#4 Canyoning Rope Bags: the bee’s knees
Caught in the act
Introduction
Why should you use a rope bag? Simple, added convenience, efficiency and advanced rope management options. It is the single best piece of equipment to improve efficiency when canyoning.
What?
There are several manufacturers of rope bags. Imlay, Access Gear, Rodcle. Each model has different shapes, capacity and recommend uses. One model might not fit into a pack from a different company so it’s worth asking before you buy. I have Rodcle packs, so I purchased Rodcle rope bags
How?
How can a bag improve your efficiency? Isn’t a canyon pack with a rope stuffed into it just the same? Not quite. A rope bag requires a small amount of preparation to ensure that it is ready to be used as intended.
Single Rope vs Double Rope #1 Prior Preparation
For a single rope we are going to take a pile of rope and flake it onto the ground. Locate the tail at the top of the pile of rope. Secure it into the rope bag (there are tie in points). I use a bowline for its ease of untying if required. Attach a carabiner to a high point above the bag. Clip a bight of rope into the redirect and begin to pull rope into the bag starting from the attachment point. Periodically press loose rope into the bag. Once the rope is in the bag tie the opposite end of the rope somewhere easily accessible. I use the carry handles of the rope bag with an overhand knot, the carry handles of the larger canyon pack or the shoulder strap of the canyon pack (see ‘Other Benefits’). This is the end we will typically grab when we need rope.
Single Rope on the left. Double rope butterfly coils on the right. Not too much time difference.
Single Rope vs Double Rope #2 Abseiling Time Split
Again we will use Single Rope and Double Rope but this time for a full abseil. We will flake the rope out as needed, addressing any knots, twists, deploy, pull down and pack up. How much time difference do you think there could be?
3 mins of separation between SRT rope bagging vs coiling doubles
In a canyon with multiple abseils this adds up
The reason it works so well is because you don’t deploy more rope than you need for a given pitch. You also pre remove twists, knots and potential entanglements. The rope is ready to spill out like a jack-in-a-box. Combined with the techniques shown in previous blogs (isolating two stands on a single rope system) you’re leaving the double rope system in the dust, integrating both rescue options and efficiency into your trip management.
Other Benefits
There are other ancillary benefits when using rope bags, as well as standalone rope management techniques.
Ease of working in cramped spaces
Easy access to other stashed gear.
A neat way to store your rope outside of your pack.
Abseiling with a rope bag avoids throwing rope into scrubby trees and less than vertical terrain
The same technique works on windy days too.
Always ready for:
rescue throws/tows
improvised belays/lowers
Further advance techniques include making floating anchors for avoid water features like keepers or as a batman style handline for escaping steep potholes. There is always more to know but started with mastering simple abseiling efficiency is the best place to start.
Conclusion
A rope bag is an essential tool for single rope technique. The increased efficiency is more than enough to justify its place in your kit. Once the basics are well understood more techniques can be considered for advanced terrain. At first glance they might look expensive to purchase but they will truly earn their place with the time saved and added benefits.
