Thick and Thin Climbing Ropes
The thicker the rope is, the stronger it is. The advantage to a thin rope is that it is lighter to carry. If you are hiking through the mountains, than weight can often be an issue. Ropes are typically 7.8 mm up to 11 mm thickness. It is not a good idea to use rope below 9 mm. Be careful in rope selection.
Ropes are thinner than they used to be. The reason is that technology has gotten better over the years. New ropes are stronger, more abrasion resistant, and can handle more falls with a thinner rope.
Sometimes a thicker rope is actually easier to climb with for the gripping power. If you don't need the rope light, go for a thicker rope.
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