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Sterling Ropes - PSA

Original Post
Brian Stevens · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 2,137

I recently bought a brand new sterling velocity 70 m bi-pattern rope and after climbing on it a few times I did a rap requiring a FULL 70 m. I pulled it to the center mark and rapped. When I got to the bottom I noticed the ends were WAY off - like 10' off - good thing I tied knots! At first I chalked it up to rope stretch or slippage or who knows what. But after a few more uses and raps I continued to notice the difference in lengths. So I finally measured it and the middle mark is off by 8 ft. I measured it myself and brought it in to a climbing shop and they measured it the same length too.

I contacted Sterling and at first the guy in customer service seemed really concerned and asked me to send a picture of the difference with something for scale. I did and then never got a response back from him. I e-mailed him back and called him back leaving a message and still no response. I finally called again after waiting a bit and got a hold of another person who really didn't express much concern, more just of a "oh well, that stinks". He told me I could send it back to have them check it out and maybe they would replace it. He says the UIAA allows up to 1 meter of difference for the middle mark.

Anyway, just a heads up to people with this rope to check the middle mark!

MP · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 2

take a sharpie, mark the true middle of the rope.

alternatively, put a piece of climbing tape there. change it periodically.

once you chop your rope, make a new sharpie mark or move the piece of tape.

problem solved.

coppolillo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 70

Mammut or Edelrid, dude. Worth it.

Brian Stevens · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 2,137

This is just a PSA to people with similar ropes to check as it may be some manufacturing defect, not a question of how to mark the middle yourself. The problem is people shouldn't be spending close to $300 for a rope where the middle mark is off by 8 ft.

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

FOR ALL: Do not mark your middle mark with tape. That's all.

rocknice2 · · Montreal, QC · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 3,847

Did you measure the entire rope? How long is is?
It may turn out that you have a 73m rope, in which case you can chop 8' and be happy about your new rope.

It may turn out you'll be dissatisfied even further.

I must say that I've been buying bi-pattern for a long time and never have I had one out more than 1 meter.

The Farley · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 30

I have several sterling bi-pattern ropes with one side longer than the other. They are all also longer than the specified length.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Never liked middle marks..I always match the ends

B Jolley · · Utah · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 172
mpech wrote:take a sharpie, mark the true middle of the rope. alternatively, put a piece of climbing tape there. change it periodically. once you chop your rope, make a new sharpie mark or move the piece of tape. problem solved.
I highly advise you to not use a standard sharpie or any other salvent based permanent marker, it degrades the rope fibers and will cause the rope to fail in that spot.

This is the response I recieved from Edelweiss when asking about center marking;
The safest is to use an ink marker without chemicals, the Béal Rope Marker for example or a laundry marker. Or you can roll tight a small length of 1mm cord around the middle of the rope, that works fine as well.

And here is a response from Bluewater about center marking;
"What is the beta on marking pens?
Marking pens are fine to use on ropes as long as they are water based laundry markers. Years ago solvent based markers were the norm. Some of the solvents used in these old pens could reduce the strength of the sheath strands marked. These days most pens are water based so this is not as much of an issue as in years passed. We recommend a Sharpie "rub a dub" laundry marking pen.

Why does BlueWater not use factory middle marks on dynamic ropes?
Factory middle marks are ok until one end of the rope gets chopped off. Then the factory mark is no longer in the middle. Hmmm- look at the back of any telephone book here in the great Nation of America. If an end user gets hurts because their mark is no longer in the middle what would one expect to happen? We prefer the end user to make all marks so they are intimately familiar with which of the marks on their rope is the correct center mark. This can be accomplished by different styles of marking using a series of bands so the correct mark can be identified. A unique marking also helps to better identify ownership on your rope as well as the rest of your gear!"


