Reply To: Suitability of 9.5 dynamic

Hi Jerome,

I have a couple of single 9.2 mm ropes that I use. Also a 9.5, a 10, and a 10.5.

I use the 9.2 when I want something light-weight – like there’s a long hike in or I’m traveling by air etc.

It’s fine and I have no hesitations climbing with it, but it does strech more with a fall than a fatter rope and it slips through belay devices really easily. I find using two caribiners instead of one on the belay device helps a lot.

Even though the 9.2s are single ropes, I also use them as twin ropes on long climbs like Bluff Knoll or Araps as then you can do 60 m abseils and pull the rope. Also it’s useful if there are three climbers, so the leader goes up and then one rope for each other climber.

The 10.5 mm I have I use at the quarries or other places where there’s no long walk-in! Or when there are bumblies that take lots of falls…

A 9.5 is usually a pretty good compromise between weight, rope life, handling etc.