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Is this is a bipattern rope? Because sometimes they can have a little swelling at the join.

Jim

My Sterling Nitro 9.8 is due to be retired pretty shortly. I think it's seen about 15 total climbing days in Seneca, New River Gorge, Gunks, Boulder Canyon, the Flatirons, and ice up in the Dacks... not very impressed.

theres a reason why i buy cheap 100$ ropes for cragging ;)

I think thats just some bad luck Ive had my sterling 9.8 for 2.5 years used it probably 30-40 different trips and its still going (the red and new for most of that)

I would highly recommend a 9.8-10.2mm to replace your cord...

Check SuperTopo's rope review for durability considerations:
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Climbing-Rope-Reviews/Ratings

I also take bearbreeder and Locker's advice to heart:

$32.96...
Steal of the century? Brand new 9.8, 60m for $32.96 after applied credits.

I've had two brand new ropes go bad on me. The first was a PMI that wore through the sheath after just one week of climbing in Northern Baja. Granted, the granite there was even sharper and more crystalline that JT but geez. When I contacted PMI they just said tough luck. Never bought another PMI product.

The other was a brand new Beal whose sheath burst after a short clean fall. The dealer who sold it to me replaced it immediately. I have owned several Beal's since then with no problems.

bearbreeder wrote:theres a reason why i buy cheap 100$ ropes for cragging ;)

Cause you're the cheapest person on the internet?

Ray Pinpillage wrote: Cause you're the cheapest person on the internet?

cause if you climb all the time youll actually wear out your ropes pretty fast ;)

virtually ropes last foh-ev-ahhhh =P

Yeah, that blows. I had a rope get core shot once, but it was from letting people toprope with it over an edge. They found the sweet spot where it was super sharp and that was that.

recent petzl 9.8 rope lasted about 3 months of 2 day/week climbing

I've been quite happy with my New England Glider 9.9. It isn't a skinny rope, but it has taken a beating over the last 16 months and looks brand new.

In truth, I did coreshot it earlier this month, but that was due to user error, I don't think any rope would have survived the edge it got pulled over when I fell. The 50 remaining meters are in great shape.

I have been digging my bluewater 9.4 but it was made in 2011 according to the sticker so it might be outside this current batch of Nylon. I have also had great experiences with my Beal rope 9.8

IMO it's Sterling... I've blown through two 9.8 velocities on the first day using each of them, massive core shots. One rapping to clean, the other a hold broke 15 ft up and the hold landed on the rope and cut halfway though sheath and core.

I've done the same with Mammut ropes. Core shots in the first day of use, usually rapping or jugging. Using edge protectors is a good idea.

Sounds like maybe some of you guys should be using thicker ropes or even static ropes.

In my mind a rope that needs retiring in a few weeks or a few routes without having undergone any trauma is not simply a badly made rope but a dangerous and defective one. I would raise all holy hell with the manufacturer if that happened to me. The ropes clearly don't live up to usual standards.

I've seen petzl ropes that were horrible but other than that haven't had any problems with ropes (and I usually buy on price not brand).

Jim

Have you tried contacting Sterling? Sometimes manufacturers will replaced when they've been worn abnormally fast.

Killing In The Name Of wrote: I'm pretty sure my next skinny rope is going to be the Bluewater Dominator 9.4-

I've had my worst luck of all with Bluewater ropes. Blown sheaths ridiculously fast. My ropes were fatter than 9.4 though, I think 10.2. But awesome costumer service! They replaced mine.

I had a couple friends both have their Sterlings wears out super quick. They were both the same model (sorry I can't remember which one) I think 9.5 or 9.8 diameter.

Mammut seems to make durable ropes. Petzl ones seem pretty sucky!

Hard to tell with ropes... One time they last forever, the next time it is a month...

Speaking about Sterling though. Our 9.8 Velocity ropes held up great to a 20pitch trad line down on the rough granite of Patagonia, and sport wanking around Chalten. Besides being a bit dirty, they look new still.

Five routes, no falls, and a damaged core?

Contact the manufacturer: that ain't right.

Locker, I'm not sure about the core and sheath materials, but I do think the finishing coats that are on dry ropes must help a lot.

I have had great life out of my Mammut Infinity 9.5. It has done so well over the last couple of years that I recently bought another one and it is still in the package waiting for my other one to finally die.

Mammut uses a couple different finishes. I believe one is to increase durability and lessen drag, the another is the dry coat. The combination of the them seems to work quite well.