Finger tape for marking rope ends and middle?

[PeterHS]

Ropes are often dark or strongly coloured so white finger tape makes sense to mark the rope ends (and perhaps the middle too) albeit acknowledging that it will need frequent replacing due to belay wear etc.

Do you do this? Are there any problems with it?

TIA and ciao,

Peter

[Justin]

Yes, I've done this (once only, then I removed it)... the middle marker tape tends to roll around when it goes through the belay device. Replacing is a mission as they do move around / can cause your rope to become sticky.
So, the fact that the tape does roll up/down the rope can make your 'middle' marker unreliable - should you become dependent on this (one dark night out), it could lead to an accident.

Better to use a rope marker - http://www.rammountain.co.za/product/beal-rope-marker/ & https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/ind ... ductId=231

I've also heard of people sewing a thread/middle marker into their rope, but then you compromise the core fibres of your rope.

[PeterHS]

Yes, I've done this (once only, then I removed it)... the middle marker tape tends to roll around when it goes through the belay device. Replacing is a mission as they do move around / can cause your rope to become sticky.
So, the fact that the tape does roll up/down the rope can make your 'middle' marker unreliable - should you become dependent on this (one dark night out), it could lead to an accident.

Better to use a rope marker - http://www.rammountain.co.za/product/beal-rope-marker/ & https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/ind ... ductId=231

I've also heard of people sewing a thread/middle marker into their rope, but then you compromise the core fibres of your rope.

Yes thanks, Justin, and I always support CR and MMO! I have a rope marker and even that fades and wears. It would be so easy if rope manufacturers designed rope with a clear middle marker (maybe some do?) but then they would have to have separate production runs for 50m, 60m, 70m ropes .... Peter

[Justin]

Yes thanks, Justin, and I always support CR and MMO! I have a rope marker and even that fades and wears. It would be so easy if rope manufacturers designed rope with a clear middle marker (maybe some do?) but then they would have to have separate production runs for 50m, 60m, 70m ropes .... Peter

Peter, you want a half/half design/colour (bi-colour) rope - the one half is one pattern/colour and the other side is another pattern/colour - see image below.


On another point: finger tape is apparently a reasonable (emergency) replacement for the sheath of your rope.

I saw this done by some East German climbers (think Berlin Wall, Montagu) many years ago - they had taped up about a 2.5 meter section on their rope (and they were not having an emergency).

[PeterHS]

Yes thanks, Justin, and I always support CR and MMO! I have a rope marker and even that fades and wears. It would be so easy if rope manufacturers designed rope with a clear middle marker (maybe some do?) but then they would have to have separate production runs for 50m, 60m, 70m ropes .... Peter

Peter, you want a half/half design/colour (bi-colour) rope - the one half is one pattern/colour and the other side is another pattern/colour - see image below.


On another point: finger tape is apparently a reasonable (emergency) replacement for the sheath of your rope.

I saw this done by some East German climbers (think Berlin Wall, Montagu) many years ago - they had taped up about a 2.5 meter section on their rope (and they were not having an emergency).

Thanks, Justin, that's interesting. The manufacturers could have some real fun with different colours for both rope halves ..... Think fancy names for each colour too!

Berlin Wall and East Germans haha. I was lucky to be in Berlin the day after it first fell in November 1989. It was an amazing experience and I have a piece of the wall still, having hired a pick-axe to remover it!

Personally, I would use something like an alpine butterfly knot to isolate any damaged rope or sheath rather than use tape!

Peter

[Nic Le Maitre]

The bicolour ropes are a cool idea, but actually finding the middle when it's all in a heap is no easier (possibly more difficult) than looking for a middle mark as you are digging through a pile to find where it changes pattern.

If you are pulling it through a closed ring to get to the middle, then it's great because it can't fade.