Just to add my two cents. I've been climbing on a Fly for about six months with no problems. It stuffs well in my backpack for wilderness climbs, dries fast and handles well on the limbs. I've never experienced a problem with my Blakes loosening up, but then I check for a tight knot before taking off. I SRT descend on a pirana without any problems using the Fly. And I think its kinda cute.

Robert,

While the NE Rope website touts the excellent knot-holding quality of the Fly, the Samson catalog gives it only good knot control, moderate flexibility, and moderate UV resistance

Is Samson comparing their ropes to NE's on their website? Can you post a _link_?

I don't think there is a better combo rope made than the Fly. For strictly SRT its a little stretchy but not extreme.

Tom

Originally posted by Tom Dunlap
I don't think there is a better combo rope made than the Fly. For strictly SRT its a little stretchy but not extreme.

Tom

I'd definitely agree with this. I used it in Panama in January (as did most of the other climbers who went). It didn't get caught up on bark, dried very quickly, and had great knot holding power for limb walks and other activities that involved lessening of knot tension. Worked great for SRT, too. I used Sportline (a 7/16" rope ordered from NT) before I got the Fly. The Fly has done a better job of resisting glazing in the Blake's hitch than my Sportline.

My son and I ordered a 200' lenght of the Fly from Ben Meadows Company (1-800-241-6401) for 116.00. It was shipped right out the next day and we got it 3 days later north of Seattle. Our is a full 11mm, great for gripping and we love its flexibility. We descend with the Petzl Pirana and have had no troubles with kinks, of course we are a couple of light- weights and our rope is fairly new (we will watch it, though). I sewed a 1/8" poly loop into one end, whip stitched it into place and used rope dip to protect the whip stitching. This makes it way easier to pull over a limb as there is no big knot to catch. We are going for a 600' reel on our next order (338.00 and 12 lbs.) We'd like to be able to climb up one end of the line and Tyrolean traverse over to the ground or a neighboring tree - all on the same rope (we have some awesome old growth Firs on quite steep slopes). Climb safe and relish that "treetime!" Ben & Logan

I'm going to buy the Fly, too! I'm hearing from people here that it is 11mm in diameter, but some catalogues have it listed as 1/2 inch. Are there two thicknesses available, or are these suppliers just generously rounding up?

its apparently 11mm rope, but when i first got my fly and laid it alongside my 10.5mm beal, it seems a heck of a lot thicker for a supposed .5mm difference