Poly-E rope vs spectra

wkbrdr127 · Newbie Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 38 City: Philly

Background info:

About 2 years ago I bought a spectra rope off ebay fairly cheap(>$50 iirc). It help up great, and made a noticeable difference compared to the generic ski line I uses before that. I also got a straightline handle that had the squid grip on it.

The end of last season someone managed to wrap the rope around the prop and it wound up needing to be cut off. Since I didn't have the time/money to get a new rope before I got down again, I tied it up in a few places, and used it for the rest of the season. Winter passed, forgot about the rope, then I went back out at the beginning of the season and was like "damn - I forgot to get a new rope".

Long story short, last week I bought a hardline T-cor rope on ebay from evogear(great company to deal with btw). A few days pass, and I get a call saying that they listed it by mistake, and that they were out of stock. They offered to upgrade me to a rope and handle combo for free, so I took the offer. Rope gets here, and yea it's a poly-e rope. I guess I should have asked if the rope and handle combo was also t-cor.

Normally I'd call and ask to return it and get a refund so I could get t-cor/spectra line, BUT

1 - I hate my current handle. The squid grip isn't very comfortable on your hands. The handle that came with it is MUCH more comforable.

2 - I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between poly-e and a non-stretch line.

So yea, how much of a difference is there between poly-e lone and t-cor/spectra? If there's a noticeable difference, I'll try to return it and get a t-cor. If the difference isn't huge, I'll stick with this line/rope they gave me and be happy that my hands will be more comfortable.

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

Spectra is made out of Polyethylene - same chemical. There is, however, a profound difference in how it was extruded from Poly-E. If it is simple, base Poly-E, you will have some stretch. If you have Tak (brand name), then it will perform a lot like Spectra, but with some give, but not much. Spectra with 150 kg of tension will stretch and recover about 1-2 inches. Tak will stretch and recover about 3-4 inches. Polypropolyene (slalom rope) will stretch and recover about 18-24 inches.

wkbrdr127 · Newbie Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 38 City: Philly

wakejumper17 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 234

ooh same thing happened to me today except it was my new coat lol. i love evogear.