What Makes A Good Indoor Climbing Rope?

There are plenty of reasons that you might be looking for a rope to use primarily indoors. Maybe you've just started out and don't plan on heading outside any time soon or perhaps you're just tired of beating up your expensive redpoint rope every time you head down the wall. Whatever the reason, there are a few key things you should always look for when choosing an indoor climbing rope.

Edlinger II - 10,2mm Classic

Indoor ropes get a lot of use. You may be able to climb a dozen routes at the gym in the same time it would take to faff your way up one 15m trad route outside. Naturally, this extra mileage will cause your rope to wear out more quickly. Many beginner and intermediate climbers will also find that falling is a less daunting proposition on indoor routes compared to taking whippers outside. They will therefore commit to the plunge far more often at the gym.

Both of these abrasive factors mean that a thicker rope is the best option for indoor climbing. Happily, thicker ropes are, on the whole, a fair amount cheaper than their thinner counterparts!

Master - 9,7mm Complete Shield

Another money saving tip is to avoid ropes with any sort of treatment. Many modern ropes have dirt and water-resistant coatings. However, as your rope is only going to be exposed to the great indoors, these coatings will be all but useless to you. Save yourself some precious pennies and pay them no more thought.

This isn't to say that the floors of climbing walls can't be dirty and you'd still be well-advised to use a rope bag even when you're indoors.

Python - 10mm

The final consideration is length; how long a rope will you need if you want to climb indoor routes? While there are a few exceptionally tall climbing gyms around the world, you are unlikely to need a rope longer than 50m for the vast majority. 

If you’re unsure of the lengths at your local wall or are climbing somewhere new, make sure to check that your rope is long enough before you start climbing!

Of course, even these cheaper ropes may be too much of an extra expenditure for some and if that's the case, a good option can be to use an old outdoor rope for your indoor training. With indoor routes generally shorter than outside, even if you've had to chop the ends of your rope due to wear this can still be a viable option. Still ropes, and older ropes in particular, should always be treated with caution so be sure to check yours on a regular basis and if you're unsure, don't climb on it!  

If you want to get more advice on ropes, or any other gear for that matter, our advisors are on hand 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in the EpicTV Shop, or you can ask a question any time on our Gear Geek forum!