The Team Roping Supplies Checklist

To team rope, you need a rope that's right for you, plus dally wrap on your saddle horn, a supply of proper roping gloves, and something to practice on. Here's what to look for in each, with picks from our team roping supplies. 

The Team Roping Supplies Checklist

• Head rope: A shorter rope with tip weight to carry your loop to the horns
• Heel rope: A longer rope that hangs straighter for a bigger heel loop
• Dally wrap: Rubber that grips your dally and protects your rope and horn
• Roping gloves: Thin gloves that protect your hand without killing feel
• Practice gear: A dummy for the swings that make swings in the arena.

A Head Rope in the Right Lay

Head ropes are shorter than heel ropes, and the ones we carry run 30 or 31 feet. They're built with enough tip weight that you can feel where your loop is. "Lay" is the rope's stiffness, and the right one depends on how much power you swing with, not how long you've roped.

If you're newer to heading, a more limber XXS or XS is usually easier to control. As your swing gets faster and stronger, a stiffer lay will hold its shape better. All four head ropes below come in XXS through MS.

Classic Powerline Lite 30 ft Head Rope

A four-strand nylon and poly blend over Classic's CoreTech core, with a slightly wider loop and a smooth surface for a fast feed. If you want one dependable head rope and don't want to overthink it, the Powerline Lite is a great place to start.

Classic Heat 4 Strand 30 ft Head Rope

The Heat is a lightweight four-strand rope with a custom fiber blend over a CoreTech core, built for ropers who swing aggressively. Pick it if a heavier rope feels like it slows you down.

Classic Spydr 30 ft Head Rope

Five strands of twisted nylon are packed around an oversized core in a 3/8" true diameter, giving the Spydr a balanced mix of snap and tip weight. The five-strand feel is a preference, so try a buddy's before you buy if you've only roped with four-strand.

Cactus Ropes Relentless C4 31 ft Head Rope

Designed with Trevor Brazile, the Relentless C4 is four-strand, 100% nylon and built to keep its snap in hot weather. Cactus's "Juice" design aims to improve memory and limit stretch, and the rope lays inside the burner so you can set the eye where you like it. It's also a foot longer than the Classic head ropes.

A Heel Rope You Can Set a Trap With

Heel ropes are longer, 35 feet on all three below, and hang straighter than head ropes. That helps you build and hold the bigger loop you need to catch two feet. Newer heelers usually do best in the S to MS range.

Softer heel lays can carry a little kick in the loop, while stiffer ones hang straighter, which many experienced heelers prefer. Browse every lay we stock in our team ropes.

Classic Powerline4 Lite 35 ft Heel Rope

The heel-side partner to the Powerline Lite, with four-strand 3/8" Lite construction over CoreTech, a wide loop and a smooth feed. The Powerline4 Lite comes in S through HM and makes a safe first heel rope.

Classic NV4 35 ft Heel Rope

The NV4 blends two nylons with a high-tensile poly over a CoreTech center in a smaller diameter, so it feels compact in the hand. It has the widest size run here, XXS through HM, which is handy for young or lighter heelers.

Classic Heat 35 ft Heel Rope

The same lightweight custom-blend build as the Heat head rope, in a heel length and sizes S through HM. If you rope both ends with Heats, the Heat heel rope keeps the feel consistent.

Lay-size rule of thumb: If your loop collapses or the rope feels noodley, go one size stiffer. If you're fighting to get the rope to turn over, go one size softer. Ropes generally feel softer in the heat and stiffer in the cold, too. Have more questions? Check our rope FAQs.

Dally Wrap for Your Saddle Horn

Rubber on the horn gives your dally something to grab, so the rope doesn't run when the steer hits the end of it. It also takes the friction instead of your rope and your horn. Red rubber has been the go-to in the roping pen for years.

Our Horse Craft Red Dally Wrap comes 10 wraps to a pack in a 1" x 9" size. Horse Craft says it keeps the rope from running and helps prevent the black rubber buildup that wears ropes out early.

Install tip: Don't put rubber straight onto a bare horn. Lay down a base first with wrapped cotton or nylon strands, or a piece of old inner tube, then build your rubber on top following the steps on the package. With ten in a pack, you'll have spares when the outer layer wears through.

Roping Gloves by the Dozen

Roping gloves are thin on purpose because you need to feel the rope. That also means they wear out, get lost, and get loaned to whoever forgot theirs, which is why ropers buy them in 12-packs.

• NRS Fit Roping Gloves 12 Pack: Breathable, machine-washable cotton blend in a form-fitting, ambidextrous cut, sized Youth to XL. Shop NRS Fit gloves.
• Classic Deluxe 12 Pack Roping Gloves: A thinner, pre-shrunk synthetic blend with memory stretch, sized Youth, S–XL and 2XL. Shop Classic Deluxe gloves.

Go with the NRS Fit if you want the lowest cost per glove or you're outfitting kids, since ambidextrous means no orphaned left hands. Step up to the Classic Deluxe for a thinner feel and a 2XL option.

Something to Practice On

Ropers get better on the dummy, not in the truck. A practice dummy lets you work on your swing, delivery and timing on days you can't run cattle. Our team roping dummies range from a simple steer head you can stick in a hay bale to full heeling and sled dummies.

For the youngest ropers in the family, the NRS Original Cowboy Toy Roping Dummy is a 6" x 14" x 6" tabletop toy with two sets of horns, two mini ropes and a rubber band. It won't fix an adult's swing, but it's a fun way to get a little buckaroo hooked.

Starter Kits for Every Roper

• New header: Classic Powerline Lite head rope in XXS or XS, Horse Craft dally wrap and NRS Fit gloves.
• New heeler: Classic Powerline4 Lite heel rope in S or MS, Horse Craft dally wrap and NRS Fit gloves.
• Hot-weather header: Cactus Relentless C4 head rope, Classic Deluxe gloves and Horse Craft dally wrap.
• Junior roper: Classic NV4 heel rope in XXS, NRS Fit gloves in Youth and the Cowboy Toy dummy for the house.

Team Roping Supplies FAQ

What lay rope should a beginner team roper use?

Most beginner headers do best with a softer XXS or XS head rope, and most beginner heelers start in the S to MS range. Go stiffer as your swing gets stronger.

What's the difference between a head rope and a heel rope?

Head ropes are shorter (usually 30–31 ft) with tip weight to carry the loop to the horns. Heel ropes are longer (usually 35 ft) and hang straighter, which helps you open and hold a bigger loop for the feet.

Are 4-strand or 5-strand team ropes better?

Neither is better across the board. Four-strand ropes are the most common all-around choice. Five-strand ropes like the Classic Spydr pack more material into a compact diameter for a different snap and feel, which comes down to personal preference.

Why do roping gloves come in 12-packs?

Roping gloves are made thin so you can feel the rope, so they wear out quickly and are easy to lose. Buying a 12-pack keeps the cost per glove low and makes sure you always have a spare.

What do I put under dally wrap?

Wrap a base of cotton or nylon strands, or a piece of old inner tube, around the horn first. Then build the rubber dally wraps on top of that base.

Gear Up Before Your Next Roping

Whether you're buying your first rope or restocking the trailer, you'll find everything on this list in our team roping supplies and team ropes. Not sure which lay to pick? Stop by your nearest NRS store and swing a few before you buy. We'll see you at the roping.