Choosing the right rope for your rig

I’ve been experimenting with different types of rigging rope lately, and it makes such a difference in how the installation performs. Last week, I switched from static line to a dynamic one for a large installation, and the added stretch really helped absorb some unexpected forces. Has anyone else made a change in rope type that transformed your work? I’d love to hear your experiences.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‍​⁠‍​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠​‌​⁠‌‌‍‌‍‌⁠‌​‌⁠​⁠‌​​⁠‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​⁠‍​‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​⁠​​‌‌‌‍​⁠​‍‌​‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

And switching to a dynamic rope can really change the game, just like swapping from a sedan to a sports car! I’ve found that they can help with falls, but you’ve got to watch for wear from rubbing against edges. Ever had an unexpected snag with a new rope type?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠​‌​⁠‌‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‍‍‌⁠‍‍‌‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍⁠‌‍‍​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍​‍‌⁠​⁠​⁠​‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I once switched to a kernmantle rope for a truss setup, and it really improved my grip under load… Just be mindful of abrasion resistance, especially if you’re working near sharp edges. @sandra_m89, have you found any specific brands that hold up well?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠​‌​⁠‌‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​​⁠‌​⁠‍​⁠‍​​⁠‌​​⁠​⁠‌‌‍‍​⁠‍‌​⁠‌​‌‍‌⁠‌​‍​‌​‌⁠‌‌​⁠‌⁠​​‌⁠‍‌‌​‍⁠‌‌​‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​