Master PRO 7.6 review by Paul Ramsden

I first came across the Master PRO 7.6 while winter climbing in the Tatra with a friend several years ago. I was very impressed with the handling of his ropes, impressed enough to get myself a pair, which I have been using routinely over the last two years.

There are many skinner half and twin ropes available that will save you a few grams, if weight is all that matters, and you are climbing on straight forward ground such as snow and ice. However, when you find yourself on technical mixed ground on some remote Himalayan face, a skinny rope can start to look very thin indeed and many don’t offer the abrasion resistant necessary for use on rough rock and near sharp edges. However, when you start looking at more robust half ropes, they tend to be significantly thicker and significantly heavier.

When expedition climbing every gram counts and the Master PRO 7.6 at 38 g is very light, not the lightest half rope available to still impressively light. Smooth handling makes it a pleasure to use in thick gloves and mitts and the impressive water resistance equalities ensure the ropes never wet out and freeze. If however, your expedition climb moves away from snow and ice onto more technical ground the Master PRO 7.6’s impressive UIAA half rope fall rating gives you that extra reassurance you need when leading out on steep and potentially loose mixed ground, where a double rope technique is required.

Initially I thought the Master PRO 7.6 would be my dedicated expedition rope. However, I have found myself using it more and more as a general climbing rope. Initially on alpine rock climbs, where the smooth handling SBS construction reduces friction on rough granite rock and the low weight make these ropes a pleasure to use, not holding you back as the pitches add up.

As I used these ropes more and more, my confidence in them has increased to the point that I routinely use these ropes winter climbing in Scotland or trad rocking climbing in the UK, where half ropes are essentially and the high UIAA fall rating of 11 for a half rope is very confidence inspiring. While the low weight and easy handing make a using them a real pleasure. Impressively almost two years later these ropes are showing very little sign of wear, and they have become my favorite all round rope, suitable for almost any type of climb.

Photos: Paul Ramsden