RRC Archives

Cheaper, but don't last as long.

I core shot my 9.8 beal after only 3 months of use. I do not like them at all. They get really flat really quickly and the sheath gets worn and fuzzy far quicker than it should. Lowering on a gri gri is also a task in and of itself, my beal was very jerky.

Beal Ropes have average wear, but tend to pop and crack as they get older... pretty scary, but safe! You have to realize that you are not buying a hardgood that is consistent in manufacturing. You could buy a Beal and be totally satisfied with it, or it could wear out in a hand full of route use. Rope winding machines need constant tweaking and the first rope run in a batch will be different than the last one in the batch. I think all of the companies are good, but there are a few that have rope making a bit more dialed in. That being said, I would have to say that Sterling makes a pretty consistent rope, Edelweiss is very consistent as well; on the flip side...PMI, Maxim are the most inconsistent...I have had good and really bad experiences from each. Don't buy a rope because it's on sale either!

I guess I have been lucky with Sterling and Maxim. They have both been great. I tend to trash a rope on obscure trad routes so they are both well worn now. 8 years, 2 ropes, not bad

Pru wrote: but he secretly had his Boreals resoled with stealth rubber.

I did the same thing with my Boreals, Good shoes, marginal rubber.

Thanks for the post

Crank,
Will you please just start a thread with only your logic involved? I know you posted this over a year ago but, you are a genius. Do you tote a gat also? Or do you just listen to Dr. Dre and scare us all with your swagger?