Slator Aplin keeping things organized. Photo: Gavin Hess
THR begins a more in-depth look at some of the potential skinny ropes out there for ski/ride applications.
The left to right skinny: Edelrid Rap Line, Mammut Glacier, CE4Y Slick Line, Beal Backup, Sterling V-TX, Marlow r8.
Left to right. Edelrid Rap Line, Mammut Glacier, CE4Y Slick Line, Beal Backup, Sterling V-TX, Marlow r8.
Last season, we dove into the gritty details of ski-specific rappelling on skinny, mostly static ropes. We compared belay devices, tethers, and third hands and produced a podcast discussion on the ropes we like and the considerations around them. As we build this resource, a deep dive comparison of the available rope options is a logical next step. We aim to include relevant options in our comparison, with detailed weight, diameter, and some sort of quantified friction measurement.
Here is a quick run-through of what we are trying out and a few considerations for choosing certain ropes/systems. I plan to measure weights and diameters to verify specs, but we will use reported specs for now.
Petzl RAD Line.
Petzl Rad Line
The Kleenex of ski ropes. The Rad Line uses a medium-roughness HMPE-reinforced sheath. Aside from being a worldwide standard that many skiers are familiar with, a main benefit of the Rad line is that it is tested and rated for use with Petzl’s traction devices. It is quite soft/flexible and generally has good durability/fuzz resistance. At 22 g/m and 6mm, it is on the lighter end of the weight spectrum for these ropes. Overall, the Rad makes for a good baseline comparison.
At this point, the Rad line is a hard purchase to justify at full price, $469.95 for 60m. (That’s ~$7.83/meter.)
Mammut Glacier. Left a wee bit worn. Right, spanking new.
Mammut Glacier Cord
A more robust construction than the Rad line makes the Glacier cord a great workhorse rope for higher mileage or higher friction environments. At 27 g/m, it is a fair bit heavier than the lightest options here, and its stiffer hand makes it a bit bulkier when packed down.
I often choose the Glacier cord when guiding with plans to rappel or lower clients through rocky terrain and in the summer months as a climbing tag line. I’ve had a 60m glacier cord for ~7 years now, and it remains in excellent condition, while I’ve replaced other, newer ski ropes in that time.
Price: $484.95 for 60m. It’s also hard to swallow at full price.
Beal Backup line.
Beal Backup Line
I have long considered the Backup line the best value for ski ropes. Its performance, specs, and feel are all quite similar to the Rad line, but the price is more palatable. It’s ~0.5mm thinner than a Rad line and, therefore, requires a smidge more care while setting up rappels to ensure sufficient friction. At 21g/m, it’s about the same weight and packs down a touch smaller than the Rad.
That said, the Backup line has been less durable than other options I’ve used long term. That tradeoff is likely fine for more occasional users, but the Backup line doesn’t qualify as a workhorse.
Price: $240 for 60m from Liberty Mountain
Edelrid Rap Line Protect.
Edelrid Rap Line Protect
The Rap line is unique in this category as the only rope rated for lead climbing. This rating makes it an awesome tool for specific situations involving some technical climbing, but not enough to justify a single/twin/half rope. Days spent on snow and moderate ice, given their low friction/abrasion potential, are especially suited to this skinny rope. This line is heavy and bulky; at 31 g/m, it’s not the rope I want to carry for simple objectives.
Price: $270 for 60m
Sterling V-TX.
Sterling V-TX
The V-TX is a loosely braided Dyneema core polyester sheathed 5.4mm accessory cord. The V-TX is probably best described as an outdated choice at this point. It is light (21g/m) and packs small, similar to the weight and bulk of the Backup line. There are two major complaints with the V-TX. First is sheath slippage. The sheath and core seem extra susceptible to creeping, and one can be left with a few meters of core-less rope at the end of a long rappel. This issue resolved itself with some rappelling and subsequent sheath trimming as the sheath stretched and tightened over a few uses. The second issue is the need for more high-tech fibers in the sheath; as it stands, it isn’t as abrasion-resistant or high-friction as many currently available options. I’ll give this line a pass for future purchases.
