Climbing rope is an indispensable piece of equipment for anyone who enjoys scaling walls, cliffs, or trees. The best climbing rope is made of high-strength fibers to support a tremendous amount of weight. Ropes can also be highly elastic, which helps absorb the shock of a fall. In addition, rope for climbing is treated with a water-repellent coating to protect against moisture and dirt. Whether you're a beginner tree trimmer or an experienced rock climber, a climbing rope can help you reach new heights.

Rock Climbing Rope for Indoor and Outdoor Adventures

There are two types of rock climbing rope: static ropes and dynamic ropes. Static ropes are used for ascending or rappelling, while dynamic ropes absorb the shock of a fall. Indoor gym climbing rope is typically made of nylon, while outdoor ropes are usually polyester or Kevlar. Accessory cords are also an essential rope used when climbing. 

Rock climbing rope is rated according to its breaking strength. When choosing a rope, it’s important to select one appropriate for the type of climbing you’re doing. For example, a sport climb rope should have a different breaking strength than a traditional rope for climbing. With so many types and sizes of rock climbing rope available, it’s easy to find one for your next adventure at Armbury. 

Tree Climbing Rope for Arborists

If you’re an arborist, having the right arborist rope is essential for your safety. When choosing an arborist rope, it’s necessary to consider strength, weight, and flexibility. In addition, you need to make sure the rope is compatible with your climbing gear. Tree climbing rope comes in a variety of lengths and diameters–a popular option is a 150 ft arborist rigging rope, suitable for most tree-care jobs. Browse our selection of rope for arborist jobs to find the best climbing rope for your next tree-climbing task.

Choosing the Best Climbing Rope for Your Activity

The size of rope for climbing you choose depends on the activity and climbing hardware you use. Your climbing rope must fit your climbing accessories for ultimate safety and ease of use. Whether you’re looking for a gym climbing rope or a 150 ft arborist rigging rope, you can find what you need at Armbury. Shop our selection of climbing rope, carabiners, slings, and more today!

Rope FAQs

What rope is best for climbing?

The best rope for climbing most of the time is a dynamic rope. Dynamic rope makes the best rock climbing rope and gym climbing rope because of the different levels of stretchability, which help absorb the impact of a fall. 

Another type of climb rope is the static rope. This type of climbing rope offers limited movement and stretch, which makes them the best option for haul lines, caving, rappelling, rescue, and tree climbing ropes.

What is the point of climbing ropes?

Climbing ropes are an essential part of any climber's toolbox to help prevent falls. There are a few climbing ropes available for different climbing styles, including rock climbing ropes and ropes for arborists to safely work on trees.
 

What is the rope called in climbing?

The rope used to help climbers scale and rappel rock walls are called climbing ropes. Climbing ropes vary in style (dynamic vs. static), thickness, and purpose, depending on the climber’s needs.
 

How thick should a climbing rope be?

How thick a climbing rope should be depends on the type of climbing you’re doing. Most ropes fall between 9 and 10.5mm. While lightweight single ropes may not be rated to hold as many falls as a thicker 10 or 10.5 mm rope, they are ideal for multi-pitch climbs where every ounce of weight matters, or climbing styles where repeated falls or top-roping is common.

Single ropes of 10mm and above are best suited for those applications not appropriate for a lightweight rope. We recommend using a 10mm+ rope for big-wall climbing, top-roping, and where frequent falls are more likely to occur.
 

How often should climbing ropes be replaced?

Climbing rope lifespan comes down to a few factors:

• Frequency of use:
  • Rarely used ropes with no signs of wear- up to 7 years
  • Never used-10 years is the maximum lifespan. 
  • Used once a month-up to 5 years
  • Regular use (several times a month)-Up to 3 years
• Number of falls: Every rope is rated for a certain number of falls. This number should not be exceeded.
• Sign of wear: These may include rope stiffness or loss of elasticity, flat spots, whitened or faded coloring from chemicals, heat, or sunlight.
• If you’re wondering how often an arborist rope should be replaced, ANSI regulations require arborist ropes used for daily tree work to be replaced yearly.

What type of rope do arborists use?

The best climbing rope for arborists are static ropes made of durable all-weather materials like double braided polyester or nylon.

What is the difference between climbing rope and arborist rope?

Climbing rope, like dynamic rope, offers extra elongation or stretch that helps absorb the impact of a fall. Arborist rope is a static rope that provides a more controlled experience, which is helpful in situations where a stretchy rope can make a task more difficult.