Sheath Slippage and core deformation

[mattp]

I have recently had an issue with a pair of ropes having the sheath slip along the core - approximately 2 feet. The same ropes are so soft that when I rappel using a reverso, the core flattens out making it feel like a shoelace.

 

I've never had ropes do this, though I've been using "skinny" cords for 20 years. Anybody else ever experience this?

[Punter]

I have had the same thing happen with a Blue Water rope after about 3 weeks of 'normal' use. I've always stayed away from BlueWater since. Granted, it was way cheap ~$90. I've stuck with Edelweiss recently and been happy.

[chris]

I just retired a beal rope for the same reasons you described. The core flattening was also more pronounced in the ends of the rope than the middle. I've never seen a rope do this.

 

This happened after 18-24 months of heavy use (I can't remember precisely when I bought the rope), so I'm attributing it to normal wear and tear and abuse on a rope.

 

I still buy Beal and recommend their ropes.