Report On Testing Of N.Z. Ropes For Climbing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 9

Report On Testing Of N.Z. Ropes For Climbing

Mountaineers who use New Zealand-made ropes should understand that they are not made specifically for climbing, nor do the makers claim that they meet the New Zealand Standard for climbing ropes.

In spite of this, if a person goes into a sports goods shop and asks for a mountaineering rope he is likely to be shown a New Zealand-made product. He may not be told that the rope is not made specially for mountaineering. This advice is given in the March issue of the Consumers’ Institute’s Magazine, “Consumer,” which carries a test report on ropes that are often used for climbing. The institute says that since

i the makers do not claim to meet the standard it is not critical in its test report where a rope failed to meet the specifications laid down. Over-all, it classed the New Zealand ropes as being “not at all bad” for climbing and one New Zealand nylon rope performed better than a popular overseas nylon rope. The institute says that its test results should not be regarded as a guarantee that all samples of a particular type of rope will have the same qualities as the rope tested. “It is probable that quality control procedures in the New Zealand factories ensure a consistent product, but until the makers decide to hold their rope production to the New Zealand Standard there is no firm guarantee about the qualities of the rope in question,’\says the institute. The' ropes tested were conventional “hawser laid” made from either manila, nylon, or terylene, plus an imported perlon rope constructed in a special way. Instead of being made of a number of strands twisted together this rope was composed of three separate braided strands covered by a protecting braided sheath. These “core-sheath” types are becoming popular overseas. The institute found that each type of design has its good features, and it concluded that no one type of construction is best. Each has its advantages for different purposes. Prices may vary, and the institute advises climbers to shop around. One rope was priced at, 318 32 a hundred feet in one shop and 37.27 in another.