The Lifespan of Ropes

The maximum lifetime of the rope is 12 years. 10 years from date of production + 2 years storage of the rope in the store.

An intensity and the way of use significantly effect a lifespan of the rope. Note that there are many factors which influence it. Below estimated time parameters are based on a general knowledge and use.

  • intensive use – everyday use (sport climbing, bouldering, mountains leaders) less than 1 year
  • regular use - weekend use (yearlong) 1 - 2 years
  • regular use - weekend use (seasonal) 2 - 3 years
  • occasional use – recreationally 1x per month 3 - 5 years
  • sporadic use - 5 - 7 years
  • unused rope - max. 10 years

How to define the age of a rope:

  • Age definition of the Gilmonte dynamic rope: if you do not have a production label or a rope diary, it is possible to find out the age of the rope based on a colored yarn inside of the rope. Check the yarn color and the year of production below.

  • Age definition of the Gilmonte static rope: if you do not have a production label , it is possible to find out the year of production based on identification tape inside of the rope. Stated information on the tape: year of production, producer, rope type (A or B), a rope material(PAD, PAD/PES,PAD/Aramid). These information are printed on every 30cm of the tape.

Colour of Yarn             Production Year                  

 

blue and yellow                                   1998, 2009, 2022                                                      

green and yellow                                1999, 2010, 2023  

black and yellow                                 2000, 2011, 2024

red and blue                                        2001, 2012, 2025                          

red and green                                      2002, 2013, 2026                                

red and black                                       2003, 2014, 2027

green                                                     2004, 2015, 2028

blue                                                       2005, 2016, 2029

yellow                                                    2006, 2017, 2030

black                                                      2007, 2018, 2031

red and yellow                                     2008, 2019, 2032

red                                                         2020, 2033

black and green                                   2021, 2034

When to discard the rope

  • the rope is affected by chemical dirt

  • he rope was affected by a very hard fall

  • you notice the rope deformation, thickening or breaking ( a sign of invisible core demage) by touch

  • you note a sheath demage – the core is visible

  • the sheath is extremly used

  • you notice visually that the sheath slipped

  • the rope is extremely dirty even after washing

  • the sheath was thermally demaged ( kind of glass structure feeling) by hard abrasion

  • the lifespan of the rope has expired