If you ask rock climbers or mountaineers, they may say that tree workers are kind of nuts for climbing with Static Ropes rather than Dynamic Ropes.

The truth is that when it comes to climbing, there are way more differences than similarities between the techniques that arborists use from mountain climbers.

Since so many of you wonderful people out there have been asking about tree climbers and their relationships with Static Ropes, we figured now would be a good time to write a short guide on the subject.

As you will see, much of this is related to the climbing technique arborists commonly use- SRS (Stationary Rope Systems) or SRT (Single Rope Technique).

What Is The Difference Between Static Rope And Dynamic Rope?

The difference between Static Ropes and Dynamic Ropes is simple and lies in how much stretch or flexibility a rope will provide.

Static Ropes are low stretch, give little flexibility, and less elongation.

Some Information On Static Ropes:

• Static Means Low Stretch
• Static Ropes Are Often Made Of Synthetic Materials Such As Nylon Or Polyester
• In Addition To Tree Work, Static Ropes Are Popular For Rescue Operations And A Wide Variety Of Rigging Applications

Low Stretchhhhhhhhh

Like we said before, climbing trees is very different from rock climbing. Rock climbers are looking for a lot of stretch in their ropes because they expect to fall while climbing. If you are likely to fall at some distance, a rope with a good amount to give is going to prevent injury.

Arborists are looking to prevent falling as much as possible. They also are looking to use as little energy as possible. A rope with less stretch is going to require less energy from someone climbing up a tree.

Some Advantages Of Low Stretch Rope:

• Less Rope “Milking” (Bunching)
• Decreases The Likelihood Of Falling
• Requires Less Work For Tree Climbers
• Prevents Loss Of Progress While Climbing Higher
• Less Friction Is Created While Climbing And Rigging
• Easier To Lower An Injured Climber From The Ground
• Friction Level Does Not Change While Climbing Around Limbs
• Often More Compatible With Ascenders And Rigging Hardware

So Why Do Some Arborists Say They Climb With Dynamic Ropes?

The answer to this question is kind of funny. Static Ropes are so ingrained in arboriculture that when arborists use Static Ropes with a little more flexibility, they sometimes call them Dynamic Ropes.

These ropes by any other standards would be considered incredibly stiff. These climbing ropes would not have the type of stretch required for mountain climbing, rock climbing, or ice climbing.

Arborists are a pretty unique breed though. There MAY BE an arborist somewhere that is so stubborn and weird that he insists on climbing trees with a Dynamic Rope made for mountain climbing. We haven’t met him yet, but he could be out there.

What Is This About SRT & SRS?

SRT stands for Single Rope Technique while SRS stands for a Stationary Rope System. They both roughly refer to the same style of climbing. SRT is a more old school term that refers to the number of ropes used. SRS is becoming a more popular term that refers to the fact that the rope does not move much in this style of climbing.

Static Ropes work best in SRT/SRS because the climber bounces less than they would on a dynamic rope, leading to less energy being required.

Also the amount of friction on a line remains much more consistent when using Statics for SRT applications.

Rope Strand Counts & Nylon Cores

In general, the higher the strand count of a rope, the less stretch a rope will give. So, in other words, ropes with more strands are more static.

Lower strand ropes are more traditional and more likely to be used for climbing. They are very strong, but jam up hardware.

Higher strand ropes are especially popular for work positioning, rigging, and “fliplining.” They also are used for climbing though. In these cases, a nylon core is ideal as it offers additional shock absorption and a higher breaking strength. In some cases, this “kernmantle” design will include a polyester cover that makes a rope softer and the grip more pleasant.

This Is The Static Age

Now that we have summed up why Static Ropes make sense for arborists and other tree climbers, it may be time for you to decide if Static Ropes make sense for you.

If you are planning on climbing a mountain, a canyon, or some big old boulders, a Dynamic Rope is going to be safer for you. Otherwise, we are entering the Static Age and it may be just the right time for you to try out a Static Rope yourself.