Rope Bags

Hey everyone!
I'm looking to purchase a rope bag and Im wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Ive been looking at METOLIUS ROPE BAGS, but I'm open to any brand. I'd like to hear reviews from everyone. Any opinions are welcome. Thanks :)

I don't know what Metolius I have but it was like $40 and I love it!!

Thanks Rob!

Just get an IKEA bag, works great and super cheap.

If you're willing to spend twice the amount for the latest and greatest, check this out. I got mine as a graduation gift and I really dig it. It's super efficient since it doubles as a rope bucket and the rope feeds out without a hitch. Compresses really well into your pack as well. Cheers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaXxUx1NPTo

+1 for the Metolius Ropemaster - classic bag that's been around forever for good reason. I love the large built in tarp w/end tie offs and the double compression straps with the indestructible metal buckles - cinches down tight - simple design. The plastic buckles like on the Arcterx bag and others - ultimately you will step on and crunch them when hopping around putting your shoes on standing on the tarp at the base of the climb. Also the thing I like about the large rectangular Metolius tarp design is that you can flake the rope out in the center, fold in the sides and roll it up into the bag - next time you go to use the rope, unroll and ready to go, no flaking necessary. The Haku looks like you just dump it all into a big knot.

I personally don't really get the hype with the Ikea bags either. No tarp, no compression straps...yes they cost $0.59 but that seems like $0.59 to much for me - I get basically the same utility for free by just stuffing the rope in my backpack..?

Jus bought the elderid caddy rope bag. Best bag ive ever had. A bit weak on the pull string but otherwise amazing.
Look up how it opens and the simplicity of putting your rope away.

I like this one.
It holds a ton of gear but compresses well when empty. Mostly just use it to haul and sort gear at the car but it would be great for graging too.

+1 for the BD bag in the link above.

ikea works too, you can bungee it into a tight cigar and mount on to of your pack for the approach.

I have both the Metolius and BD Superslacker rope bags, and like the Superslacker much better. It's easier to roll up and zip, rather than wrapping up the rope and trying to roll and stuff it into the bag like the Metolius. The Superslacker also swallows 70m single or 60m doubles easier.

Hayley,

What are you planning on doing with the rope bag? Do you need the capacity to carry doubles? 70m? 60m? short or long approaches? Multi-pitch? Etc. If you're just looking for something to lay on the ground for short-approach crag days, I'm inclined to agree with the IKEA bag and supplemental tarp or something super cheap and easy. If that's not quite appealing, then cheap is the way to go provided the bag is large enough to carry whatever rope you tend to crag with (if you crag with a 10+mm 70m rope some bags might be too small to be convenient).

For longer approaches, etc. I've been sold on bags that have two straps (and thus wear like a backpack) rather than one. This is especially true if you're doing multi-pitch stuff where it's nice to carry some water, food, sandals/shoes for the descent since you can just bring the rope bag on the climb.

I wrote up a review of two metolius rope bags I bought a while back if you're interested in greater detail:
blistergearreview.com/gear-…

though I should add that the newer version (since I bought mine) of the Porta-cord is made with slightly beefier material and has a slightly larger tarp than the one in the review.

good luck!

Dave Alie wrote:I should add that the newer version (since I bought mine) of the Porta-cord is made with slightly beefier material and has a slightly larger tarp than the one in the review. good luck!

I just looked on metolius's website and it still says that that porta-cord has the tiny 3' x 3' tarp. I bought the porta-cord a while back thinking that it would have a decent sized tarp like on the ropemaster, but the tiny tarp that it comes with is practically useless.

kennoyce wrote: I just looked on metolius's website and it still says that that porta-cord has the tiny 3' x 3' tarp.

Damn, that's disappointing. My only serious criticism of the porta-cord was the small rope tarp (I see absolutely no excuses for a small tarp in a rope bag. so stupid). Just after posting that review, Metolius emailed to say that they had already taken steps to address the tarp size for the upcoming generation of the bag (the currently available generation). It's too bad if that's not the case, they're missing a chance to make a good rope bag truly great.

+1 on the IKEA bag. I've been using one for a year or so and it's holding up really well. You can fold the top edge over a couple inches and it stays open so you can use it like a giant rope bucket (belay directly out of the bag), it doesn't gather dirt like a tarp flat on the ground does, it's got 2 different length of handles for carrying and/or tying the end to, and you can throw in your shoes/draw/etc. to move short distances between climbs at the crag.

Oh yeah, did I mention that they're $0.59?

I own a couple other rope bags, including a metolius, and I haven't used any of them since picking up the IKEA bag.

Dan Allard wrote:I personally don't really get the hype with the Ikea bags either. No tarp, no compression straps...yes they cost $0.59 but that seems like $0.59 to much for me - I get basically the same utility for free by just stuffing the rope in my backpack..?

I climb/belay directly out of the bag and flake the rope back into it; no additional tarp needed. If you're careful the rope will never touch the ground and the bag doesn't take up much space with only about a 2.5 sq ft footprint. This also gives the bonus benefit that dogs can't really walk over the rope like they often do on standard tarps laid out on the ground. I don't use/need compression straps either...just fold the bag over (which it does easily since it's so big) and load it in my backpack. It takes me less time to load/unload the rope than with any other bag I've used, and it's always flaked and ready to go right out of the bag.

Highlander wrote:Just get an IKEA bag, works great and super cheap.

+1
$1.18

the ikea bag IMO is superior to a tarp/rope bag because

-its easier to flake the rope directly in the bag when you pull it

- for that climb a few metres away you can just carry the bag, no need to grab the edges of the tarp

- its much lighter

- want to carry the bag a decent distance? ... just roll it tight and stuff it in yr pack or strap it to the top

- its one dollah up here in the land of maple syrup ... you can spend that 30-40$ you saved on real gear that will save your life, or help you climb harder

- thumb yr nose at those evil outdoor companies that try to tell you gear you dont need

;)

The Elderid bag i mentioned has like a 6x6 tarp after opened. Its pretty big and whats even better is, as long as your rope is on the tarp itself, pick up the corners and itll slide right into the bag. It is expensive yes, but like i said, best bag ive ever had.

Buy a DMM Classic rope bag. All other rope bags are inferior. They are 6 bucks more than the Metolius Ropemaster HC, and way better.

Mammut Mikea Bag

Your Price: €6.00

Snakecharmer from Fish or STFU