What to Do with Old Climbing Rope?

There are a lot of things you can do with an old climbing rope you can upcycle or recycle. You can use loose ends for tying off gear, get crafty and make rugs or doormats along with anything else you can creatively think off.

Climbing Rope DIY Projects

6# Old Climbing Rope Beer koozies

Sierra Offer a great video guide on how you can turn your old useless rope into a beer koozie. Great for camping trips or outdoor BBQs or even after a day at the crag.

7# Dog Leash

A lot of people are seeing success in turning old climbing rope into a dog lead as climbing rope needs to withstand falls its already an incredibly durable material which makes it perfect for a dog leash. You can check out a simple guide here

8# Dog Toy

While we are on the topic of dogs you can also turn your used or old rope into a toy for your little furry pal. These make great tug of war toys for your good boys/girls and can easily be made yourself. If you are looking for ideas or just want to purchase one a company called Chews on Belay offers a range of recycled rope toys.

I think this is one of the better ways to use up your old rope as these toys tend to last a long time and are much cheaper than the store.

9# Rope Furniture

Rope furniture requires a little more work along with dedication and usually a fair bit more rope than the other options, but it can leave with you a unique and stylish new couch.

Along with couches people have made all sorts of crazy furniture including stools, benches, hammocks, and beds.

10# Rope Ladders

If you are looking for something more adventurous to make then a rope ladder might be perfect. You can use it to scale cliffs, trees, or pretty much anything you can think of. It’s probably best if you combine your climbing skills to ensure you climb the ladder when top-roped as shown In the image remember safety third.

If you are looking for a guide on how to make your own ladder you can find one here

#11 Rope Bag

This one requires a little more sewing skills than the previous options as it requires you to pull out the core of the rope and sew the ropes sheaths together. It does create however a fashionable bag that can be handy for walks hikes or just a trip to the supermarket. You may need to buy a buckle or two to finish the design off.

12# Jump Rope

For climbers who are only dedicated to training a jump rope can make a good warmup or warm down tool. Fairly simple to make and something that could help your climbing, it’s a great choice to turn your old rope into. All you need to do is cut the rope to length, burn and tape the ends and then attach some handles.

13# Climbing Rope Shelf

If you are looking for somewhere to store your climbing gear then you could make a rope shelf. Rope shelves are an incredibly useful way to get rid of your old rope and Lemon Thistle wrote an easy to follow guide with step by step instructions on how to do it.

Perfect for making a gear rack or just somewhere to store bits and bobs. It fits great in the office or bathroom.

This one might take you a little longer than the others and you may need some hooks and some wooden shelves.

#14 Picture Frame

I’m sure we all have tons of action shots of ourselves climbing that we would love to display and what better way than a climbing rope picture frame.

As this takes up such little rope it can be used as an additional extra or something you use any leftover rope ends for.

#15 Donate Your Old Climbing Rope

If you are not the crafty type or up to some DIY you can always donate your rope to a good cause. If you check with your local climbing gym or mountaineering groups its likely they already have a charity set up.

Alternatively, company’s like Patagonia and Sterling Rope offer recycling programs, you can send your rope to them and they will grind or melt the rope into nylon pellets that can then be used to make a variety of different products such as carpet fiber, fleece, telephones, skateboards, and dog toys to name a few.