Climbing ropes are built to withstand countless adventures, but every day climbing leaves its mark. Whether you're a weekend crag climber or a multi-pitch aficionado, knowing when to retire your rope and what to do with it next is essential for safety, sustainability, and giving your gear a second life.

Why Inspect Your Rope?

Every fall, abrasion, or day exposed to the elements wears down your rope’s integrity. While most ropes are engineered to handle many short drops, each use may cause small amounts of deterioration. If you ever have doubts about a rope’s condition, trust your instincts and take a closer look it could make all the difference.

Signs Your Rope Needs Attention (And Maybe Retirement)

Take time to inspect your rope regularly (ideally before each use). Key indicators of damage include:

• Sheath wear and abrasion: Fraying or fuzziness on the outer layer.

• Glazing: Shiny, hard spots on the sheath from heat or friction.

• UV, chemical, or dirt exposure: Fading, odd smells, or stains.

• Changes in feel: If parts of the rope feel softer or stiffer than usual, it could be a sign of hidden core damage.

• Inconsistent look or feel: If portions of the rope look or feel different, check for acute damage.

• Severe blackening: From dirt or repeated friction.

• Sheath slippage: Bunching up of the rope’s sheath at ends.

• Cuts, lumps, flat spots, or exposed core fibers.

If you notice any of these, take a break and assess whether the rope is still safe for climbing. Remember: if you're uneasy, don’t use it.

Caring For Your Rope

Washing Ropes: 

• Ropes can be washed, either by hand, or by using a tubular rope washer, or in a front-loading washing machine on a gentle cycle (the agitator in a top-loading machine can cause abrasion).

• Soaps specifically designed for use on ropes are the best option. Other detergents can be used but only if they are mild, contain no harmful chemicals (like alkalis, bleaches, etc.), and leave no residue afterward.

• If a machine is being used, it is a good idea to run a rinse cycle before washing your rope to help remove chemicals from previous washes. 

  
  

Drying Ropes: 

Running the wet rope through your hands to remove as much water as possible can greatly shorten drying time. The rope should be left to dry away from direct heat sources, UV / sunlight, and have good air circulation. Coiling, chaining, or piling your rope can cause drying to taker longer and potentially lead to mold/mildew forming if left for long periods of time.

Rope Lifespan and Retirement

Synthetic climbing ropes have a maximum recommended lifespan of about 10 years, even with minimal use. But heavy usage or major falls can mean retirement after just months, or even a single severe incident. If you don’t know your rope’s history err on the side of caution.

General rule: When in doubt, retire your rope.

Give Your Rope a Meaningful New Life: Upcycling it into Dog Collars & Leads

Don’t let your old climbing ropes end up in landfill!

We give retired ropes a second life by turning them into unique, durable dog collars and leads. By donating your rope, you’re helping keep pets safe, reducing waste, and supporting eco friendly, handmade gear right here in our community.

How to donate: Simply fill out the form on our donate page, and I’ll send you a bag to ship your rope in. Once it arrives, I’ll transform it into something new and as a thank you, you’ll get a piece of gear made from your very own rope.

Checklist: When to Retire & Donate Your Rope

• Rope shows visible wear or damage

• Sections feel unusually soft/stiff/lumpy

• Sheath is cut, glazed, or exposing the core

• Rope is over 10 years old, or history is unclear

• You feel unsafe or uncertain about continued use

  
  

If any apply, retire your rope from climbing and let it embark on a new journey helping pets and the planet!

Any questions? Let’s sniff out the answers together.