The climbing equipment that will be holding you up on the crag will be your climbing rope. It is the most important piece of equipment in your climbing gear and you cannot climb without it. However, no matter how many knots you can do, if you do not store your rope properly, it will get damaged over time!
So how do you store climbing rope so it doesn’t get damaged? It is important to understand that storing does not mean putting it away. It is important to store the climbing rope during and after your climb as well! Not only that, but once you are home it is important to store the rope under proper conditions.
Otherwise, the next time you go to the crags for a climb, you will find that your rope has been damaged!
Key Takeaways
- Storage is not just important at home, but during your climb as well! Protect it from dust and debris inside a rope bag.
- Storage at home should be in a cool, dark, and moisture-free area to protect the climbing rope from damage.
- Make sure to check for damages on the climbing rope before storing it. Learn the ways you can identify cuts, abrasions, and other damages on the rope.
Storing Climbing Rope During a Climb
As I have mentioned, storing doesn’t mean just storing it at home. You have to also store your rope to safely carry it between crags you are climbing. What is important making sure you can quickly get the rope in and out without any knots.
Rope Bag
What’s great about rope bags is that it protects the rope from dirt, debris, and sunlight. Direct sunlight will wear down the fibers in the rope, making it more likely to form breakage. And if that break happens when you are climbing, then you are at risk of serious injuries.
The rope bag has two parts, the outer protective case and an inner tarp that comes out which has loops on its side.
To store your climbing rope in your rope bag:
- Step 1: Take out the inner PVC tarp of the rope bag and lay it flat on the ground. Make sure the loops of the tarp are on opposite ends.
- Step 2: Take one end of the rope and tie it around one loop of the inner tarp. You don’t have to tie it too tightly, just enough to make sure that the rope is secured.
- Step 3: Then, feed the rope onto the tarp sheet by flaking it. You do this by sliding the rope from one hand to the other and then onto the rope. This makes sure that there are no knots while it is in the bag.
- Step 4: When you are at the other end of the rope, tie it in the opposite loop. This makes sure that the ends do not get in between the ropes and make a knot.
- Step 5: Gather all sides of the tarp in one hand, lift it, and put it in the rope bag.
And that is how you store the climbing rope inside the rope bag. Some rope bags will have the tarp sheet attached to the bag so storing it is much easier. To take out your climbing rope, simply take the tarp out and untie the loops and you will have no knots in your climbing rope.
Coiling the Rope
Coiling the rope is another way you can keep the rope safe while you are on the climb or traveling between crags. There are 3 ways to coil the rope: butterfly coil, rope coil, and backpack coil. The video below will help demonstrate how you can coil the rope and carry it around.
The rope coil is another way you can keep your climbing rope inside your rope bag if you don’t want the rope to be loose. And if you do not have a rope bag and are worried that the rope might get tangled in your backpack, the backpack coil will help you carry the climbing rope around in between crags. However, that does not provide much protection from dust and sunlight. Finally, the butterfly coil is an excellent way to store your climbing rope at home.
How and Where to Store Climbing Ropes at Home?
After you are done with your climb, taking your climbing rope home and storing it is important to keep it safe for your next climb. Remember to wash and dry the climbing rope after you are done climbing before you store it.
Inside a Rope Bag
Much like how you take your climbing rope around during your climbs, you can neatly store the rope inside a rope bag. Remember to make sure that the rope is completely dry after the wash. This helps the climbing rope stay untangled inside the bag and ready for your next climb.
Hanging the Rope
This is where the butterfly coil is important! You can hang the rope in your house if you do not want to keep it inside the rope bag. Simply attach a carabiner at the top part of the butterfly coil and hang it. That way, your climbing rope is not tangled and you can easily undo the butterfly coil when you go out to climb.
The place where you store is just as important as how you will store it. To increase the longevity of your climbing rope, you should have them placed in a place where the environment does not harm the climbing rope.
These are:
Cool Places with the Same Temperature
Your closet, attic, and basements are all nice and cool places to store your climbing rope. However, if the place gets too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter then it would become a problem for the climbing rope. That is why the place you want to store has to also be an area with no big changes in temperature. That way, your climbing remains safe in storage for a longer time and there are fewer chances of it breaking during your climb.
Away From Sunlight
The UV light from the sun breaks down the fibers in your climbing rope. There is not much you can do if your rope is in direct sunlight while you are hanging on a crag. However, in storage, you should make sure that there is no sunlight shining on your rope. Storing in a rope bag and then storing it away from the sunlight in the closet is a good way to give the climbing rope double protection while in storage.
See Also: How To Multi-Pitch Climb?
Free of Moisture and Chemicals
The last thing you want on your climbing rope is to get it wet while in storage. This will expand the rope and weaken its core so there is more damage to it the next time you bring it out. Chemicals are another way that the core of your climbing rope can be weakened so make sure that where you are storing the climbing rope is away from any chemical substances.
Checking for Damage on Your Climbing Rope
Before you store your climbing rope, it is important to check if there are any damages to your climbing rope. In this way, you can make sure that storing the climbing rope does not increase the damage. While checking, you want to see if there are any cuts, abrasions, or flat spots and if any part of the rope feels soft.
Checking with Eyes
The first step to checking the rope is to check with your eyes. You may notice abrasions, cuts and flat spots in this manner so always mark the areas where you think the rope might be damaged. To check with your eyes, keep the rope as close to your eye as possible and look over the whole length of the rope. Don’t forget to check all the sides of the rope!
Inspecting with Hand
After marking down the spots you think have damage, then use your hands to feel for the areas. In this way, you can confirm the damages that you could see. Another thing is to check if the climbing rope has flat or soft spots. These are early indications that the rope is starting to wear out and you might have to change it very soon!
See Also: What Is Climbing Chalk Made Of?
Climbing Rope Care Tips
With all the storage points out of the way, it is time to learn a few tips on how to take care of your climbing rope.
- Unpack a new climbing rope carefully.
- Clean it after every climb and before storing it; don’t wash it in a washing machine.
- Avoid overchalking your hand.
- Two ropes should not be on the same sling.
- Regularly inspect your climbing rope.
- If the middle of the rope is damaged, do not use it!
FAQs
How long can I store my climbing rope?
It depends on the manufacturer and their instruction on how long before you should retire a rope. Usually, you can store your climbing rope for about 10 years.
When should I replace my rope?
f there are any breaks in the middle of the rope, that is when you definitely retire the rope. If there are cuts and breaks at one of the rope, you can just cut it to get rid of it.
Can I store my climbing rope in a tangled way?
It is highly advised the ropes should be stored loosely and untangled. That way, when you bring out the rope there are no parts of the ropes that are rubbing against each other.
Final Thoughts
Storage is just as important for the climbing rope as its maintenance. Always remember that you are not just storing your climbing rope at home, but you are also storing it while traveling with it on your climbs. Make sure that your climbing rope is not damaged by regularly checking it and you will have a climbing rope that will not only last a long time but also not let you down on your climbs, quite literally!
