How to use 8.6mm cobra II correctly, precautions, lifetime, care and maintenance with instructional pictures.
8.6mm Cobra II Unicore 70m 2xDry
Description
The great classic for adventure climbing.
Light and free-running for ease of use on long routes, on the crag and in the Alps. Technical and robust enough to sustain the most difficult loadings, it is even better today because it now benefits from all the advantages of the UNICORE technology.
This is the multi-use rope par excellence, if you don't want to own more than one double rope, it's the COBRA you must have. It has a low impact force (5,1 kN) to minimise anchor-point loading, and a sheath of sufficient thickness to withstand the most aggressive rock, all for only 48 g and a record number of falls = 16.
STRONG POINTS:
• Excellent compromise between strength and lightness.
• Low impact force and raised number of falls sustained.
• The rope doesn't bunch up and remains supple for the long term.
• Allows escape by abseil even if the sheath is cut.
Retail price
US$ 252.46
Price is a static conversion from
€225.98 EUR
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| Weight | 48.0 g/m 7.410 lbs / 3360 g |
| Diameter (millimeters) | 8.6 mm |
| Length (meters) | 70 m |
Rope Type Type
There are 3 types of dynamic ropes that are used by climbers. They are known as Single, Half (Double), and Twin. The type of rope preferred varies by climbing style, location, and region. Single
By far, the most common type of rope. Great for indoors and out. In the US, it is the most common sport and big wall and are also used for trad cragging. The handling is simple and the diameter options are quite varied. Half (Double)
The best cure for a meandering route, only one of the ropes will clip into each piece of protection so a mindful climber can can reduce rope drag considerably. You can also rappel twice the distance, it’s easier to safely protect traverse pitches and there is a smaller chance that both ropes would become damaged (by rockfall, crampons, etc). Twin
Both ropes must be clipped through each piece of protection. This is the lightest style of (two) ropes. They excel for rappels, going twice the distance vs a single rope, but do not have the ability to mitigate rope drag even though there are two ropes. It is unlikely both ropes will be damaged at once, and is why many alpine, ice and mixed climbers choose twin and/or half ropes. Learn More
Every rope type and when to use them | Half (Double) |
UIAA Falls (Single / Half / Twin)UIAA FallsThis refers to the number of UIAA falls a rope has been tested to be able to withstand without breaking. The UIAA fall is a complicated test that is designed to create a uniform standard for strength in ropes, and is not generally reflective of real-world climbing situations. The test involves dropping a weight tied to the rope in such a way that it will see the highest amount of force a real-world situation could generate. The UIAA requires that Single and Half ropes must pass this test without breaking at least 5 times, while twin ropes must withstand 12 falls. In practice, it can likely be concluded that ropes that have higher than this standard number of falls will be stronger and put up with more abuse. It is important to note that any rope that is UIAA or EN certified is considered safe to climb on, regardless of the number of UIAA falls it is rated for. | 0 falls / 16 falls / 0 falls |
Dynamic Elongation (Single / Half / Twin)Dynamic ElongationThis refers to the amount of stretch measured during the dynamic testing (or drop test) used when certifying ropes. Higher stretch will absorb more force and result in a softer catch but increases chances of groundfall at the beginning of a climb. The EN and UIAA require a stretch of at least 10% and no more than 40% for dynamic ropes. Single and Half ropes are tested individually and Twin ropes are tested as a pair. | 0.0 % / 35.0 % / 0.0 % |
Static Elongation (Single / Half / Twin)Static ElongationThis refers to the amount of stretch measured during the static test used when certifying ropes. Most climbers will notice the difference in static elongation when climbing in a top rope situation, where higher stretch will make for a springier belay and could result in a ground fall when climbing closer to the ground. The EN and UIAA require a stretch of no more than 10% for Single and Twin ropes and no more than 12% for Half ropes. Single and Half ropes are tested individually and Twin ropes are tested as a pair. | 0.0 % / 11.5 % / 0.0 % |
Impact Force (Single / Half / Twin)Impact ForceImpact force is the amount of force in kN that is measured at the testing mass during the UIAA dynamic drop rope test. When the weight is dropped, the force measured must be at or below 12kN for Single and Twin ropes and 8kN for Half ropes. The real world application of this test is determining that the rope can dissipate and absorb the appropriate amount of force from the fall as it would be felt by the climber. The variables used in the test set a situation that is well beyond anything climbers encounter, and shouldn't be considered realistic to actual climbing situations. In reality forces of this magnitude would result in severe injury as this test is designed to test the limits of the rope and not the comfort of the climber. | 0.00 kN / 5.10 kN / 0.00 kN |
Dry TreatmentDry TreatmentWhen a rope is dry treated, it has had a coating applied to its core fibers, its sheath fibers, or both. The purpose of this coating is to reduce the amount of water the rope can absorb when in wet or icy conditions. Wet ropes are heavier, handle and belay differently, and have been tested to be weaker than dry ropes. Many climbers prefer dry treated ropes for very dusty or dirty environments, as they are more resistant to uptake of dirt and can stay cleaner longer. Learn More
Benefits of Dry vs Non-Dry ropes | Sheath & Core UIAA Certified Dry (aka Golden Dry) |
| Sheath Proportion (%) | 39.0 % |
| Sheath Slippage (mm) | 0 mm |
| Type of Middle Mark | None |
| Rope End Marker | None |
| Certification | CE, EN, UIAA |
RFID / NFC OptionRFID and NCFThis technology can be helpful if you are a gym or professional business where you'd like to track the usage and age of your ropes. RFID is how items are uniquely identified using radio waves (Radio Frequency Identification). It's for 1-way communication from 10cm to 100m away depending on the frequency. Example: Airport Baggage. NFC is a subset of RFID that is restrained to close proximity communication typically less than 10cm (Near Field Communication). NFC chips can operate a 2-way signal to exchange information. Example: Apple Pay. | Yes, RFID |
No reviews yet.
The Cobras are great ropes, especially if like myself you're looking for a rope that will last and be up to many different days out across the disciplines. I am totally sold on the UNICORE construction, especially for stuff like sea cliff climbing where the chance of cutting through the sheath while abseiling into a crag is something you need to consider. They handle well and over the last few months have withstood repeated days out on rock and snow. The Cobras sell at £121 for 50m and £145 for 60m, which is middle of the road in terms of price - but you'll not be replacing these anywhere near as fast as a cheaper rope, so it's money well spent in my eyes.
Crash Test of 8.6mm Cobra and 9.1 Joker
No voice, but the demo speaks for itself as Beal cuts a traditional rope and a rope with Unicore technology. The difference is certainly dramatic.
Crash Test of 8.6mm Cobra
The demo speaks itself the quality of Unicore rope as Beal cuts a traditional rope and a rope with Unicore technology.
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