Thoughts on super static

DaveyJones

DaveyJones

Location
Riegelsville
Has anyone tried climbing SRT on super static line? I know they are designed for rappelling however the low stretch and high abrasion resistance could have some benefits.
 
I had a long (25') lanyard made out of it... I would use it in single leg mode all the time. I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work just fine. I'd put a RW on it and try it, but I cut the thing up and made three shorter lanyards out of it.
 
DaveyJones said:
Has anyone tried climbing SRT on super static line? I know they are designed for rappelling however the low stretch and high abrasion resistance could have some benefits.
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If you choose a static line, it's probably best to use a climbing device that will slip if shock loaded. If not, there's a chance to send significant forces into the line, the tree, and your body. Many static lines are also quite thin and can work harden to feel like cable. The memory they hold can also be an issue
for the performance consistency of some devices. Further, most static lines can't absorb much energy. That's a concern to me for a work positioning line.

That being said, some of the newer choices in multiscenders (Rope Runner, Bull Dog Bone, etc...) can be adjusted to slip somewhere near 150% of the climber's actual load. Technically, this avoids significant forces being sent where they shouldn't. This can make working on a static line doable, though it's not personally my first choice. I actually like a degree of a stretch in my line. Not much, just enough to keep low, repetitive forces out of my lower back.

I also prefer the "hand" of a more supple line with a decent diameter for the size of my hand. Mid 11mm to 12mm feels nice to me. There are a few real good lines with lower elongation that are so well suited for work positioning. Somewhere around 1% to 2% at 225lbs. seems nice.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02.
 
It's a block-creel kernmantle, nylon cover and core, 48-strand. As I said, I haven't climbed on the 7/16" (11.5mm) rope, other than short ascents on the 25' lanyard. But, I forgot to mention that I have a 1/2" hank of it that until very recently I used for tree access. I used it with a Rope Wrench and 10mm Ocean Polyester hitch cord. I didn't use it for work positioning. It is quite static, but being nylon it seemed to have plenty of shock absorption. I wouldn't call it bouncy, but you wouldn't expect a 1/2" kernmantle to be very stretchy. I was told by someone at Sterling that it's a popular rescue rope, and would be fine for tree access (that's all I asked them, since I wasn't using it for SRWP). It was tight in the RW and I switched to KM MAX after using the SuperStatic for a couple of months. I don't know if that's any help at all. Oceans makes some very valid points. The 7/16" version has a nice hand and knots well (I tie stopper knots in it all the time) but the 1/2" version is a bear to set a knot in.

I don't have the elongation figures for SuperStatic, but they might be on Sterling's website. Personally, I found the KM MAX (polyester cover, nylon core, 32-strand) a lot more to my liking, mostly for the reasons Oceans pointed out. It has plenty of elongation for a static line, and you can feel it even when climbing on 50' or less of it. To me, that's reassuring, to others it might be annoying. I weigh a little over 200 with gear, and use the RW/hitch with it. No idea how it works with mechanicals, other than to say that DdRT with a ZigZag it slips a little.
 
Thanks for the replys. I think I'm going to go ahead and buy one. If it turns out I don't like it, it will end up in my rock climbing/rappelling kit. Does anyone have a recommendation for another static line? I'm currently using the 11mm kernmaster by sherrill and I've found that it has a lot of sit back and it not very abrasion resistant. I've only used it for about four months and it's getting very worn out.
 
NE/ Teufelberger's Escalator is awesome with mechanicals, not so great with the hitch based SRWP devices.

Reed Wortley
CTSP #01739
ISA CA #SO-6953A
 
I've used several different super static lines. I only use them with a basal tie off so there is more rope in the system to absorb a fall. Also like said before it's nice having a rope runner that will slide when over loaded.

For me the super statics worked better with the rr. Fell through self fed quicker. Easier to release the device and less sit back. But the down sides are I started to notice it in my joints. Because of the lack of give. I prefer low stretch arborist rope.
 
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