XTC and mech. ascenders?

Roger,

For a great sourse for climbing equipment and ropes check karstsports.com They offer free shipping for orders over $100 and I usually get delivery in two to three days. (roughly .70 per foot of KMIII 3/8")

Tony
 
Ok! So if I got this correctly:

XTC will work well with mech. ascenders (if they fit, obviously).
XTC is a 16 braid non-kernmatle because the core has nothing to do with the strength of the rope, it is only to keep roundness.

According to Yale's webstie, XTC Fire has an elongation rate of 0.5% @ 200 lbs, which doesn't seem like too much to me. But Kevin said that it has moderate stretch? So, with XTC does this mean that if my sheath gets a little frayed it's no good for climbing, which would happen with mech. asnceders anyways so it would be better to get true kernamantle if I am going to use mech. ascenders regularly? thanks for the patience! I don't want to sink $150+ into a rope and have it for 3 months and need to replace it, I'm on limited budget here :)

mateo
 
If you need a rope just for mechanical access I would opt for static kernmantle.
If you need a rope for double duty, access and working then dynamic XTC but try and be kind when using the ascenders.
 
Most arbo ropes are on the static end of the spectrum. They have to be to meet ANSI specs.

The core in 16 strand ropes does add strength, it also keeps them round.
 
I agree with the use of statics for mechanical ascents, especially really long ones. I use Sterling HTP, which is excellent, but you've got to be sure you have the rope firmly set- even a short drop on a static rope could really hurt you. The sterling has less than 2% stretch. But it's small, light, and strong, ascenders move very smoothly, it's easy to tie, and you don't waste as much energy as on a bouncing rope. I don't know about the KMIII but the HTP is really great for footlocking.
 
I'm not so much worried about bounce though, all the tree climbing I have done up to this point has been SRT with a dynamic mountain climbing rope... so I am very used to wasting energy on an ascent.

mateo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom