The Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 is the first dynamic climbing rope to use 50% reused ropes. The rope is UIAA- and EN-certified and is visually identical to one made of 100% new materials.
I’m all about improving the sustainability of all outdoor pursuits. But regardless of the UIAA ratings solidly proving the safety of the Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8, my brain still wanted visceral proof that the “half recycled” rope would perform just as well as others.
I tested the Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 for over a year of local and destination rock climbing. It did duty as a local hang-dogging work rope and on long pitches on established granite and limestone areas of the south. The cord got dusty under polished sport routes and dragged across sharp crystals and water pockets on more adventuresome lines. It took countless leader falls and ran endless laps as a top rope for beginners. The Neo 3R 9.8 was a true workhorse.
In short: The Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 was an excellent all-around rock climbing rope regardless of its sustainability score. It handled and knotted well, delivered soft catches, and held up to wear and tear like other high-quality ropes. The 50% recycled status was a welcome bonus.
How Edelrid Makes the Neo 3R 9.8
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Although Edelrid had made products from recycled ropes before, manufacturing a dynamic climbing rope was a new challenge requiring the brand to invent and execute new processes. The rope-making starts with discarded, pre-consumer ropes.
These ropes are mixed to make “grist,” and then melted and processed to form agglomerate chunks, then ground down to granulate. This list of steps reads as if it is easy. But it’s far from it to get granulate that can be extruded and spun into yarns with the correct properties for dynamic climbing ropes. The standard machines that produce yarns for the sheath and core of the Neo 3R had to be modified for the upcycled materials.
Using discarded ropes is a benchmark in climbing rope manufacturing. But earlier, Edelrid led the way in sustainable ropes by becoming the first to offer Bluesign-certified ropes.
Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 Technical Specifications
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- UIAA-certified, five falls
- EN 892 certified
- Core proportion: 62%
- Impact force: 8.6 kN
- Weight: 61 g/m
- Static elongation: 8.3%
- Dynamic elongation: 37%
Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 Review
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Edelrid Neo 3R 9.8 Review: Final Thoughts
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