Samson True Blue Climbing Rope

Samson True Blue is a classic 12-strand climbing rope that many arborists learned to climb on. It has a firm hand, a predictable feel with friction hitches, and the easy-to-splice construction of a 12-strand braid.

How True Blue climbs

True Blue has been a standard on climbing crews for a long time, and its appeal is consistency. A 12-strand braid has no separate cover, so there is no cover slippage, and it is simple to splice an eye for a hardware termination.

On a doubled-rope (MRS) system it works well with traditional friction hitches and a micro pulley to tend slack. Because it is a 12-strand, it can wear differently than a 24-strand line under a mechanical device, so check the device maker's approved rope list before using it on SRS.

Because it has been around so long, True Blue is a useful reference rope. Plenty of trainers and crews know how common hitches behave on it, which makes it a sensible choice for climbers still settling on a system.

Choosing length and caring for it

Pick a length that covers twice the height of your typical tie-in for MRS, or the full height plus tail for SRS. Compare similar lines in climbing rope.

Keep the rope in a bag, away from fuel, bar oil, and sunlight, and run it through your hands before each climb looking for cuts, glazing, and flat or stiff spots. Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard (ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions), be inspected before every use, and be used only by trained climbers.