Petzl has been the leading manufacturer of climbing gear for decades. It all began with Fernand Petzl, the founder of the company and a pioneering cave explorer, who manufactured his own equipment to navigate through vertical environments. Petzl’s innovation continues today as they continue to manufacture climbing gear for all kinds of adventurers. In this review, we’ll be looking at the Petzl Conga rope, a technical hiking cord that can be used as a hardline or for other miscellaneous purposes.
Specifications
- Diameter: 8 mm
- Rope type: (CE EN 564, UIAA): cord
- Weight per meter: 43 g
- Tensile strength: 15 kN
- Construction: 40 carrier
- Material(s): nylon
- Length: 20 m or 30 m
Specifications courtesy of Petzl
When you first purchase a static rope, it is recommended that you soak it in water for a full 24 hours. This will not only help strengthen the rope but remove any lubricants that were used in manufacturing the rope. Just keep in mind that the rope will shrink a little bit after you let it dry. The expected lifetime of the Conga rope is about 10 years, but as with all equipment you’re willing to bet your life on, always inspect your gear. If the rope is beginning to fray or is able to be easily bent and folded over on top of itself, get rid of it.
Being an avid hiker and outdoor adventurer but also a minimalist, I do admit that I seldom carry technical rope with me. However, there have been times that I have used a rope to get to a destination or instances where it would have been easier if I had one, so I do see the advantage of owning one. In owning the Petzl Conga now, I do plan to pick and choose when I will carry it out with me. This is a specific piece of gear that can be useful when needed but it isn’t worth its weight outside of its intended use, but it does give me options during my excursions. I see it as always being worth taking up the little extra space in the trunk of my car. Just remember that 8 mm is a fairly skinny diameter for a technical rope, so this isn’t a rope you should climb or belay with.
