Spleitex is a rope that does not fit neatly into a standard category. It breaks differently from other ropes — and that is precisely what stood out during testing.
What is the breaking strength of Spleitex 6 mm?
In our test, the average breaking strength was 4.27 kN (435 kg), measured across 5 pulls on a universal testing machine.
What type of rope is this?
Spleitex is a braided rope with a distinctive construction that sets it apart from standard polyester or nylon braid.
The rope feels like a hemp rope, making it suitable for applications where the properties of a synthetic rope are desired but the look and feel of a natural rope is preferred.
Typical applications include decorative maritime uses, decorative garden projects, and scouting.
Test Method
The tensile test was carried out on a universal testing machine with rope-specific clamps, suitable for measuring rope without the need to splice it.
The test speed was 20 mm/s, in line with common methods for rope diameters below 12 mm. A total of 5 separate tensile tests were performed.
No pre-load was applied.
The break point was recorded as the maximum force immediately prior to failure of the construction.
All measurements were taken on dry rope at ambient temperature.
The tests were carried out as closely as possible in accordance with ISO 2307:2019
Results
Across 5 tests, an average breaking strength of 4.27 kN (435 kg) was measured. The highest recorded value was 4.50 kN, the lowest 4.11 kN.
The spread of 0.39 kN between the lowest and highest value is limited and indicates a consistent construction.
A notable observation from the test series: in four of the five tensile tests, the rope did not break completely. In each case, one strand remained intact after the rest of the construction had failed.
Only on the fourth test did the rope break through entirely. This behaviour is also seen in twisted rope.
In addition, the broken rope showed more curl than is typical for other constructions, which indicates something about the way tension is distributed across the strands.
Comparison with Other 6 mm Ropes
For reference, comparable 6 mm ropes tested previously produced the following results:
- Nylon sheath-and-core, core of 2 parallel strands: 6.75 kN
- Polypropylene 3-strand twisted: 6.58 kN
- PPMF: 5.30 kN
- Spleitex 6 mm (this rope): 4.27 kN
Spleitex scores lower than all three reference ropes. Compared to nylon sheath-and-core (6.75 kN), the difference is 37%.
Compared to PPMF (5.30 kN), the weakest reference rope, the difference is still 24%.
This places Spleitex at the lower end of the spectrum for 6 mm ropes in our database.
When to Use This Rope
Spleitex 6 mm is best suited for applications where breaking strength is not the primary requirement, but handleability, appearance, or specific braid characteristics are relevant. Examples include:
- Decorative maritime or nautical applications
- Decorative rope for garden use
- Craft and creative applications
Limitations
Spleitex 6 mm is not suitable for the following applications:
- Safety-critical applications: the measured breaking strength of 4.27 kN is well below that of polyester, nylon, or HMPE ropes of the same diameter.
- Lifting and hoisting: at a standard safety factor of 5:1, the working load is only approximately 87 kg. For lifting applications, this is insufficient for most practical situations.
- Dynamic loading: the unusual failure behaviour — where one strand remains intact — suggests that the load is not distributed evenly across all strands. Under shock loading, this is a risk factor.
Alternatives
Where the application requires greater tensile strength, the following 6 mm alternatives are a better choice:
- Braided polyester 6 mm white per metre — polyester typically offers a higher breaking strength than Spleitex at the same diameter, with better UV resistance for outdoor use.
- Braided nylon (polyamide) (6 mm, spool 100 metres) — measured breaking strength of 6.75 kN (688 kg), suitable for applications requiring shock absorption or higher load capacity.
Conclusion
Spleitex 6 mm has a measured average breaking strength of 4.27 kN (435 kg) — the lowest value in our 6 mm test series to date.
The rope is best suited for decorative and light-duty applications where appearance and handleability take priority over tensile strength.
This test was carried out by Otto Tromm, who had never previously seen a rope break with one strand stubbornly holding its ground as though it had simply let the rest go.
The test data were collected by Prorope. This text was generated with AI on the basis of those data and checked for factual accuracy. Read how we test and publish →