A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Climbing Ropes
Before you climb on, strap in with one of these trustworthy climbing ropes.
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It’s time to buy a climbing rope, and you’re starting to feel overwhelmed. Static? Dynamic? What does it all mean? What is measured in millimeters? DOES size matter? All of these questions and more are surely flying through your head, but worry not. Below, I break down all the factors to consider when choosing a climbing rope and recommend 10 great options to suit every type of climber.
Best Climbing Ropes
The Expert: Between summer stints as a National Park Ranger and CWI-certified climbing guide, I’ve had the pleasure of bouncing around some of the sweetest climbing areas in the country over the past four winters. During these six-month periods of simulated retirement, I have incidentally tested all types of climbing systems by whipping through the air in sandstone coliseums, clenching my teeth up conservatively protected granite spires, descending into the intimidating depths of limestone cave systems, and much more.
How to Find the Right Climbing Rope for You
Climbing ropes come in a vast array of shapes, types and sizes, all tailored to specific settings and conditions. Unfortunately, this makes the purchase of ropes uniquely easy to mess up. The good news is that there is some order to the madness, and you can find clarity by considering a rope’s type, diameter, and length.
Types
There are two main types of climbing ropes used for navigating vertical terrain. This guide focuses mainly on dynamic ropes, which are designed to stretch as they arrest a climber’s fall in order to maximally absorb impact. Static ropes stretch very little, which makes them abjectly horrible for catching falls. Imagine bungee jumping but the line doesn’t rebound as you fall. However, static lines are very efficient for controlled descents (like rappels), hauling, or ascending lines for work or photography.
Diameter
A rope’s diameter is a hugely important factor in its durability and largely determines its best use. Thicker climbing ropes can withstand many more dynamic impacts than thinner ropes. This being said, the thicker your rope, the heavier it will be, and at a certain point it will cease to be compatible with popular belay devices. The Petzl GriGri+ belay device boasts the widest range of rope compatibility, operating best with diameters ranging from 8.9 to 10.5 millimeters; it’s good to keep that range (or the range of your own belay device) in mind when choosing a rope.
I have found that 9.5- to 9.8-millimeter ropes are an excellent balance of weight and durability for most climbing settings. Whether you’re training in the gym, hitting a casual crag day, redpointing a hard project, or going out for a day of adventure, 9.5 to 9.8 millimeters can almost surely fit your needs.
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Length
The length of your regular climbing rope should directly reflect the setting in which you plan to use it. Depending on the climbing that you have immediate access to or the project you have planned, you might want a rope that is between 40 to 80 meters. Your rope needs to be at least twice the length of the wall that you plan to climb, plus another 15 to 30 feet for a reasonable belay. I’ll leave that math up to you, but keep in mind that the longer and thicker your rope is, the heavier it will be. Balance length and diameter for carrying convenience.
Climbing Rope Safety
Always defer to a manufacturer’s guidelines when evaluating the lifespan of goods—including climbing ropes—that are responsible for your mortal safety. Ropes are rated for a specific quantity of severe falls. It’s important to understand the different types of falls and how many of what types of falls your gear is rated to endure. Be sure to replace your climbing rope when it starts to show signs of significant wear, such as when the core fibers start to peek through the exterior sheath.
Three Fail-Safe Tips When Buying a Climbing Rope
- Don’t be hasty. Take time to figure out exactly what product will best suit your needs.
- Buy it yourself. Such a complex decision about specialized equipment should not be left to your friends or family who are looking to buy you a great gift.
- You don’t need the fanciest one! More than likely, the best climbing rope for you is going to be one of the most basic models available.
How We Evaluated
The climbing ropes I recommend below were largely selected to meet the needs of folks new to climbing who are looking to top-rope or lead-climb in single-pitch environments. Some ropes—like the Petzl Volta, Sterling, and BlueWater—are geared toward much more specific situations and would likely not serve best as a first, or sole, rope in your quiver. I considered qualities such as ergonomics, durability, and price when choosing ropes for various climbing disciplines and situations.
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Affordable
Cons
- Limited length options
- Not suitable for outdoor climbing
The Summit Master can take more falls than most other ropes on the market while maintaining a surprisingly lightweight and ergonomic profile, making it perfect for pushing yourself in a gym setting.
Key Specs
| Best For | Gym climbing |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 50 or 60 m |
| Diameter | 10.2 mm |
Pros
- Lightweight yet strong
- Versatile
- Bluesign-certified
Cons
- You won’t always need or want 70 meters of rope
This is the rope that I use for just about everything. Striking a good balance of weight, durability, and price, it’s a great all-rounder that I have continued to buy as I wear through them.
