My climbing rope hit the 3-year mark and the core fibers looked brand new

I was doing my annual inspection and genuinely shocked, I thought for sure it was time to retire it. How often do you guys actually replace your main climbing line?

2 comments

2 Comments

coleman.jade11d ago

Three years is pushing it hard. Sunlight, dirt, and moisture degrade nylon fibers you can't see. A clean core is just one factor. My main line gets swapped every two years, no matter what it looks like. The cost is nothing compared to the risk of a hidden weak spot.

jamesmason11d ago

Read a study where they tested old climbing ropes. Even ones stored in the dark lost a scary amount of strength over time just from air exposure. It's not just UV. The plasticizers leach out and the fibers get brittle. You can't flex test that. Two years seems smart.