So what are the bad things about the Fly?

love
nick

I've used the Fly several times and like it. After almost a full season of use, other climbers' Fly ropes don't seem to snag as much as my Sportline does.
The one thing I noticed with it is that seems really bouncy for both SRT and DRT. Not necessarily a negative considering its construction, just noticeable. I like it enough that I'll be getting some of my own soon.

Now that I have finally managed to get myself logged onto this message board, let me share some information about the Fly

During this past summer, while working in the Panamanian rainforest, Tengu was good enough to bring along a 150 length of Fly for me to use. I fell in love with the stuff right off.

There are several reasons why I really like the stuff. First, this was a rainforest and therefore things stay pretty wet. The rope does not seem to absorb a lot of water and when it does get wet it dries out more quickly than the other rope I have been using (sportline). If the rope gets muddy all that is necessary is to rinse it in a bucket of water and the mud seems to come right out. Another reason, of course, is that it works just fine for both SRT and DRT. Almost every climb in the rainforest will involve a combination of both SRT and DRT techniques. First ascents and entry pitches are almost always SRT while everything else is DRT. The rope works fine for both. Finally, while not as light as Sportline, it is still lighter than traditional arborist rope. Because it does not absorb as much water in wet conditions it is actually lighter than wet Sportline. It does not pack up as tightly as Sportline but still packs up smaller than most traditional arborist rope.

Tengu has reported a possible allergic reaction to the dye used in the rope. I was almost ready to agree with him, because I, too, suffered from a rash on my arms after I began using the stuff. However, since coming home from Panama at the end of the summer I have not had another problem with the rash and I suspect that the rash might have been a reaction to the vegetative matter through which the rope passed while in the rainforest. Sort of like dragging your rope through poison ivy. Tengu was also in the rainforest and his rope passed through a whole lot of foliage just as mine did. A good friend of mine, who is a biologist, corroborates my belief that the rash is more likely due to something similar to poison ivy rather than the dye in the rope. If anyone else has a problem with a rash while using this rope, I would certainly like to know about it.

There is one other thing users need to know about using the Fly. I have found that once tension is off the climbing knot (Blake's Hitch, whatever) that the knot will tend to loosen and unset itself. I got a real surprise the first time I stepped off a limb after a brief rest and found myself doing a very short but exciting descent. Everything tightened itself up after I had moved only a few inches but it was a surprise, nevertheless. I would recommend that anytime you have allowed tension to come off the knot, that you check to make sure it is seated before leaping into space. The knot was in no danger of coming untied. It simply had loosened itself enough to necessitate a re-seating. No problem at all if you are aware of it. It is also possible that once this rope has received more use and become a bit worn, that this problem will solve itself.

I give this rope an "A+"

If we were to quantify the incremental step in the construction of arbo ropes we would put three strand manila as a 1. Then in the late seventies, along comes Arborplex, 12 strand. Ropes make a fifty point increase in performance. Soon, sixteen strand arbo ropes come along. We pick up another ten points over A-plex. Things have been stable in the arbo climbing line field for years. Then, in the summer of 2003 NE Ropes comes up with Fly. We gain fifteen points. Not as dramatic as the difference from manila to A-plex but a big jump.

Since it weighs 2/3 what sixteen strand does and the volume is 2/3 also more rope can be carried with less effort or the same amount of rope can be carried in a smaller pack.

It has just enough stretch to allow some cushion if its used in SRT. Less stretch than typical arbo ropes.

Fly has caused the other rope companies into a "catch up game". Soon, there will be other 11mm ropes no the market. By then, NE will probably have a new version around to tempt us.

Tom

Now that we're approaching a year of using the Fly, are there comments concerning its extended performance?

Is the rate of drying the same?

How is it wearing from friction - especially the Blake's Hitch?


Regards,
JimK

I’ve been using Fly ropes for about 8 months now. They seem very tough and aren’t showing much sign of wear. I haven’t observed any milking. I think Tengu says he’s been getting a little milking in his Fly, yes?

I had Sherrill make me some soft eyes for Fly rope. Those splices make me feel a little nervous. The problem is that the 24 strand splice is so complicated that I don’t understand it. If it ain’t understandable then it’s nerve-wracking by definintion.

Other observations:
--A Blake’s hitch can slide on a new Fly rope when you first load the Blake’s. This problem seems to go away as the Fly is broken in with use. I use a broken-in split tail, which has some fuzz. That also stops unwanted sliding. But I always make sure the Blake is tight before I load it on a Fly rope.
--Fly rules in the rain. It resists water penetration and seems to dry faster, too.
--Sweet slippery smooth action. Great for rope throws.
--It can kink up if you’re using a figure 8. I descend with a Petzl Piranha (when I’m climbing DRT and using a cambium saver). (That is, I use the Piranha to supply most of the friction during descent, but the Blake’s is there too.) But ... the Fly turns into a corkscrewy can of worms.
--Sorry, Treeman, I don’t like that red color. I don’t like climbing with a candycane!
cheers,
Gnarl (Richard)