The Best Rock Climbing Ropes for a Safe Climb in 2023

Climbing ropes are a critical component of any climber’s gear. They are used for safety, protection from falls, and rappelling down climbers. A good climbing rope is best when it can be trusted to hold up under pressure while still being light enough for long climbs.

If you’re in the market for a new rope or if you’re simply curious about what’s out there and how best to choose, this buying guide is your best bet.

In a Hurry? See Our Top Picks

Just click on any image below to see price, ratings and reviews on Amazon.

Now, let’s dive into the best ropes for (rock) climbers in 2023.

If you’re interested in learning what to look for when buying a (new) climbing rope, make sure to read our buying guide below as well!

The Best Rock Climbing Ropes in 2023

1. Black Diamond 9.9 Mm Climbing Rope

Designed for heavy use and year-round climbing, the Black Diamond 9.9 boasts a thick diameter for your varied climbing life.

Purpose-built to balance both durability and great handling, these ropes are not too stiff and not too soft, giving you a great feeling rope that knots easily, feeds through your belay device with ease, yet holds up to a barrage of use.

This rope is available in 4 sizes: 35, 40, 60 or 70 meters.

What we like about this climbing rope:

• High quality
• Lightweight

What we don’t like about this climbing rope:

• Quite expensive
• May become a little bit slick after many uses

2. RENRANRING 32ft/64ft/96ft Outdoor Climbing Rope, Static Rock Climbing Rope

RENRANRING’s climbing rope is a great budget-friendly option for any type of climber. It’s available in 3 different lengths (32, 64 or 96 feet) and comes in 3 different colors (black, green and orange).

The maximum tensile force of the rock climbing rope is up to 15KN (about 3000 lbs). The rope has a moderate softness, which is flexible enough for an operator to easily make knots in it when needed.

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Very inexpensive
• Moderate softness
• Low ductility static rope lowers risks caused by the rope extension
• Comes with carabiners
• Available in 3 different colors and lengths

What we don’t like about this climbing rope:

• Not as high quality as some more expensive options
• Amazon rating only 3.5/5
• Limited max force

3. EDELRID Boa 9.8mm Dynamic Climbing Rope

A lightweight sport climbing rope. Its Thermo Shield treatment and relatively narrow diameter make it suitable for a wide range of activities.

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Top Amazon rated: 4.9/5
• Excellent quality
• Colorful
• Robust
• Thermo Shield treatment

4. EDELRID Eco Boa 9.8mm Dynamic Climbing Rope

A robust, all-round rope with an ecological footprint. EDELRID’s Eco Boa is produced of high-quality yarns left over from the production, but with the same handling and strength as their other ropes.

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Top Amazon rated: 4.9/5
• Excellent quality
• Ecological footprint
• Colorful
• Robust
• Thermo Shield treatment

5. PHRIXUS Static Climbing Rope 10.5mm 11mm – 150ft 200ft 300ft

PHRIXUS Static Climbing Rope is made from high-quality DuPont nylon: High tensile strength, low elongation, easy operation, lightweight, hardness, strong abrasion and long lifespan. It’s widely used in rock climbing, mountaineering, rappelling, aerial work, rescue, escape, engineering protection, etc.

It’s available in 3 different lengths (150, 200 or 300 feet), 2 different rope widths (10.5 or 11 mm), and 3 colors (white, orange and black).

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Top Amazon rated: 4.9/5
• Ecological footprint
• Colorful
• Robust

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Contradictive reviews about quality

6. GM CLIMBING 8mm (5/16in) Accessory Cord Rope 19kN Double Braid Pre Cut

The rope is made of high tenacity polyester to increase performance at every aspect, get higher tensile strength, excellent abrasion resistance and also greater service life.

The 8mm accessory cord is offered in 3 colors (Fluorescent Orange, Neon Yellow, and Black) and 3 lengths (20ft, 50ft and 100ft).

What we like about this climbing rope:

• High resistance to moisture
• Lightweight and compact
• Colorful
• Flexible

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Limited length
• EN564 accessory cord that cannot be used as a dynamic rope or a static rope

7. Singing Rock R44 NFPA Static Rope 11.2-mm x 200 Feet

The last climbing rope is the most premium and thus expensive one on our list.

