What Is a Dry Treated Climbing Rope?

When purchasing an International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA)-approved dynamic climbing rope, factors to consider include length, diameter, price and dry treatment. After selecting the appropriate length and diameter, you will have to decide whether paying about $20 extra for dry treatment is worth it.

  1. Function

    • Dry-treated climbing ropes have a waterproofing agent applied either to the rope's outer sheath, or to both the sheath and inner core. This helps prevent the rope from becoming saturated in wet conditions.

    Benefits

    • Buying a dry-treated rope makes sense for alpine climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering, since wet ropes lose strength, can freeze, and are heavier and harder to handle. Even for sport climbers, dry-treated ropes tend to last longer, as dry treatment helps keep dirt from working into and abrading the rope.

    Warning

    • For alpine climbing, ice climbing or mountaineering, choose a rope with dry treatment applied to both the sheath and the core, since the treatment on the sheath will wear off more quickly. Once this outer dry treatment has worn off, a rope with an untreated core can easily become saturated, making it unwieldy and weaker. Also, all dry treatments lose efficacy over time, and none of them make ropes completely waterproof.