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Canyon Ropes and Pull Cords          

Canyoneering is hard on ropes.

We don't take whippers on 'em, but we do drag them in and out of skunky potholes, rub sand on them, do awkward rappel starts and drag them across edges when the canyon calls for it. We subject them to the abuse of beginners, AND the abuses of experts.

The rope is our lifeline. It enables us to descend canyons. It provides the critical line of strength for our forays into the wild, sculpted world of the canyons. So you want a good rope.

What makes a rope good for canyoneering?

A rope needs to be stout. Ropes wear out in canyoneering by getting coreshots - by rubbing or cutting one or more of the sheath fibers creating a hole (through which the CORE can be seen), a hole that grows with repeated loading until it extends around the rope and the sheath seperates. The primary factor in rope durability is the stoutness of the sheath.

A canyon rope should be static. Many of us have used old climbing ropes for canyoneering, and it is Okay, but a nice, firm static rope is easier to rappel on, easier to pull down, and resists rather than encourages bouncing. Bouncing can cycle the rope across edges or bulges, leading to cutting the rope - not good.

A rope should resist wetting. Canyons are wet, at least many of the good ones are. Ropes that absorb water, or become weaker, softer or less durable when wet are not good.

Imlay Canyon Ropes

Originally designed for caving, Imlay Canyon Ropes have the properties wanted in a canyon rope.

Burly Sheath- The sheath is woven from 16 strands of fiber, making for a sheath that is thick and strong. The sheath strands are thick, placing as much of the rope as possible in the sheath. The rope is woven tightly, which helps the sheath fibers resist cutting.

Fully Static- while not as static as aramid or Spectra-type ropes, Canyon ropes are indeed very low stretch - lower than many nylon static ropes.

Polyester Absorbs Less Water- Canyon ropes are woven from 100% polyester fibers which absorb far less water than nylon fibers. Nylon tends to get soft and less tough when wet, and nylon ropes lose their tightness, causing the sheath to slip. Polyester ropes change very little, even when thoroughly soaked.

Two Diameters to Meet Your Needs

	100 foot	200 foot	300 foot
8mm Weight: Price:	3 lb 5.5 oz $ 62.50	6 lb 11 oz $ 125.00	10 lb 1 oz $ 187.50
9mm Weight: Price:	4 lb 2.5 oz $ 70.00	8 lb 5 oz $ 140.00	12 lb 8 oz $ 210.00

Imlay Canyon Ropes are offered in two diameters to meet your needs.

9mm Canyon Rope: provides an excellent rope for beginners and intermediates, and for when the trip is not deep in the backcountry. At only 8 lb 5 oz for a 200 foot piece, the 9mm is the choice for controlability and durability. The 9mm is marked by 3 tracer strands in blue.

8mm Canyon Rope: provides a lightweight alternative for expert canyoneers venturing out into the wilderness. At only 6 lb 11 oz for 200 feet, even on long adventures it is easy to carry enough rope. The 8mm is marked by 2 tracer strands in red.

Technical Specifications
Size: Marking: Breaking Strength: Weight per 100 feet: Recommended for:	9mm Three Blue Tracers 4500 lbs 4 lb 2.5 oz Beginner/Intermediates	8mm Two Red Tracers 3900 lbs 3 lb 5.5 oz Experts

Lengths

We offer precut ropes in the most popular lengths and 600 foot spools. Pieces longer than 600 feet are available by special order only.

Break In Notes

Canyon Ropes are woven stiff for long life, but this also means they take a while to break in. A couple of rappels will take most of the tendency to kink out, so try to do this in canyons where kinkiness will not be a problem. After about a dozen canyons, the rope will settle down to a pleasant softness. A relatively stiff rope like this will work better out of a rope bag, than coiling it every time.

Inspect your rope periodically for signs of wear on the sheath. A little fuzzing is expected, but when one of the sheath fibers is actually cut through, the rope is ready to be retired.

If you want to mark the center of the rope, use the phenol-free markers sold by BlueWater.

Canyon Pull Cord          

A better pull cord.

Would a non-absorbing, low-stretch burly pull cord also be of interest? Sure, why not!

Made in the same style as our ropes, the Canyon Pull Cord is a 6mm 100% polyester static line used for pulling down rappels. We made it sturdy - 2200 lbs worth - but NOT sturdy enough to rappel on.

	50 foot	100 foot	200 foot
6mm Weight: Price:	1 lb 0.25 oz $ 17.50	2 lb 0.5 oz $ 34.99	4 lb 1 oz $ 64.95

White with Green Tracer. Sold in a couple-a lengths: