Ropes

im new to tree climbing.... i think i should get a static rope? wut diameter? thanks

Hey uplink, Welcome to the club.

I'm also a new climber with some rope questions, so I figured I'd put in my two cents and ask my questions too.

I'm currently using a static, rock climbing type rope (12 mm). It seems to work fine for me, but I keep hearing that true arborist rope is better.

I understand that static rope can get too hot and melt it you use it for a quick DRT descent with a Blake's hitch (Uplink, if this is Greek to you, be sure to get the book "Recreational Tree Climbing" or "A Tree Climber's Companion", or better still, take a lesson)

I tend to use a figure eight descender even with DRT so that's not going to be a problem for me. What other problems does the static line have? Is there a problem with knots holding or other issues?

Uplink, the other post to look at is the one of "The Fly" rope. Apparently that's great rope, but it's a bit too expensive for me right now.

Guys- I would seriously look at an arborist climbing line. I'm too sleepy right now to go in to all the details, but it boils down to the thicker strands on the cover handle abrasion better....and it's always nice to get the right tool for the job!

love
nick

Come on Nick. Don't get lazy on us. Sleep is no excuse.

I'm no expert but I can tell you what I know. I started climbing because I had a good 1/2'' static rope and ran across some knots for arborists in a book. I found an old Klien harness in a pawn shop for cheap and went out to try the knots (low and slow) and they worked great. The rope on the otherhand did not. The Blakes hitch was not bad but the prussik on my foot loop was imposible. Once they were loaded with my weight they became impossible to move. The friction of the rope did not let the knots release. Progress up the rope was slow. I purchased 150' of ArborPlex for $65.00 and - ta da - everything fell into place (except me - I did not fall). I was skeptical about arborist rope until I used some. As I understand ArborPlex is one of the lowest performing ropes out there. I have not tried any good rope yet.

Ditto. I had some 3/8-in static kernmantle from way back when I worked in the oceanographic world. I threw it over a beam at my house when my first tree-climbing purchase, a New Tribe saddle, arrived. I couldn't get the Blake's hitch to budge!

Long live arborist's rope!

The standard arborist rope has a polyester fiber sheath. Rock climbing ropes have nylon sheaths. Polyester is more abraision resistant, doesn't absorb water and doesn't soften as quickly under friction. There's a world of difference in performance between nylon and polyester ropes.

Regards,
Jim