Price: $225 for 50m (available in 50m, 100m, or 200m lengths)
CE4Y Slick Line.
CE4Y Slick Line
With the Slick Line we have an option that is likely new to most THR readers. CE4Y (Canyoning Equipment 4 You) is a Swiss canyoning company that makes a rope in a ski-friendly 6mm diameter. Available from CE4Y Switzerland or in the U.S. (in 12″ increments) via HowNot2, this is likely the best deal for ski ropes. With a Dyneema core, Vectran/poly sheath, and 23 g/m weight, the specs are competitive with other options. The hand feel is stiffer out of the box than a Rad or Backup line and more similar to the Glacier Cord.
I’m excited to put the Slick Line through the paces this winter; it could be a new go-to for good weight, performance, and durability at a good price.
Price: CHF 208 or $232 for 60m including CHF 40 for shipping to the U.S.
Marlow r8.
Marlow Excel R8
The waters get a bit muddy at the bottom of the list here. The R8 is NOT an EN564 rated climbing accessory cord but a high-performance sailing line. That noted, the 5mm variant of R8 has some impressive specs–11.8kN breaking strength, 16.5 g/m, and a rough Technora/poly sheath meant to provide good grip in cleats.
It goes without saying (but we’ll state it) that this is a specialized tool and definitely needs to be used with care, if at all. Last winter, a few others and I used these ropes successfully. The R8 is a touch thinner than the Backup line, but the rough Technora sheath provides adequate friction to make rappelling reasonable with a proper setup.
In the “experimental” context, this is essentially a ~3mm SK78 Dyneema line with a ~1mm thick sheath protecting the core, allowing for better friction and decreasing the tangle factor. These features make the R8 more practical than some of the other non-climbing-rated taglines influencers market.
Price: $270 for 60m from Vela Sailing
Petzl Pur Line (no photo)
Petzl is pretty clear in stating that the Pur Line is not for skiing, but this hasn’t stopped curious skiers from trying it out.
The Pur Line is a pure Dyneema core and sheath with a tightly woven sheath and stiff hand that lends itself well to not getting hung up or abraded on rock. Its low friction on/over rock also means it’s low friction when rappelling. The 21 g/m weight is enticing compared to the Rad Line (it’ll save you ~120g for a 60m), and the price is just over half that of the Rad Line.
The folks at Petzl know something. I am inclined to agree with Petzl on this one: The Pur Line is challenging to generate friction with, is tangle-prone, and has few upsides in a skiing context, especially when you consider something like the Slick Line or Backup Line if price is a concern.
Price: $250 for 65m
Conclusion
While we have a pretty good handle on the qualitative performance of the above options aside from the Slick Line, I am excited to compile and verify some quantitative specs for these ropes that will be a resource for choosing rope systems and optimizing their applications. Hopefully, this overview is useful and serves as a compilation of the various options available, including some that may be new to many readers. More to come.
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More Skinny Ropę Resources from The High Route
Rappelling for Ski Mountaineers
Ski Mountaineering: Connecting Two Ropes
Rappelling on Skinny Ropes (part 1): Devices
Rappelling on Skinny Ropes (part 2): Tethers and Third Hands
How’s that 3mm V12 3rd hand holding up? Any other contenders?
It’s holding up great! In fact, I made a bunch of 5mm ones for rock climbing as well. It would be interesting to get them pull tested as they wear a bit, but I am confident in mine for the low-loads of rappel backup
Did I see you threw a couple stitches of thread in your photo from January? Was that to monitor for creep?
I made some with a locked brummel splice, and some with a simple tuck splice – I stitched the junction on the simple splices to prevent it coming un-tucked while unloaded. Both seem to be working fine, the brummel splice has more of a bump at the junction, but negates the need for any stitching