What makes Dirtbags?
Old rope, new gear
Dirtbags began with a simple question. How can I NOT put my old climbing rope in the bin?
Most ropes are made from synthetic fabrics such as nylon. The sheath is highly abrasion resistant. Making it very strong, but also (unfortunately) not easily recyclable.
We take retired and deadstock climbing ropes, which are no longer safe to climb, and turn them into new gear. Preventing waste, and creating durable gear from what would otherwise be landfill.
Why use rope?
Climbing rope is a perfect material for upcycling. It is super durable, and is nearly always retired long before the fabric begins to breakdown. It is a perfect example of a material which can have a second life!
It also (very luckily!) looks pretty cool
Where does our rope come from?
We source most of our rope from climbers like you. We also accept donations from climbing walls, outdoor schools and rope manufacturers. If you’d like to donate your old rope, find more information on our homepage. We’d love to hear from you!
What other fabrics do we use?
We also source repurposed and deadstock fabrics for our chalk bags and boulder buckets. These are often fabrics which have been over ordered or over produced. We also source fabrics from the film and tv industry (including the black fabric on our chalk bags which came from an undisclosed film set including houses and dragons....)
How do we process your old rope?
We inspect, wash, sort and then de-core ropes before zigzagging them together. This is a slow process, prioritising reuse and low impact over efficiency or profit. And a good example of the work it takes to build a sustainable alternative to the current systems.
We believe in buying less, prioritising slow fashion and mindful manufacture. If we all buy less, and buy better, we can afford to spend a little more on making things properly, and with a lower impact on the environment.
