Using a rope bag on top rope

I picked up a "new" used rope bag which makes storage and carrying great, but I am not sure about the best way to use it at the crag. It seems simple if one were leading since you can just feed out as used but I am top roping at this point. Should I coil or flake two halves and toss each half down (inevitably with a bunch laying in the dirt) and ignore the bag, feed half down and then toss down the other half while still in the bag and let it feed while it falls, or something else? Trying to avoid a twisted up mess and keep my rope as clean as I can.

Feed just enough of one strand, through your anchor, to have one end reach the ground. Then loosely bundle the rest of the rope inside the bag but keep the bag open enough the rope will be able to feed out. Then toss that bundle straight down so the rope feeds out as it falls. Not all the rope will stay in the bag but enough will.

Thanks, that makes perfect sense.

On short routes with clear drops I have tossed the bag with the rope. But after having to go fetch it out of trees etc on longer routes I have quit doing that. Wind tends to send it to unknown places also. Now I take the whole rope out and feed it gingerly down trying to avoid hang ups, then roll the bag and put it on my shoulder for the decent. Once at the bottom I flake the rope back onto the bag.

I try to keep the rope out of the dirt as much as possible. But they always get dirty. I use a little rope brush from time to time, then if they get really bad, I wash them with rope wash.

Ok, they are still dirty.

Dirt is dirt, whether TRing or leading. Protect your valuable rope.

Also on this same topic. I was wondering if you guys use a rope bag separate from your pack and put all your gear in it (or as much as you can fit). Or if you just use it for rope and put gear in a pack? Slings for storage?

Trever O'Brien wrote:Also on this same topic. I was wondering if you guys use a rope bag separate from your pack and put all your gear in it (or as much as you can fit). Or if you just use it for rope and put gear in a pack? Slings for storage?

I prefer comfort and organization, so I use a big day pack for all the other stuff I haul out and keep the rope to the rope bag. My rope bag is pretty basic with a single messenger style strap though. Maybe with a bigger bag and double shoulder straps it might be more practical to consolidate to a single bag, but for me I dont see any advantage to doing so. Daypack on, rope bag slung... hike on!

Thanks I'll have to look into a rope bag.