Climbing gyms have been gaining rapidly in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Between the technical challenge of learning how to climb a wall properly, and the physical demands that climbing places on the body, this is an activity that engages both body and mind.
Of course, for a great day at the climbing gym, you are going to need a great rope – and that’s the topic at hand in this article. Let’s discuss how to pick out the best rope for your gym climbing needs, and what to watch for when you shop. To get assistance in finding the right rope for this purpose, feel free to reach out to SEACOtoday. We are here to serve you!
A Basic Education in Gym Climbing Rope
Before you can buy a gym climbing rope, you’ll need to understand some basic terms that you are likely to encounter when shopping. There are plenty of climbing ropes available from the top brands in this market, but not all of them will be suitable for your needs.
As a starting point, you likely want what is known as a “single rope”. Being designated as a “single” rope means that the rope is suitable for use by itself as the only line that is assisting you on the climb. Therefore, it can handle the job of protecting the climber all by itself, without the support of another rope. If you are looking at a rope in a store and aren’t sure whether it is a single rope, check the ends. They mark single ropes with the number “1” inside of a circle. Or reach out to SEACO and we can point you in the right direction.
Also, besides shopping specifically for a single rope, you’ll need a dynamic rope instead of a static rope. Dynamic ropes have the stretching ability required for most of the tasks that you will attempt in a climbing gym. While there is a place for static rope in the world of outdoor climbing, it’s rarely required for indoor gyms.
Getting Specific
So, we know you are looking for a dynamic, single rope for your indoor climbing adventures. But that’s only the start of the search for the best rope for your needs. Next, you’ll need to narrow down your selection on characteristics such as the thickness of the rope, as well as the length.
First, let’s talk about the length of the rope. Since we are referring to indoor climbing, you shouldn’t need ropes that are as long as what you would use outdoors. The basic rule of thumb here is that you need your rope to be at least double the height of what you’ll be climbing, so you can use it to safely lower all the way back down to the ground. Of course, you don’t want to go too much beyond that doubling mark, as that will leave you with an excess rope that adds weight. Indoor ropes are common in the 30-meter to 40-meter range, but that will depend entirely on the height of the walls available at your gym.
Moving on to thickness, indoor climbers lean more toward a thicker rope rather than the thinner alternatives on the market. It is tempting to go with a thin rope due to its light overall weight, but that choice will come back to haunt you in terms of durability. If you want something that is going to stand up well to regular use in the gym week after week, a rope that is at least 10mm thick is the way to go.
One Other Note
If the rope you are purchasing is only going to be used for indoor gym climbing, you won’t need to worry about how that rope would perform in wet conditions. Outdoor ropes need to maintain their performance characteristics even when the conditions are wet, but that’s just not a concern inside of a gym. Since ropes that are dry-treated – meaning they can deal with the moisture – cost more than standard ropes, you can save yourself the money and not worry about this added feature.
Not only is it important to pick out the right type of gym climbing rope, but it’s also important to get that rope from a reputable source. That’s where SEACO comes into the picture. When you order from us, you can be sure you are getting a quality product at a fair price. Thank you for taking the time to visit and we hope to receive your order soon.