New England Rope KM-III Static

[beastmaster]

I was at a local rock climbing store a few months ago to pick up a few carabiners, and they had New England KM-III static rope on sale pretty cheap. I had been wanting a static rope anyway and did an impulsive purchase.
I wanted 200' of 10 mm, but they didn't have that so I bought 11mm. The next day I kind of regretted buying it. This is the stiffest rope I've ever seen. Really hard to tie a knot and you would never be able to tie a carabiner on with it. I wish I'd gotten the 10 mm, as the 11 doesn't flow well through my gri gri with out some weight on it.
With that being said, after several months now I love that rope. For SRT ascending it makes a would of difference. I used Blaze for my go to climbing line and it don't have much stretch, but after using static my blaze seems like a rubber band. I also think that this ropes(KM-lll)is safer to work off of. It's tough. It doesn't take much of a nick to cut though a single rope under tension. But you'd have a better chance with this tough ass KM-lll of it not parting with a slight nick. I think this rope may last forever. I don't know how you could ware it out, it's that tough. While acending or decending you don't notice the stiffness at all though. I still wish I got the 10mm and it's like rolling up a garden hose when your done, but all in all, this turned out to be a great rope.(Of course I've never used any other static ropes)
Writing this in case anyone else is on the fence about going static, or buying this rope. Hope this helps ya.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

Been using static ropes for climbing and rigging for years. Nice thing is most of the ropes strength is in its core unlike 16 strand

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[2treeornot2tree]

My wrap to came with a static rope.

As far as tying knots, all you have to do is leave a longer tail.

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[NYTREECLIMBER]

I've been using static line for srt for a little while now and I like it, the only thing about static line is that It doesnt handle a shock load very well at all,so just be careful when working off of it

 

[2treeornot2tree]

Most static lines only elongate 3% at minimum breaking strength.

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[Pelorus]

I can't see myself buying a static rope just for ascending, and then having to switch over to a different rope.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

You can climb drt on them.

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[Pelorus]

You can climb drt on them.

I'm finally (never say never) learning & practicing SRT and Blue Moon / Poison Ivy is working nice with HH and a rope walker system. Doesn't seem stretchy, and it grips nice. I hear what Beast is saying about the advantages KM111 offers, but most of my climbing is removals on spurs, and the trees don't touch the sky here compared to SoCal.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Have yet to try SRT, but when I do, if I do, I am going to bug the hell out of you beasty.

 

[Adamgaspo]

Great rope for SRT! And yes when loaded the rope is stiff as EHS cable

 

[imagineero]

Just be aware when climbing on static that it's not intended to take falls. Not that we generally do take falls in tree work, but in the event of a fall a rope with some stretch absorbs a lot of the shock load. This is better for you, and better for the rope. Repeated shock loading of a static rope can easily lead to it's failure, despite the seemingly high strength.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

If the KM III stands for Kernmantle, I have some Yale and love it. One feel of the jacket tells ya it will last much longer getting grabbed by ascenders and it is more durable and cut resistant. I don't miss the gooey stretch and wouldn't trade the tight feel of the kernmaster for silkier rope.

I was under the impression that static-rappelling kernmantle was designed to absorb energy internally in a shock load scenario. Must be a one hit wonder.

It will not absorb the load as it stretches less then 3% at breaking. When I was taking a fire company high angle rescue class they showed drop tests with static kernmantle rope. A prussik held a 6' fall with a 300# weight. It melted the sheath though. The same drop test with a gibs accender and also with a toothed accender cut the rope which cause a caterstropic failer.

You are thinking of rock climbing ropes.
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[2treeornot2tree]

A static kernmantle rope typically has a braided core where as most rock climbing ropes have a twisted core to absorb falls. Rock climbing ropes are rated at so many falls till failure.

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