The 10 Best Gym Climbing Ropes
Special Honors
Rogue Fitness Knotted Climbing Rope The Rogue Fitness Knotted Climbing Rope is a good choice for beginners. Its available in five lengths, all of which have the knots spaced in 16 inch increments, which is a comfortable distance for most people. Not only does this help with climbing, but it can greatly limit rope burn if you slip. roguefitness.com
Valof Fitness Sisal CLR-25 The Valof Fitness Sisal CLR-25 is looped on one end, so you can quickly hook it over any number of anchor points, and it has a heat shrunk vinyl sleeve on the other. While its maximum weight capacity is a bit low, at just 300 pounds, it is made by a well-respected company in the workout equipment industry and there is no reason it shouldn't last through years of use. valorfitness.com
Editor's Notes
June 12, 2020:
Gym climbing ropes are an excellent way to build upper body, core, and grip strength, as well as a great way to increase confidence in one's abilities. There is something primal about getting all the way to the top that most people will find very motivating, no matter how challenging it may be. Of course, in order to give yourself the best experience possible, it is important to choose a rope that fits your needs and ability.
Along with thickness and overall durability, one of the most important factors to consider when buying a climbing rope is material. Natural fibers, specifically sisal and help, are going to provide the most traction, which makes them good for beginners or anyone else without a lot of grip strength. On the other hand, their coarseness, which is what provides the traction, also means that they can be very rough on the hands, especially if you slip. That being said, we still recommend the Perantlb Outdoor, Aoneky Gym, The550CordShop Grade A, and Power Guidance 1.5-Inch for inexperienced climbers who haven't yet built up the hand strength for a synthetic option. Of these, the Perantlb Outdoor and The550CordShop Grade A stand out for having a nylon cover on the looped end that can help prevent wear in this susceptible area. Alternatively, if you already have a small metal anchor in your gym, or are willing to buy and install one, you pay prefer the Aoneky Manila, which includes an integrated D-ring and strong metal carabiner.
Those who can deal with the limited traction a synthetic model offers can look to the Fitness Solutions White, Crown Sporting Goods 1.5 Polydac, Pellor Nylon, AmazonBasics ER-30FT, and RopeFit Poly Dacron. The Fitness Solutions White, Crown Sporting Goods 1.5 Polydac, AmazonBasics ER-30FT, and RopeFit Poly Dacron are all made from a polyester material. while the Pellor Nylon is, obviously, made from nylon. Both materials offer a high tensile strength, but the polyester ones will be more resistant to stretching over time. We highly recommend one of these if you climb often, since they will be more gentle on your hands. For those who want a synthetic rope even though their hand strength isn't quite up to par, we recommend using a grip strengthener to aid in the needed muscle development.