Best Tag Line

Hi All,

Quick question. I'm having a bit of difficulty deciding on a tag line. I'm
matching it with a 70m lead rope.

Here's my choices:

Manuf./Model Length(m) Dia(mm) %Elong Stength(kN) Weight(lbs) Cost ($)

Blue Water 70 8 6.1 19 6.8 $130.00

Sterling
Tagline 75 8 2.3 17.5 7.3 $148.00
Tagline 75 7 3.5 12.4 5.6 $120.00

Notes: The Blue Water is specifically constructed as a tagline with %48 sheath for better wear. I couldn't get any construction info on the Sterling lines. The Blue Water might work as a haul/jug line if I ever get to that point.

With static elongation of most lead ropes about %7-%8 all these ropes will work.

What are your guys thoughts?

70m of 6mm cordelette. Done. Cheaper and lighter.

I've used both the Blue Water pulldown cord and Sterling tagline. Long story short, I sold my Blue Water and switched entirely to Sterling's tag. My Blue Water was pretty stiff and tended to end in a rats nest of twists and kinks. Sterling handled better and also gives you an extra 5 meters to accommodate rope stretch during double rope rappels (not that I advocate pushing the limits on rappel).

If there's a saving grace to Blue Water's tag, it's thinner and lighter than Sterling's (despite both being the same diameter).

I bought a BlueWater half rope for this purpose. It's light enough if your not a nancy and you can lead on it if your main lead line is stuck.

I think there are many advantages to using a skinny half rope as your tag, compared to a skinny 6-7mm cord. I also prefer something a bit more durable and bulky when running rappels over those sketch edges, which is bound to happen.

be sure and get your tag line a little longer than your climbing line to match the stretch of your lead line. 5M should be okay

Jonathan Dull wrote:I bought a BlueWater half rope for this purpose.

Whoa, I love this idea! Thanks for sharing.

Imlay canyon gear pull cord. Very skinny, very light, very static and very durable. Beware however, if your rope gets stuck on the pull and you're only left with this pull cord you better be on you game or things could get interesting very quickly. Leading on a static 6 mm rope does not sound fun.

One you can pull...

Matt

Yea, they're all good. But which one is THE BEST???

Next - what color should I get?

Pink...

"You're it! No tag-backs."

Jonathan Dull wrote:I bought a BlueWater half rope for this purpose.

A dynamic half-rope is an inferior choice for a tagline. Here's why:

1. Because it stretches more than a static line, when hauling you will be working harder since the rope will absorb some of the effort of each stroke.
2. If jugging, the extra rope stretch will make you work harder.
3. The stretchier rope will have more movement over any edges it goes over, thus increasing the likelihood of rope damage or cutting when fixed and weighted for jugging or rappelling, putting you at more risk.
4. A dynamic rope is less abrasion resistant in general than a static rope due to it's construction (less material in the sheath), again increasing risk of core shots, cutting your rope etc.
5. When pulling the "tagline" side of a 2-rope rappel, you will have more springiness in the pull stroke, (again) making you work harder than a static tagline.

I used a dynamic 9mm rope as a tagline once on a Grade 5 in Zion. We topped out after hauling fairly light bags with a core shot in the tagline. By the time we arrived at the last three double rope rappels, we were rappelling single-strand on the lead line because the sheath on the 9mm had separated and we could only use it as a pull cord.

The only advantage you may have with a dynamic half-rope as your tagline is that you have a second dynamic climbing rope to use to lead on (albeit, limited to half the rope length) in case you stick ropes on a rappel, or core-shot the main lead line.

Eric Klammer wrote:Imlay canyon gear pull cord. Very skinny, very light, very static and very durable.

For most climbing applications, the only advantage a 6mm Imlay pull cord would provide is less weight and bulk. The 6mm Imlay pull cord is designed for canyoneering specifically as a pull cord when single-strand rappelling off a carabiner block. Functionally you will lose the ability to jug or rappel that line when used as a single strand (the manufacturer does not recommend using the 6mm as a weight-bearing strand). The 6mm tends to tangles more easily than larger diameter cord. Also, depending on your lead line diameter, while double-rope rappelling, the 6mm may slide through the rappel device faster, causing the rope strands to become offset and potentially reducing your rap distance. A 6mm is also a lot more difficult to pull than 8+mm if there is any friction in the rappel system.

Buy an 8 or 9mm static rope designed to be used as a tag-line.

Steve Levin wrote: A dynamic half-rope is an inferior choice for a tagline. Here's why: 1. Because it stretches more than a static line, when hauling you will be working harder since the rope will absorb some of the effort of each stroke. 2. If jugging, the extra rope stretch will make you work harder. 3. The stretchier rope will have more movement over any edges it goes over, thus increasing the likelihood of rope damage or cutting when fixed and weighted for jugging or rappelling, putting you at more risk. 4. A dynamic rope is less abrasion resistant in general than a static rope due to it's construction (less material in the sheath), again increasing risk of core shots, cutting your rope etc. 5. When pulling the "tagline" side of a 2-rope rappel, you will have more springiness in the pull stroke, (again) making you work harder than a static tagline. I used a dynamic 9mm rope as a tagline once on a Grade 5 in Zion. We topped out after hauling fairly light bags with a core shot in the tagline. By the time we arrived at the last three double rope rappels, we were rappelling single-strand on the lead line because the sheath on the 9mm had separated and we could only use it as a pull cord. The only advantage you may have with a dynamic half-rope as your tagline is that you have a second dynamic climbing rope to use to lead on (albeit, limited to half the rope length) in case you stick ropes on a rappel, or core-shot the main lead line. For most climbing applications, the only advantage a 6mm Imlay pull cord would provide is less weight and bulk. The 6mm Imlay pull cord is designed for canyoneering specifically as a pull cord when single-strand rappelling off a carabiner block. Functionally you will lose the ability to jug or rappel that line when used as a single strand (the manufacturer does not recommend using the 6mm as a weight-bearing strand). The 6mm tends to tangles more easily than larger diameter cord. Also, depending on your lead line diameter, while double-rope rappelling, the 6mm may slide through the rappel device faster, causing the rope strands to become offset and potentially reducing your rap distance. A 6mm is also a lot more difficult to pull than 8+mm if there is any friction in the rappel system. Buy an 8 or 9mm static rope designed to be used as a tag-line.

Can you jug on a 8 or 9 mm static rope? And what device would you use. Seems kind of improbable for me to carry a jumar on a free climb just in case I need to jug back up.

Is it possible that your dynamic rope was not a quality rope? Which manufacturer was it?

Steve Levin wrote: A dynamic half-rope is an inferior choice for a tagline.

I was under the impression the OP was using it strictly for an extra line to rappel with. In which case I would still prefer a half rope over a skinny piece of coord.

If jugging and hauling I'd definitely want something static and at least 9.5mm.

If you are just using it as a rap line on free climbs with no/light (bullet pack) hauling the dynamic half rope is a superior choice as it allows you to lead back should your lines get stuck

You can also use it as a glacier or scrambling line as well

;)