8mm Rope for Tree Climbing?

[Steve Bullman]

You should ask them next time you're in the rock climbing shop Mike...im sure they'll advise strongly against it

[Pete Mctree]

Too bouncy to be practical Mike. If you want a narrow rope have you tried Samson velocity? It's the smallest in the hand of the 11.1mm ropes IMO

[High Scale]

Only time I've heard it being used is for seed collecting when you HAVE to climb above your TIP.

[Jonny69]

Rock climbing ropes have nothing like the sustained abrasion resistance of tree ropes. They are designed to hardly rub anything until a fall occurs, and then sustain their integrity whilst potentially running over sharp rock edges.

 

If you were really intent on using one I would only do it with a pulley set in the top and keep a very close eye for damage to the outer, especially when you get sharp bits of bark or descend through tight forks.

 

This is all pointless really because you will hate it as they bounce loads, sapping energy. Also you will want to use a grigri or similar on it. They have a lower heat resistance and I would guess that running a normal hitch for any length of time would lead to glazing and possibly melting the hitch to the climbing line very quickly.

 

You would be better off with this

 

Beal Antipodes 9mm to 11mm in diameter

 

I use that as my access line when footlocking but it doesn't knot very easily and is very stiff in the hand.

[Nellybelly]

Scott Forest wrote a little piece on the tree tools blog about a cut piece having to be lowered over his dynamic lanyard, the friction instantly burned through the sheath of the dynamic rope writing off the lanyard in 1 go!! a risk you could take with a lanyard but not your main climbing line imo!

 

Also isn't the min recommended diameter for a mainline 10mm???

[Ewan Murray]

I know of people who use 8mm rope as an access line for SRT for massive lengths of rope 200m plus when weight really is an issue. I would if i had to use an 8mm climbing line rather use armor prus or another friction cord.

[Nellybelly]

think it might be a H.S.E thing in the uk, not 100% sure tho:confused1:

 

Not so much that it isnt safe to use like you say we climb with 8mm hitch cord just that if something happened and you where using a mainline not up to the task in the eyes of the h.s.e you could be left without a pot to piddle in!

[BenR]

I know some fellas in the states who climb on 9mm pmi static line.. Bit bouncy from what I can gather.. I wouldnt want to unless it was for an access line way out in the bush where you want a low weight pack to trek in as Ewan was saying.. 11mm is about as thin as im comfortable with in terms of grip and not cacking my pants.

[Tom D]

It might be nice but I would be worried about damage, a silky nick that may take out a couple of strands on a thicker rope could do serious damage. It may be really hard on the hands on those occasions where you climb on the rope, there is a noticeable difference between 13mm and 11mm 8 may be a step too far? Why not buy 5m and make up a lanyard, try it out for a while?

[ben lightfoot]

I think hse says that 10mm climbing line is the smallest diameter and 8mm friction cord im only making reference from the cs38 schedule