Roca Rope Review (& Giveaway!)

A couple years back, I got my first 80m rope, which I thought would be ideal for climbing at Indian Creek. That one was a 9.2, which turned out to be a little too skinny for my tastes down there, and it didn’t hold up that well on the abrasive sandstone. Fast forward to this summer, and I was ready to try again, as I left the Outdoor Retailer show with a brand new Roca 9.4 80m rope, and started putting it to the test.

The first thing my friends noticed was the lavender color, which they said had an immediate calming effect on them. In fact, they were concerned they wouldn’t be able to climb hard using this cord, but thankfully that didn’t prove to be the case.

In all seriousness, this is a great rope. It feels thicker than other 9.4’s, but the handling is great, and there wasn’t any break in period. It also came kink free, which is always a joy. My last 80m was a nightmare of kinkage from the start, and I was concerned this would be a problem with all longer cords, but this rope has put my fears to rest. Also, the sheath wasn’t overly slick like it is on some new ropes. In fact, I’d have to say one of the best things about the Roca 9.4 was how it was “ready to go” from day one.

I’ve since logged numerous pitches on it, and it’s quickly become my favorite workhorse, saving the skinnier cords for redpoints and going light. It also seems to be holding up well, with little sign of wear on the sheath.

As these ropes are relatively new to the US market (they are based in Spain), right now Fixe is running a great deal on them, with a 9.9 60m for $103.60 and a 9.4 70m for $155.

And if that isn’t good enough for you, as part of this review WE ARE GIVING ONE AWAY!!! That’s right, all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what you would do with a new rope and you’ll be entered into a random drawing, picked in two weeks, to walk away with a brand new 70m 9.9 Roca rope.

Good luck!

Contest closes on 10/11/13, one entry per person, contest is only open to residents of the United States. By entering this contest you agree to share your email with SplitterChoss.com and Fixe Hardware, from whom you may receive exclusive discounts, news, and new product information via email in the future. Winner will be chosen by random drawing through the Splitter Choss super computer.  Folks affiliated with Splitter Choss aren’t allowed to enter, more fine print, etc, etc, etc.