Dry Rope vs Non Dry Rope

Do you really need a dry Rope. I've read articles and talked to people who argued both and I was just wondering what other people thought about it. I climb trad and sport

this has been debated quite a bit on here. With a quick use of the search function I'm sure you will find enough opinions to satisfy your desire to ever read opinions.

If you climb ice, clearly worth it.

If not. It will extend the life of your rope a little bit. It will extend the cost of your rope a fair bit. Is the trade-off worth it, you have to decide.

This forum has really gone downhill.

clint helander wrote:This forum has really gone downhill.

Has it gone downhill from nonsense replies? Answer the question with your words or existing forum links; otherwise just move on.

PFCs are persistent in the body and environment. Wash up before eating. These chemicals are horrible all around. Read about their scheduled elimination here:
mammut.ch/cr/planet/pfc

Buy non-dry-treated ropes until you really need one for serious alpine or mushy multi.

Clint White
BS Env Sci

Faulted Geologist wrote: Has it gone downhill from nonsense replies? Answer the question with your words or existing forum links; otherwise just move on. PFCs are persistent in the body and environment. Wash up before eating. These chemicals are horrible all around. Read about their scheduled elimination here: mammut.ch/cr/planet/pfc Buy non-dry-treated ropes until you really need one for serious alpine or mushy multi. Clint White BS Env Sci

While I suspect PFCs are used in dry ropes, the Mammut page you linked to doesn't discuss ropes, only DWR on fabrics.

Overall impression - once again, the Euros are way ahead of us on emerging eco concerns. If past performance is any indicator, the company(s) that makes PFCs in the US will buy a few legislators and effectively scuttle any initiative to curtail their use in the US.

Factoid - there is a serious PFOA groundwater contamination just 20 miles south of the Gunks. US Gov't (Air National Guard, IIRC) is getting the blame.

Gunkiemike wrote: While I suspect PFCs are used in dry ropes, the Mammut page you linked to doesn't discuss ropes, only DWR on fabrics. Overall impression - once again, the Euros are way ahead of us on emerging eco concerns. If past performance is any indicator, the company(s) that makes PFCs in the US will buy a few legislators and effectively scuttle any initiative to curtail their use in the US. Factoid - there is a serious PFOA groundwater contamination just 20 miles south of the Gunks. US Gov't (Air National Guard, IIRC) is getting the blame.

It doesn't discuss ropes, but it is the only competitive product at this time for DWR unfortunately. My Beal Opera rope is coated on the outside. The brochure describes the Golden Dry treatment as (quote from memory) "the core is bathed in a fluorine compound..." Every time it goes over rough surfaces or in a device etc the molecules are entering the environment where they persist.

I am personally torn, and welcome any new product testing of new DWR, etc.

As for the PFOAs at that base, most airline and AFB have massive contamination from fire retardants in the practice and real use of the fire sprays. We will pay for generations, and maybe forever, for the mistakes of the past century. We as climbers can help in our world by continuing the pressure on manufacturers and by choosing where to spend our dollar$.

It's a very dry topic!