Marlow Ropes: A Legacy of Precision, Safety, and Innovation

Not all climbing ropes feel the same in the tree, and any arborist who spends the vast majority aloft knows that the difference in the ropes matters. When your rope is amongst the things you trust for every ascent, redirect, and work position, performance isn’t optional. With more than two centuries of rope-making experience, Marlow Ropes has built a reputation for cordage that holds up under real-world tree work. Two of their standout arborist tree climbing ropes, Maverick and Vega, are designed to excel in performance, whether in an SRS or MRS climbing configuration.

A Brief History of Marlow

Marlow Ropes has been a prominent presence in the rope manufacturing industry for over two hundred years. Established in 1807 in Hailsham, East Sussex, Marlow initially produced ropes using soft natural fibers before moving to hard fibers for maritime applications. Notably, the original Hailsham facility continues to manufacture ropes today. The "Marlow" brand name was first introduced in 1957, marking the company's entry into the yachting market. Since then, Marlow has embraced synthetic fiber technology, establishing itself as a leader in high-performance rope production. The Marlow brand had attained a level of success that led to the founding of Marlow Ropes Ltd in 1961 with the intent of manufacturing synthetic fibers.

Following a series of acquisitions, the company was split in 2005 and sold to different buyers, with English Braids acquiring the Marlow Cordage Division while keeping the Marlow Ropes Ltd. name. Today, Marlow is internationally known for providing ropes to industries such as arboriculture, marine, defense, rescue, climbing, and industrial access. The company has built its reputation through a commitment to engineering-led design, thorough testing, and adherence to global safety standards. Marlow continues to design and manufacture products specifically for professionals whose safety relies on their ropes.

Two of Marlow’s most notable arborist double braid tree climbing ropes, Marlow Maverick and Marlow Vega, exemplify this philosophy.

Marlow Maverick

Maverick made its debut in the tree care industry in 2024 as a 24-strand, 11.5mm climbing rope suitable for both SRS and MRS setups. From my own experience climbing with Maverick, I can confidently say it adapts well to both climbing systems. The Marlow Maverick ties knots securely and remains flexible, making it compatible with many mechanical climbing devices due to its 11.5mm diameter. In a moving rope configuration, it offers impressively smooth handling for a relatively slim rope and is gentle on the hands during ascent.

However, pairing a new Maverick rope with a USED Petzl Zig Zag might result in some slippage or "creep", possibly appearing thinner when under load (or perhaps that's just my perception). On the other hand, if you use a standard hitch cord system in a moving rope setup, the experience is outstanding.

As someone who enjoys testing various tree climbing gear, I found Maverick pairs exceptionally with the latest Rock Exotica Akimbo 2 and Rope Runner Vertec. The rope’s sleek cover enhances performance with these particular mechanical hitches. When used for stationary rope climbing, though, Maverick does exhibit noticeable elongation, reported at 2.5% during tests, especially when compared to Marlow Vega. But don’t let this discourage you: unless you’re regularly tackling heights over 100 feet, climbing nonstop, or training for speed ascent, the stretch shouldn’t pose much of an issue. While you may notice some "give" when settling into the rope or pre-tensioning, most ascents involve pauses and direction changes, which minimize the impact of elongation.

Marlow lists Maverick’s static strength as 35kN, with a Figure 8 knot strength at 18.8kN, and spliced strength at 22.9kN. The rope features a polyester sheath and a nylon core.

Marlow Vega

The MARLOW VEGA tree climbing rope was first introduced during the 2017 Tree Care Industry (TCI) Expo and officially launched in 2018. Distinct from the Maverick model, Vega features a polyester cover and core, offering an exceptionally low elongation rate of 1.2%, which makes it particularly well-suited for SRS applications. With an 11.7mm diameter and a 24-strand cover, Vega remains highly pliable, though the tightly braided cover provides a firm in-hand feel. Its minimal elongation is advantageous for scenarios that require stability at height. In my experience, Vega responds more effectively to hitch cord configurations compared to mechanical devices when used for moving rope, but that could be the way I was trained, too.

I do not have a preferred climbing rope. Nonetheless, I have used numerous ropes with varied textures and elongation properties. Among these, Vega has consistently performed well in SRS climbing applications. For SRT climbing with Vega, both the Akimbo 2 and the Hitch Hiker devices have demonstrated exceptional performance. Average static strength: 36.8kN; with Figure 8: 18.8kN; with low profile eye: 21.2kN.

Conclusion

Marlow’s long history is not just a marketing point; it’s reflected in the engineering discipline behind every rope they produce. Both the Maverick and Vega are purpose-built climbing lines that serve different climbing philosophies without compromising safety or performance. Neither rope is wrong for arborist use, but your style of climbing and device setup will determine which one matches you better.