PRODUCTS
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PRODUCTS
LOOKING AFTER YOUR CLIMBING ROPE – PART I
ESSENTIALS
Category:
ROPES
Application:
INDOOR, VIA FERRATA, ALPINE CLIMBING, SPORTS CLIMBING
Date:
23.07.2020
Author:
Team Edelrid
All EDELRID ropes meet the very highest quality and safety standards. Every meter has been carefully manufactured and finished. Our ropes are subjected to rigorous testing. They are prepared in the best way possible and are ready to be used all around the world. When you buy an EDELRID rope, our work is over; the rope becomes your responsibility and you stand at the beginning of a great adventure. There are a few basic rules that every climber should observe in order to get the best out of their rope. It's important not to forget that a rope is essentially a textile product and should be looked after and used accordingly. Here are some practical tips for looking after your rope.
Uncoiling
Most ropes are coiled and packaged before they leave the factory. This is why it's important to carefully uncoil your rope when you unpack it to reverse this process. If you don't, you might end up with unwanted twists and kinks.
To uncoil your rope, carefully remove the securing bands, slide your lower arms though the middle of the coil and then pull them apart so that the rope forms a ring. Keeping the tension on the coils, rotate your lower arms slowly around each other to carefully unwind the rope into a pile on the floor. Take care that no loops get wrapped around your wrist. Once the whole rope has been uncoiled, run it through two or three times and shake it out to remove any last twists or kinks. When you are finished, coil up the rope, or even better store it loosely in a rope bag. It's best to carry out the whole process indoors or over a rope bag, to ensure that it remains free from dirt.
Coiling
Coiling is the best way to transport your rope if you don't have a rope bag. It keeps your rope clean and stored in a handy manner. It takes a while to learn how to coil your rope properly. Here are a few tips to bear in mind. Firstly, it doesn't really matter whether you coil your rope doubled from the middle or from the ends. It can also be coiled as a single strand from one end. The important thing is to coil it in loops and not in rings like a cable. The easiest way to do this is to collect the loops in one hand or hang them over your neck to the left and the right alternatively.
Storage and transport
Rope bags are the best way to store and transport your rope. They provide plenty of room, pack down small and have a tarp to protect the rope from dirt and moisture. Attach one end of the rope to a tie-in loop on the corner to prevent the end from running through the belay inadvertently when lowering. Then run the rope through your hands and stack it in loops on the tarp. The lead climber can now tie in to the free end. When you move on, tie the free end to the second loop on the tarp, roll it up and secure it in the rope bag.
Storage
If you don't intend to use your rope for a longer period or over the winter, then it's important to store it properly. Ideally, you should store it in a dry, dark, cool place and not in a container. The best way to do this is either in a rope bag or neatly coiled up and away from direct sunlight, chemicals, heat and any sources of mechanical damage. Do not hang the rope from one of its coils. Storing a rope permanently in the boot of your car is a bad idea. It could be exposed to large fluctuations in temperature and maybe even harmful chemicals.
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