My climbing rope sheath started to fray after just 8 months on a big silver maple job.

I noticed it while doing my pre-climb check last Tuesday, so I cut it and retired it immediately, but has anyone else had a rope degrade that fast in wet conditions?

3 comments

3 Comments

piperbailey11d ago

Honestly, I always blamed just the water until I saw @taylor.reese's point about sap. That stuff really does wreck a rope fast.

hollyl2511d agoMost Upvoted

Ngl, it's the combo that gets you. Water swells the fibers and opens them up, then the sap gets in there and basically glues everything together. Once it dries, it sets like a weird, stiff gum that you can't really wash out. That's when the rope loses all its flex and just starts to snap under normal weight. I've had a few just crumble in my hands after a season in a wet, woodsy spot.

taylor.reese11d ago

Ever think about the tree's own sap or something? That sticky stuff can be brutal on gear, might eat at the fibers faster than just plain water.