True Blue vs. Poison Ivy

[jodystreeserv3]

I got a coworker that swear true blue is the best climbing rope out there. Right now he is climbing on my old PI and he doesnt like it. I know every climber is different but im just curious what some of you guys think.

 

[dieselcutter]

In my book PI all the way. I like the LOW strech. Althought the size does take some getting used to it is not as bad as velocity, it's about in the middle. I had to wear gloves for awhile after switching from 16 strand to PI but would never go back to climbing a rubber band.

 

[jodystreeserv3]

I started with old climbing ropes, not even sure what the name was, just white ropes. Then I got PI and havent looked back. Although I do have a lava that I like.

 

[Tr33Climb3r]

true blue for climbing

i am PI all the way as well

 

[jodystreeserv3]

Iv never used true blue. What are some pros and cons

 

[Tr33Climb3r]

[ QUOTE ]
Iv never used true blue. What are some pros and cons

[/ QUOTE ]

true blue decent lighter rigging line thats all ours gets used for

 

[6t56]

true blue is so 90's

 

[tomthetreeman]

True blue is AWESOME!

...Rigging line, that is.

-Tom

 

[JeffL]

True blue makes a nice tie-down rope.

 

[Tony]

Jodystreeserv3,

True blue was originally develop as a climbing line or at least that is how it was first marketed, unless my memory fails me. To answer your question:

Pros:
Distinctive color, easily recognized and seen
Twelve strand construction deals well with abrasion
Relatively high stretch.
Hollow braid construction allows it to hold knots well.
Light weight

Cons:
Not Hand splicable. (a stitched splice can be used)
Flattens out under load making hitches cumbersome
Relatively high stretch
Hollow braid construction can allow some knots to get really tight.

As you can see some of it's pro's are also cons and vice versa.

It boils down to application.

Having said all that, I do not use it as a rigging line, but it is my favorite natural crotch rigging line or false crotch rigging line when I want stretch.

However, if a climber is comfortable on it as a life support line, uses it within its limitations and is safe and productive then knock yourself out!!
(Disclaimer: the above statement hold true for any thing from climbing lines to personal lubrication.)

Have I answered your question?

Tony

 

[Slim]

i've only ever seen one person climbing on true blue and he was a City of Hamilton guy. Any other time its just been in rigging. There are so many new and very nice ropes out there these days that it is hard to find one that works for you. One of my ropes is PI and i do enjoy it i must say.

 

[Blinky]

To each his own but PI and Velocity are my favorite arb ropes. Never climbed on true blue.

 

[Jesse]

It seems to me some climbers resist change. They learned to climb one way, became comfortable with it and are going to stick to their guns.

I worked with Bartlett for a couple of years. When I started with them I couldn't believe that all of the guys were climbing on taught lines, not one slack tender or split-tail on the crew. Over the two years I worked there I got a couple of the guys to switch over to using an eye&eye with a slack tender and learning how to foot lock. Most of them just wanted to keep doing it the way they always had.

 

[jodystreeserv3]

Will a VT with a hitch climber pulley work on true blue. He will be competing for the first time this year and wants to use true blue. He says he like it becuase its thicker than PI and he can grip it better. What better rope can he use that is as thick as true blue but doesnt stretch as much and has better qualities than true blue?

 

[PUClimber]

To each his own. I say if he likes it then let him rock it out. I mean it is a step up from the arborplex that I was taught to climb on. I would maybe switch him to a 16 strand like safety blue or something of that nature. The arbormaster lines are not too shabby as well.

 

[robinia]

I've had a few TrueBlue climbing lines. I liked them well enough. I ran 5/16 beeline tied in a Knut with a micropulley and no complaints! One thing for sure is it squares under load, but that never seemed to affect hitch perfomance. I never tried it with a HitchClimber but can't imagine it working well- the rope really fuzzes up and can get fairly large in diameter.
One nice thing is it never seemed to get twisted up like nearly every other rope I've used. Arbormaster, Lava, Safety Blue- they all twist up eventually and seem to tie themselves in knots and pick up twigs. TrueBlue never did that.

 

[Blinky]

For half inch ropes I don't think you can beat New England Hi-Vee.

 

[Jesse]

For 1/2" I agree Hi-Vee and Arbormaster are both good ones.

 

[Tony]

I've never tried it but it should work, but I would theorize all the benefits of using a VT would be lost or diminished.
What is the climber using now? If he/she is thinking of switching just for the comp, I would advise against that unless there is a significant amount of time between now and then.

Never, EVER go totally new on game day! There are only two possible results, you are the HERO or the ZERO!! The chances of being the latter are much, much higher!!!!

My competition advice aside, NE'S Safety Blue or any of the Samson Blue Streak series would work well as already recommended above.

Tony

 

[tomthetreeman]

Safety Blue is by far the best of the 'old school' climbing lines. For some reason, whether it's the dye or whatever, it comes in just a shade thinner than the Hi-Vee, and the cover seems to remain tight, whereas the Hi-Vee cover slips or milks over the core over time, and just seems to have more stretch in general. I am not sure why, but it's definitely true, I spent years on both of these ropes. I still have a spare Safety Blue climbing line.

-Tom