Kernmantle Climbing Ropes

Kernmantle ropes have a core and jacket construction (in German, "Kern" and "Mantle", thus Kernmantle). In a kernmantle rope, the core fibers provide most of strength and load-bearing capacity of the rope. The jacket protects the core and provides a smooth surface for ascenders and other climbing devices. A good SRS rope will have minimal stretch or elongation - very important on long ascents. Many kernmantle ropes are excellent for use in Stationary Rope Systems, and some work great for MRS as well.

Stationary Rope System (SRS) used to be called Single Rope Technique (SRT). In SRS, the climber anchors the tree climbing rope in the canopy or at the base of the tree, and the rope does not move. (Contrast with a Moving Rope System (MRS). Good ropes for MRS are 24-strand or 16-strand climbing ropes.)