Edelrid Tommy Caldwell DT Climbing Rope - 9.6mm

While shopping for a newer rope, I stumbled upon this one mainly due to the price. At the time I bought it, I paid $158 for the 80m, which was a heck of a deal! With most things, you get what you pay for, so I was a little curious at first as to what this rope might be lacking in and how it would differ from the more expensive ones. Regardless of the dollar signs, I love it! If I would've climbed/belayed with this rope having not known the price, I would've assumed it to be much more expensive.

The rope handles exceptionally well, is limber, and feeds easily through my ATC. I have had it for almost a year now, and it has yet to show any signs of wear and tear. The biggest, yet smallest problem I have with the rope, is the bi-pattern. The only difference in the first half and the second half is the black diagonal stitching. Once it acquires the "used" look, the bi-pattern visually seems to disappear. While it's not a significant problem, I would've liked to have seen a little bit better distinguishing amongst the halves.

All in all, I would recommend this product to anyone wanting a high-quality rope all while saving some thickness in the ole wallet!

I looked at every major brand on the market before I settled on this specific rope. And price point was a real factor this time around. I’d classify this as an intermediate rope as it’s not the skinniest thing out there but it’s not the monster 10.5 that was my last all-arounder either. Noticeably less rope drag and lighter weight. It feeds through my ATC and my partner’s Grigri but you need to be paying attention on belay as it won’t auto lock every time. That’s not a defect, just a consequence of size and a smooth handling sheath, and just what I wanted/prefer! It’s got a soft catch and both takes and releases on knot well, even after projects. I’m a sucker for a bi-pattern and wasn’t looking for a dry treatment this time around so I’ve got this season’s go-to in the bag!