The Route 44 technology of this rope was developed exclusively by Singing Rock. Route 44 is the only rope in the world to use this patented technology making the rope more perfectly round and giving the sheath a perfect blend of thickness, durability and handling characteristics.

Recommended use: rescue operations, work positioning, military and police use, speleo, fixed rope for expeditions, big wall.

The rope is available in 5 different colors (black, white, olive, red and orange), 4 lengths (150, 200, 300 and 600 feet) and 2 thicknesses (10.5 and 11mm).

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Best quality available
• Many color options
• Longest length is 600 feet!

What we like about this climbing rope:

• Expensive
• 11m thick rope may fit more difficult in ATC belaying device
• Heavy, especially longer lengths

EDELRID Climbing Rope Comparison Table

EDELRID’s climbing ropes are some of the best and most popular climbing ropes available today. Since they have quite a few different models, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, we made a comparison table to help you make the best choice!

Just click on any image below to see all specifications, prices and product reviews.

Types of Climbing Ropes

In general, there are 3 main types of climbing ropes: single ropes, half ropes and twin ropes.

Single Ropes

Single ropes are the most common type of climbing rope, and are mostly used in single-pitch and the majority of multi-pitch climbs.

Typical single ropes carry in width between 8.5 and 11 mm and come in lengths between 50 and 80 meters. They are designed to catch lead falls without the use of a second rope, therefore being the second safety factor together with your climbing harness.

Half Ropes

Next, we have the half ropes. These are a combination of two thin ropes, which are used on challenging routes where routes may meander, or two ropes are needed for rapelling.

These ropes are usually clipped together, or used on both sides of the route. Each of the ropes is separately tested and has its own fall rating.

Climbing with half ropes does require some extra rope management, so it’s often used by more advanced rock climbers.

Twin Ropes

Lastly, we have the twin ropes. Although similar to half ropes, twin ropes are usually clipped together and rated as a pair (so not separately like half ropes).

These are usually used in alpine or ice climbing when climbing in a party of 2.

Half and twin ropes are often referred to as “double ropes”.

How to Pick the Right Rock Climbing Rope: a Buying Guide

When buying rock climbing ropes, it’s important to consider a few essential aspects and features.

Durability

The first thing that should be addressed when looking at any type of rope is durability. After all, it doesn’t matter how long a rope lasts if it snaps before you get up halfway through the climb! Durability depends on two things – its material composition and its weave pattern. Most modern-day ropes are made from nylon which has been treated with polyurethane coating; newer models can last

Static vs Dynamic Ropes

Climbing ropes come in two types, static and dynamic. A static rope stretches minimally (< 5% elongation), and a dynamic rope stretches a little more (5-10% elongation).

The type of rope you use depends on the activity that will be performing with it (i.e., lead climbing or top-roping). Static lines should never be used during lead climbing, as a fall could have disastrous consequences.

A static line can be used for rigging top-ropes, and sometimes for top-roping itself: most gyms will use a semi-static rope for top-roping, which is less than 5% elongated. Finally, a static line can be useful as a tagline or pull cord only for rappelling

Climbing Rope Categories

Just like many other products, climbing ropes come in different categories.

For the sake of simplicity, we are going to break them down into 3 categories: workhorse, all-around and redpoint.

Workhorse

The first category of climbing ropes are the so-called workhorses. These are generally recommended for heavy uses, top roping and climbing around sharp rocks. What makes them ideal for these uses is the diameter (usually 9.7mm or thicker).

These ropes are often the more affordable ones and therefore recommended for beginner climbers.

All-Around

The next category of climbing ropes is the all-around ropes. As the name suggests, these are the most versatile and popular type of ropes. They are flexible and can be used in many different types of climbing: from lead climbing to multi-pitch and top roping.

These ropes come in widths between 9.1 and 9.6mm and offer a good balance between performance, soft catch, durability and affordability.

