements to the sheath, which will probably keep the integrity of your rope going for the long haul.

Single, Double or Twin Ropes

You can keep it simple with a single climbing rope, and this is definitely the way to go if you are buying your first lifeline. As you progress and take the lead, you may want to double-up on your protection; this is where double and twin ropes come in.

The advantage of using a double or twin rope is having a back-up rope if one of your ropes fails. Another advantage of double or twin ropes is a longer belay line for steep, multi-pitch climbs. Double ropes are dual ropes that are generally a little thicker than twin ropes. Generally, each double rope is alternately clipped through your pro as you climb, while the skinnier twin ropes are both threaded through every piece of pro. Double and twin ropes take more skill and expertise to manage, so practice working with them before you make this investment.

Other Important Considerations

A crucial factor when choosing a climbing rope is elasticity. This can be measured by the static and dynamic elongation percentage. The higher the dynamic elongation, the more stretch your rope will have.

If the sheath is not securely meshed to the core of your rope, you will experience bunching in your rope, sort of like a falling sock. Most manufacturers will rate this bunching under the term sheath slippage; look for a low sheath slippage.

Ropes come in a variety of lengths, generally anywhere from 30 meters to 100 meters, with the norm falling in the 60-80 meter range. If you buy a long rope, you should keep your eye out for a bi-pattern. With a bi-pattern, the color and pattern of the rope changes at the mid-way point, so you can find the middle of your rope easily.

Another important factor is the weight of the rope, as climbing ropes are quite heavy and must be carried long distances. Since ropes vary in length, the weight is calculated as weight per meter in grams; this gives a fair baseline comparison regardless of the length of the rope.

Handling a climbing rope can be incredibly challenging, so one factor you may want to keep an eye out for is a pre-trained coil. A climbing rope with a pre-trained coil means it stacks neatly for traveling right off the bat. Not every manufacturer offers this, but it’s a nice little bonus.

You should definitely look for a good protective shield on the sheath; this will keep water and dirt from damaging your rope and weighing it down. When it comes to bounce or “give,” if you want a firm static line, then choose a rope with a low threshold of static elongation. For a springy line, choose a rope with a high dynamic elongation percentage.

Now that we’ve covered all the important factors, let’s go shopping…

We’ve checked out customer satisfaction, performance, and reliability with lots of dry protected lightweight ropes in the mix, in order to recommend a few of our faves. Whether you want a reliable static line, or twin dynamic climbing ropes, you are going to find something you love to accompany you on your next big adventure.