What To Look For
Buy a UIAA-certified dynamic rock-climbing rope. As explained by UIAA, this organization offers "the only globally recognized standards for mountaineering equipment." UIAA certification tells you that the rope has undergone and passed rigorous safety testing.
Select a rope long enough for the pitches you'll climb. Standard lengths are 50 meters, 60 meters and 70 meters. Next, choose the appropriate rope diameter. Single-rope diameters range from 9.1 millimeters to 11 millimeters. Skinnier ropes provide lighter, faster handling, but they also wear out more quickly. For top-roping, you'll do better buying a rope with a larger diameter.
Common Pitfalls
Do not purchase a static rock-climbing rope. Indoor climbing gyms often use static ropes for top-roping purposes, but leading on a static rope can lead to serious injury or death. A static rope does not stretch to cushion the climber's fall the way a dynamic rope does. Watch out for bargain static ropes labeled as climbing ropes on the Internet.
Always purchase a brand-new climbing rope. A climbing rope's lifespan is limited by the amount and impact of falls it has held, as well as by abrasion and exposure to chemicals and sunlight.
Where To Buy
Buy a dynamic climbing rope from your local climbing shop or from a major national retailer of climbing goods such as EMS or REI. Because you can use the UIAA certification as an indication of a climbing rope's safety, even beginners can shop safely for rock-climbing rope deals on the Internet. Check sites such as AcmeClimbing.com and MountainGear.com for climbing-rope bargains.
Cost
Climbing ropes range in price from just over $100 to $225 in 2010. Prices vary according to manufacturer, rope length, rope diameter and special features such as dry treatment. You'll pay more for a dry-treated climbing rope, but that extra expense means your rope is likely to last longer. Dry treatment helps keep the inside of the rope from becoming saturated with water if you encounter inclement weather, and it also helps protect the rope from dirt.
Accessories
Consider purchasing a climbing rope bag along with a climbing rope. The rope bag helps protect the rope from the elements when it's not in use, including sunlight, dirt and chemicals. A rope bag also offers you a convenient way to carry your rope to the cliff and to move it around at the cliff without having to coil the rope or drag it through the dirt every time. It can therefore help extend a climbing rope's life. You can find a simple rope bag for under $10 or buy a fancy one with extra features for about $45.
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