Blue Water Accelarator 60m, 10.5mm rope. Brand new. Not bicolor. $120 or best offer.

What color is it? Photo?

I'll take it if no one else has hit your offer yet, and if we can arrange the logistics.

Given my location, I'd propose to mail a check to you in the States. When you get it you can mail the rope to my folks' address in Connecticut for me to pick up when I'm there in July. Let me know on this thread or by p.m., or e-mail me at tokyobill123 at hotmail dot com.

Ropes are easily double that price over here at current exchange rates.

Based on what I saw at R&S, they're easily double that price HERE. Lots of envy-inducing ropes in the high 200's to over 300. First time I've ever seen $300+ for a single rope.

Ropes are easily double that price over here at current exchange rates.

I'm curious; is this because ropes aren't manufactured in Japan (hard to believe) or because they're heavily taxed?

No manufacturers of climbing rope over here that I'm aware of. Never seen even one Japanese-made cord on a store shelf. It's mostly all Beal and Mammut, with a few Edelweis and Edelrid. No Bluewater or other U.S. makers.

I don't actually have any specific information on the high pricing of imported ropes, but my guess is that it's a combination of factors, including shipping costs, taxes, and the willingness of retailers to impose substantial premiums because they operate in a relatively closed market and their buyers' demand is pretty price inflexible. (Shipping costs and language barriers pretty much block internet purchases from overseas for most Japanese climbers, although I've been known to have a package flown over from time to time.)

On the other hand, from what Mike is saying about R&S, it sounds like the prices are getting up there over in the States, too. I guess the raw stock for nylon is petroleum; so could it be that rising raw materials costs are feeding through the stream even in the U.S.? Doesn't really sound persuasive, though, because how much petroleum does it take to make a rope...?

This particular rope - Blue Water Accelarator 60m - is on close-out at REI. $143 non-dry; $157 dry. Normal prices were ~$200/$219

About $2-3 worth.

No manufacturers of climbing rope over here that I'm aware of. Never seen even one Japanese-made cord on a store shelf.

I'm astonished. Given the popularity of climbing in Japan and its sizable population, there must be some reason I can't figure out why ropes aren't manufactured there.

Well, how many people at the Gunks are climbing on ropes made by a US manufacturer?

While in Tokyo, I visited every outdoor retailer and climbing shop that I could find. I only noticed two domestic gear companies, Snow Peak and Montbell.

I don't know why there aren't more domestic companies... my guess is that the Japanese are very brand-conscious, and so it's hard for less well-known local companies to compete. I think that's why the government did the whole "Japanese snow is different from snow elsewhere in the world" back in the 80's to protect the domestic ski industry. It could be that without external competition, the local industries couldn't keep up and eventually succumbed to the competition once they were let back into the market.

I have 2 Sterling ropes. It helps that one was a freebie for helping with one of their events, of course.... But I do like their ropes.

Item of Note: Someone once said that Sterlings get your hands blackened really quickly, more than other brands. I found that difficult to believe....but it did make me feel a little better, since my ropes rub off black pretty badly. I always thought I was just a piggy with rope care.

Does anyone know if there is any truth to this "Sterling/black hands" idea?

My two Mammuts have gotten dirty faster than my Sterling.