TC
Participating member
Many years ago the first 16 strand rope I bought was a New England Hi Vee. I used this rope for about 2 years. An excellent climbing line, however.
One day I borrowed Yale XTC and used this combined with Yale split tails (for Blakes) and really liked it, Yale XTC became my main line along with the very similar Samson True Blue. I now climb mainly on Yale think its called magma ice (the blue one) and fire.
BUT - The last Yale rope I bought had a very waxy covering which i dislike, the covering seems to have lasted a lot longer than usual despite me using it on many climbs.
I decided to buy another new England Hi Vee as I remembered with the Hi Vee after a few weeks you'd get this kind of nice fluffy surface (NO WAXY COATING) which seem to allow for better grip when not using grip gloves. It just felt like a great rope for climbing on, knotting and throwing etc.
Well, what a disappointment, its like they've changed the materials/manfacturing process? used to make the rope, the old Hi Vee definitely seemed wider (large diameter, which I like on 16 strand ropes) and lighter or something. This new Hi Vee also has a waxy covering and seem narrower than the XTC (especially under load).
This is not my imagination I can post pics if anyone's interested. Has anyone else noticed this? maybe its old news from like 10 years ago? but its news to me having not used Hi Vee in well over 10 years.
New England ropes - Bring back the old New England Hi Vee!
or at least explain when the change was made and why?
All other rope manufacturers, stop putting that waxy coating on the ropes please.
One day I borrowed Yale XTC and used this combined with Yale split tails (for Blakes) and really liked it, Yale XTC became my main line along with the very similar Samson True Blue. I now climb mainly on Yale think its called magma ice (the blue one) and fire.
BUT - The last Yale rope I bought had a very waxy covering which i dislike, the covering seems to have lasted a lot longer than usual despite me using it on many climbs.
I decided to buy another new England Hi Vee as I remembered with the Hi Vee after a few weeks you'd get this kind of nice fluffy surface (NO WAXY COATING) which seem to allow for better grip when not using grip gloves. It just felt like a great rope for climbing on, knotting and throwing etc.
Well, what a disappointment, its like they've changed the materials/manfacturing process? used to make the rope, the old Hi Vee definitely seemed wider (large diameter, which I like on 16 strand ropes) and lighter or something. This new Hi Vee also has a waxy covering and seem narrower than the XTC (especially under load).
This is not my imagination I can post pics if anyone's interested. Has anyone else noticed this? maybe its old news from like 10 years ago? but its news to me having not used Hi Vee in well over 10 years.
New England ropes - Bring back the old New England Hi Vee!
or at least explain when the change was made and why?
All other rope manufacturers, stop putting that waxy coating on the ropes please.
