The Best Climbing Ropes
If you want to get off the ground when climbing, you're going to need a rope. A climbing rope is your lifeline when tackling any route, keeping you safe and secure when you lose your footing above ground.
Over the past decade, our climbing experts tested over 40 different climbing ropes, with the 13 best models on the market in our current review. We took to our local sport crags, famous multi-pitch destinations, and the big mountains to conduct our side-by-side tests. This info comes at the expense of lots of rope-stretching falls by our expert gear testers, who certainly aren't shy about taking the whip.
Our favorite rock climbing rope is the Mammut 9.5 Crag Classic. This versatile rope is incredibly durable and handles impeccably, whether you're at the gym or a multi-pitch climb. If you're shopping on a budget, the Mammut 9.5 Crag We Care Classic also offers great handling and durability at a lower price.
Curious about our favorite climbing gear? We've accumulated hundreds of days bouldering, hanging off ropes, and even spent rainy days in the gym testing out everything from men's climbing shoes to climbing harnesses, belay devices, and more.
Editor's Note: Our climbing rope review was updated on April 4, 2024, to include direct quotes from our climbing test team.