Climbing rope

It is a critical part of an extensive chain of protective equipment (which also includes climbing harnesses, anchors, belay devices, and carabiners) used by climbers to help prevent potentially fatal fall-related accidents.

Climbing ropes must meet very strict requirements so that they do not break in the event of an accidental fall.

However, they also need to be light, flexible for knotting, and resistant to chafing over sharp and rough rocks; all that in all possible weather conditions.

Although ropes made of natural fibres such as hemp and flax were used in the early days of alpinism,[1] modern climbing uses kernmantle ropes made of a core of nylon or other synthetic material and intertwined in a special way, surrounded by a separate sheath woven over it.

They find their application in fixed ropes, zip lines and shuttles.

The rigid parts of the belay chain are strong, but only absorb a limited amount of energy.

Dynamic ropes therefore are designed to stretch by a limited amount to catch falls.