Then again, this thread is about Sterling not correctly center marking a rope, that is the main issue here. You should send your rope back to Sterling if you can.
Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Tom Sherman wrote:FOR ALL: Do not mark your middle mark with tape. That's all.
I laughed out loud at this... but only because I once tried the tape middle mark.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0
Super Fluke wrote: I highly advise you to not use a standard sharpie or any other salvent based permanent marker, it degrades the rope fibers and will cause the rope to fail in that spot. This is the response I recieved from Edelweiss when asking about center marking; The safest is to use an ink marker without chemicals, the Béal Rope Marker for example or a laundry marker. Or you can roll tight a small length of 1mm cord around the middle of the rope, that works fine as well. And here is a response from Bluewater about center marking; "What is the beta on marking pens? Marking pens are fine to use on ropes as long as they are water based laundry markers. Years ago solvent based markers were the norm. Some of the solvents used in these old pens could reduce the strength of the sheath strands marked. These days most pens are water based so this is not as much of an issue as in years passed. We recommend a Sharpie "rub a dub" laundry marking pen. Why does BlueWater not use factory middle marks on dynamic ropes? Factory middle marks are ok until one end of the rope gets chopped off. Then the factory mark is no longer in the middle. Hmmm- look at the back of any telephone book here in the great Nation of America. If an end user gets hurts because their mark is no longer in the middle what would one expect to happen? We prefer the end user to make all marks so they are intimately familiar with which of the marks on their rope is the correct center mark. This can be accomplished by different styles of marking using a series of bands so the correct mark can be identified. A unique marking also helps to better identify ownership on your rope as well as the rest of your gear!" Then again, this thread is about Sterling not correctly center marking a rope, that is the main issue here. You should send your rope back to Sterling if you can.
Blue water says to use Rub a dub sharpie marker to mark the middle of the rope.

bluewaterropes.com/faqs/
MP · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 2

the tape middle mark works great, in my opinion. Wrap some normal climbing tape very tightly around the middle of the rope. It usually lasts a month or so (depending on how much you climb/rappel). The tape is especially useful when you are rapping in the dark-- it gives a physical indication of the middle of the rope...

Eric and Lucie · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 140

Yeah... but if that piece of tape slips and you're relying on it...
And if you're not relying on it, then why have the middle mark at all?

Joy likes trad · · Southern California · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 71

I'd just say thanks for the long rope and be done with it.

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

BD did some informal testing and the ropes always broke at the knot. Conclusion was that damage from sharpies was insignificant.

blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

Also I think short ropes happen. I had one from a different manufacturer that was short by about the same amount. I was told that as a QC measure ropes were weighed not measured. They gave me a new one.

Brian Stevens · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 2,137

Thanks for all of the advice about how to properly mark the center of my rope. Again, getting back to the original point, a brand new rope had a middle mark that was off by 8 ft. and is not a "long" 70 meters, it's nearly spot on at 70 meters.

Gee Monet · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 732

Lots of sidebar shenanigans going on here.

That seems like a pretty major issue to me. One I would not be satisfied with until Sterling replaces the rope. If what dude says about the rope ends having a difference of 1 meter, than your rope is outside of that limitation. Send that shit back, free shipping all around.

It seems you are having issues with Sterling's customer service too.

I had troubles with my last Sterling order. It took 4 months for my order to arrive. Customer service was unhelpful, clueless, and didn't do what they said they would.

I will not purchase from Sterling again.

Simon W · · Nowhere Land · Joined May 2013 · Points: 55

I had a somewhat similar situation with them.. Bought a new Helix and it had a minor issue with the rope near the end. It had a little bend in it which seemed strange on a brand new rope.

I emailed them and got the same response "you can send it in and we'll look at it".
Didn't seem worth it to pay shipping on sending it in so that maybe they would do something so I've just been dealing with it.

I've been a huge fan of sterling ropes, my evolution velocity was one of the best ropes I've ever had but I'm less satisfied with the helix so far and the support to go with it.

Jo Mer · · Eugene, OR · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 104
Mr. Stevens wrote:He says the UIAA allows up to 1 meter of difference for the middle mark.
... And since 8ft = 2.4 meters I think you should tell him the rope isn't close to UIAA compliant.
Callum Douglass · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2013 · Points: 233

I have a 70m bicolor Helix 9.5mm with around a half dozen days climbing on it. The color change on it is within an inch of half way. I tested by flaking from both ends simultaneously and had the same result both times I tested it. An eight foot difference would be enough for me to raise hell with Sterling over it.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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