I'm looking to purchase a trad rope - and have heard a few different opinions. Which is preferable - a 50m or a 60m half-rope?

Trad-climbers - please give me your opinions! is 8.5mm generally acceptable on a 50m half rope?

60m Pros:
1) Longer Abseils
2) If you need to chop the ends you still have a 50 (both mine are chopped and approx 40/45m)
3) You can use it with a Beal Joker (no complicated rope work at leadswop)
4) Longer lead pitches...possibly (Depending on mussels, gear, stance, ropedrag etc etc)

60m Cons:
1) More Expensive.
2) Heavier.
3) Bulkier.

My next 1/2 rope is a 60m, for sure.

Thanks

What is special about a "Beal joker?"

Nothing really.

One of the first skinny sport ropes to hit the market (9.1), so lots of people have one.
In my circle of friends there is about 5.

It is 60m and some use it for trad.

you climb with mussels? must be going slooooow. but then you can always make a mussel pot at the top

btw, i also vouch for 60m - makes life at the abseils a lot easier + all the benefits hann mentioned. and on an 8.5mm rope it does not add a huge amount of weight

Sent you a pm

Careful! If you climb with to many mussels, you might have to cut your rope more frequently