Key Specs
| Best For | Frequent outdoor climbing |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 40, 60, or 70 m |
| Diameter | 9.8 mm |
Pros
- Good value
- Durable sheath
Cons
- Relatively low fall rating
- Mediocre handling
Although Black Diamond Products are not typically my preference, they are often a solid bet for beginner climbers and climbers with less intense needs. This is a reliable and affordable rope that can be easily found at online retailers and gear stores all over the country.
Key Specs
| Best For | New climbers |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 35, 40, 60, or 70 m |
| Diameter | 9.9 mm |
Pros
- Lightweight
- Wide range of belay compatibility
- Smooth handling
Cons
- Lacks versatility
- Rated for fewer falls
Time to let it rip on the project? Tie in with the Petzl Volta, and float like a feather. This rope is not for daily use. Thin ropes like these are rated for far fewer falls than some of the other models I recommend, so use it sparingly.
Key Specs
| Best For | Sending a hard project |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 30, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 100 m |
| Diameter | 9.2 mm |
Pros
- Dry-treated
- Unique patterning
- Smooth handling
- Relatively high fall rating
Cons
- Some users have experienced relatively quick sheath decay
If your climbing plans extend past straight forward, single-pitch cragging, the Maxim Platinum is a great pick. Its unique patterning changes towards either end of the rope, informing a rappelling climber of their progress along the strand. In conjunction with dry treating to mitigate weakness in wet conditions, these features make the Platinum a great contender for a more involved day out on the rock.
Key Specs
| Best For | More adventurous climbing |
|---|---|
| Available Length | 70 m |
| Diameter | 9.8 mm |
Pros
- Good weight-to-durability ratio
- Pleasant handling
Cons
- Middle mark wears quickly
A revamped classic from Mammut’s line, this rope is well-loved as an excellent and balanced all-rounder that can handle the demands of most climbing situations day in and day out. Mammut makes very little changes as it retools this rope, mostly because it was so good to begin with.
Key Specs
| Best For | Everyday cragging |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 50, 60, 70, or 80 m |
| Diameter | 9.5 mm |
Pros
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Bicolor pattern for rope management clarity
Cons
- Relatively low fall rating
- Expensive
This is exactly the type of rope that should not be your first—it’s just got more features than a beginner climber needs. However, the Ion R is a fantastic and versatile rope with all the bells and whistles necessary for difficult and adventurous terrain, like a bicolor pattern for safety.
Key Specs
| Best For | Mountaineering |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 60, 70, or 80 m |
| Diameter | 9.4 mm |
Pros
- Versatile
- Durable
- Responsible production
Cons
- Bicoloring might be ineffective if colorblind
- More than a beginner really needs
With bicolor patterning for easy rappels, dry treatment for inclement weather, a solid fall rating, and eco-friendly composition, it feels like there’s no limit to what you can do with the Caldwell Eco. The rope was named after and developed with pro climber Tommy Caldwell.
Key Specs
| Best For | Eco-conscious crushers |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 60, 70, or 80 m |
| Diameter | 9.6 mm |
Pros
- Well-balanced
- Durable sheath and middle mark
- Lightweight
Cons
- Might to too long for most beginning climbers
The Contact is an excellent workhorse with smooth handling that conveniently comes in 80 meters for climbers who need that extra length.
Key Specs
| Best For | Full-length pitches and tall climbs |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 60, 70, or 80 m |
| Diameter | 9.8 mm |
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Compatible with common climbing gear
Cons
- Not dry-treated, so less equipped for wet weather
Whether you’re snapping sweet pics of the crew or just rappelling to rappel, this is the rope for you. Because this is a static rope, don’t use it for rock climbing.
Key Specs
| Best For | Rappelling |
|---|---|
| Available Lengths | 65, 100, or 200 m |
| Diameter | 9 mm |
Expert Joe Knapp on Maintaining and Making the Most of Your Climbing Rope
PM: When is it time to replace a climbing rope?
JK: Always defer to manufacturer guidelines! Read that boring little book. How often your rope needs to be replaced depends on the way you use and care for it, so get to know the thing.
PM: What are some essential knots every climber should know?
JK: A good climber has a large toolbox of knots, hitches, and systems to pull from, but everybody should at least know their clove, girth, and munter hitches; figure eights, overhand knots; and of course, how to tie those two knots on a bight. REI has a great video series on basic knots for rock climbers.
PM: Any advice for climbers who are just getting started with outdoor climbing?
JK: Find a mentor! This is not something to be learned from videos and hearsay. Seek reliable instruction.
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