Designing Ropes

Infinity Ropes have been designed to feature a number of exciting new developments to ensure that whichever rope you choose and whatever it is put through that you will be using the most tailored and responsive designs on the market today. However, the making of a top class product is really not a simple process and is not even that easy to explain and therefore, to give a little bit more of an insight – and without getting too confusing - Martin Atkinson, Managing Director of Infinity Ropes and the chief designer, takes up the story of the whys and wherefores of rope design.

The Dilemma of Rope Design….
Before any new rope range comes together there is much to consider and this initially design philosophy can determine your success; because designing a rope is a subtle of art as well as science.

The science is in the definition of the many processes that go into the manufacture of the rope, the artistry is in designating and combining these processes to get the best results from the ropes. However, the problem that is always encountered, is that altering one element positively can be seen to have a negative effect on another e.g. more core yarns may positively result in a higher fall rating and negatively result in a heavier rope. Or reducing the maximum impact force, good, may lead to a stretchier rope under bodyweight, bad.

Although this may seem remarkably obvious it highlights the basic dilemma of rope design and however hard we try these basic physical laws cannot be circumvented.

Designing for Climbing…..
Once again the title of the paragraph may seem obvious but there is a distinct difference in putting down a specification on paper and making sure that the specifications fulfils the differing criteria of a wide range of climbers.

Each climber requires a blend of characteristics from their rope: strength, weight, flexibility, durability; presented in a way that suits their activity best. So bearing the “design dilemma” in mind, it is no good presenting the strongest ropes in the world to a lightweight Alpinist, as the ropes will necessarily be thick and heavy. Neither will the dedicated Sports-Climber welcome a superlight rope if it is too thin to belay with and wears out after a few days “dogging”.

Initially I counted upon my 28 years experience of ‘top-end’ climbing throughout the world to recognise what individual climbers need from their rope. Then I drew on my many years experience in the climbing rope business to achieve these aims in the factory.