Technical Information
- Core proportion: 64 %
- Diameter: 9,50 mm
- Cut value: 20
- Number of falls: 9
- Impact force: 9 kN
- Sheath proportion: 36 %
- Weight per meter: 62 g/m
- Static elongation: 7.10 %
- Dynamic elongation: 29 %
- Certification: EN 892
- Certification: UIAA 101
- Material: Polyamide
- Rope Type: Dynamic
- Single Rope
- Middle marking
- UIAA
EDELRID Technologies
Thermo Shield
“Thermo Shield is the basic treatment that we apply to all our ropes to ensure they have the renowned EDELRID suppleness. The treatment involves a thermal process that perfectly aligns the core and sheath yarns. A special heat treatment relaxes then shrinks the rope’s fibers. This harmonizes the gliding characteristics of the yarns inside the rope, making it supple and compact. The result is the creation of ropes that will neither shrink retrospectively nor quickly become stiff.”
3D Lap Coil
“The 3D lap coiling technique makes uncoiling the rope for the first time unnecessary. We extended our production site with a specially developed lap coiling machine that winds up our ropes. In combination with the thoughtout design of the packaging provided with every EDELRID rope, it has now become super easy to instantly start your climb using your new rope: You do not have to do more than pulling it out! The marking on the rope as well as a detailed description on the packaging additionally ensure that you do things right and can use the full potential of the rope without annoying twisting and tangling”
Testing
We tested the rope over two weeks of intense single pitch sport climbing during our trip to Greece (read about it here). The rope was put through lots of hanging to work routes, many redpoint lead burns, and the occasional back climb.
Performance
Firstly the 3D lap coiling along with the special packaging with a dedicated hole for flaking the rope through, makes prepping for the first use incredibly simple.
The Eagle Lite feeds beautifully through an assisted braking belay device straight out of the packaging. This is worth mentioning since many ropes I have used in the past take quite a few days of use and “breaking in” before they feed smoothly and predictably. This was not the case with the Eagle Lite, which performed the same from the first belay of the trip to the very last.
This rope clipped really well as it is not very stiff allowing it to be easily pushed through a quickdraw.
Despite this not being an ultra-thin sport rope it feeds very smoothly through gear and even on the longer routes (~30m) I found very little resistance pulling it through many quickdraws. This I feel is mostly due to the very slick and soft nature of the rope sheath due to its THERMO SHIELD technology.
My favourite aspect of this rope is that it gives incredibly soft catches as it has great dynamic elongation. Even on slightly shorter falls the catch was still soft.
Durability
As our trip was only two weeks long I can’t speak to the long term durability of the rope. I will, however, note that two parties climbing with us for the duration of the trip both also arrived with brand new out of the box ropes and both had cut the working end of their ropes before the trip was over due to excessing fluffing and softening of the sheath. Our rope on the other hand showed expected wear on the working end that was even and never led to fluffing or excessive softening of the sheath.
Handling
The rope handled incredibly well both for the belayer and the climber due to its soft and slick feel.
One thing to note though is that the rope is so slick that for the first week it would run through the device incredibly fast if the lever of the Gri-Gri and the brake end weren’t controlled very well. This is something to consider if you are a beginner climber or new to using a certain device with this rope as even with my experience, it ran faster than I would have liked at times.
Apart from this, the overall handling experience is a dream.
Final Thoughts
Pros: Easy clipping, mid-marker, amazing handling, dynamic elongation
Cons: Use with a braking assisted device as it runs very quickly
Overall: I loved the Edelrid Eagle Lite 9.5mm. I will definitely be getting one when my current rope gives up the ghost. It is soft handling and smooth running and held up better than I expected it to. It gives really great, soft catches and is a weapon for any sport climbing route.
Think this rope is for you? Head to Mountain Mail Order or any CityROCK gear shop to get your own.
