Skinny size, fat function

If you’re looking to slim down in rope size but have been hesitant because of durability concerns, look no further. By upping the amount of sheath on the rope with a super-tight braided structure, you get more stiffness, less flop, and ultimately a longer lifespan. While the core still provides the strength of your cord, a denser sheath will add rigidity so it has a thicker feel without added width or weight. It also means more material standing between the core and agents of abrasion. Thanks to that tight outer material, “This rope slid through gear like water through a sieve, so it was great for long routes where rope drag would otherwise be an issue,” one tester said. Despite the thin diameter, which usually means more dynamic elongation, the stretch on this was minimal when one tester took about seven falls at the crux of Horizontal Mambo (5.13a), Potash Road, Utah. “I would deem the slogan of this rope, ‘Worry less, climb more!’” he said. Feel free to take this on long slogs to the crag, too, as it’s 56 g/m, so the 60-meter version weighs in at a mere 7.4 pounds. Bonus: It’s rated as a half rope, too.