Core Shot: Can You Still Use That Rope?

You run your hand down an old rope and feel a soft lump. Maybe a thin spot. Maybe you see a flash of white through the colour. That is a core shot, and it is the one bit of rope damage that makes climbers go quiet.

So what is it? And can you still use that rope? Short answer: not for climbing. Here is the plain version.

What is a core shot on a climbing rope?

A climbing rope is two ropes in one. The outside is the sheath. The inside is the core. The core does most of the work holding a fall.

A core shot is when the sheath is cut or worn through and the core is hurt underneath. Sometimes you can see white fibres. Sometimes you only feel a flat, soft or hard patch. The sheath can look fine while the core is damaged.

Can you still use a rope with a core shot?

No. Not for climbing, and not for anything where a person hangs off it. The core is what catches you. If it is hurt, you do not know how much it can hold.

Some climbers cut out a short bad section and keep the rest as two shorter ropes. That is a call for you and your rope maker's advice. I am not a rope inspector. I am a certified waste man. If you are unsure, retire it.

What do you do with a rope after a core shot?

Most people bin it. It is nylon, so it will sit in landfill for hundreds of years. That is the sad bit.

Here is the useful bit. A rope that is done as safety gear can still be great as a belt, a keychain or a coaster. A belt does not need to catch a fall. It just needs good nylon, and your old rope has plenty. I cut out the damaged bit and keep the good length.

Every belt I make is built to your exact waist size. Have a look at the recycled climbing rope belts, the rope keychains, or the gifts for climbers if you need an early Christmas idea.

How do you check your rope for a core shot?

Slowly, end to end, every few weeks. Run it through your hands and feel for anything that is not even. Do it in good light. Check near the ends and at spots that take the most wear.

Remember too that ropes retire after 5 to 10 years even if they look fine. The core wears out where you cannot see it.

Stay classy and remember,
Make Waste Useful.

George