Redpoint/Alpine

The last category of climbing ropes we want to include are the redpoint or alpine ropes. These come between 8.5 and 9.1 mm and are therefore often referred to as “skinny ropes“, the lightest climbing ropes.

Redpoint/alpine ropes are most frequently used by more advanced climbers, who can benefit from lighter ropes during consecutive days of climbing and many miles of walking to climbing spots.

Middle Mark

The middle marks on a climbing rope are an essential feature. They let you know how much the leader has climbed, whether or not it is safe for them to lower to ground. They also indicate when both ends are even when rappelling with a single rope.

Usually, the ropes you buy will come with a middle mark by default. If not, you can always indicate the middle mark yourself easily with a marker (if allowed by the manufacturer).

Sometimes, rope manufacturers may also use the pattern on the rope to indicate where the other half starts. In that case, both halves show a different color pattern.

Sheath vs. Core

Climbing ropes usually consist of 2 main parts: the inner core and the outer visible part, the sheath.

The purpose of the sheath is to protect the core from dirt, grime or damage. The core itself is responsible for the rope’s strength and is the part that will catch your falls.

In general, the bigger the sheath, the more protected your rope will be from sharp edges and rough rocks. So if you often climb in an area with rough rocks, investing in a rope with a thicker sheath may be a good idea to prevent your rope from wearing out too quickly.

Weight

A rope’s weight is determined by its length and diameter. The thinner and shorter the rope, the lighter it will be. It’s that simple.

Rope weight is usually not really an issue for most climbers. However, for climbers who need to pull hundreds of meters of rope a day, a few grams per meter will already make quite the difference. A shorter rope can be a great way for them to shed some weight.

Rope Length

As you may have noticed in the list above, almost all ropes come in many different sizes.

In general, you should be looking out for a rope around 70 meters (230 feet). Of course, the ideal length for you depends on the routes you climb most often, but you wouldn’t want to buy a 60-meter rope and later find out that you need an 80 meter to scale that great new climbing spot.

Also, many ropes may wear out over time and you might need to cut off the ends of the ropes. If you do that with a 60m rope, you will end up with 50 meters, which is often not enough. So, it’s better to take a slightly longer rope than you would initially need, especially if weight is not as much an issue for you.

Dry Treatment

Dry treatment is a coating applied to the sheath of climbing ropes to make them more water and dirt-resistant. This allows water from your hands, or that inevitable rainstorm you’ve been caught under, to slide right off instead of pooling and freezing against the rope.

It’s important for climbers to be aware that the application of dry treatment does not mean a rope is automatically waterproof. Dry treatment will help protect your rope in the rain, but if you submerge a treated sheath for any period of time, it’s going to absorb water and permanently swell up – even if you remove it from the water and hang it to dry.

Dry treatment will help increase the lifespan of your rope and help keep dirt and other grime from your rope.

Dry-treated ropes are usually a little more expensive than standard climbing ropes, but the added treatment is often more than worth it.

UIAA Fall Rating

The UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) defines the fall rating as the number of falls the rope held during the certification tests.

Most climbing ropes will have a fall rating around 8-10, however, it’s important to note that the UIAA certification process is extremely tough and will put an incredible amount of force on each rope.

In real life, climbing ropes will be able to last for hundreds of falls in their lifetime.

You can learn more about the UIAA, fall rating, fall factors and impact force in our detailed article here:

Final Thoughts

Climbing ropes are an essential part of climbing gear and will make sure your safety is assured, together with your climbing harness, climbing shoes, chalk bag and climbing gloves. The best rock climbing rope for your next climb is going to depend on a variety of factors, such as the type and length you need, how often you’ll be using it, what kind of terrain you’re most likely to encounter when scaling new heights, etc.

Regardless if this is your first time buying or not, make sure that your climbing rope has middle marks, and that it’s dry treated if possible. Rope sheaths protect core parts from dirt and grime (which can wear out a rope faster), but some areas with rough rocks may require thicker sheath widths than others.

In any case, there’s no excuse not to buy a high-quality climbing rope. After all, your life depends on it!

And finally to conclude this article, let’s again look at some of our top picks for rock climbing ropes:

Happy and safe climbing!