In 1997,
Blue Water released a new generation of light-weight, high performance climbing
ropes – , the 10.5mm Accelerator, a new single rope the 9.9mm Energizer,
the 9.6mm Lightning Pro, and a half rope, the 8.6mm Excellence along with
the 8.0mm Ice Floss twin rope. These ropes retain all the strength, durability
and high performance properties of our previous ropes but have a sleek new
light-weight look and feel. The finer weave and smaller diameters present
less surface area to abrade, run more smoothly through belay devices and
clip into karabiners more easily than larger rope designs. These innovative
ropes promise to keep Blue Water in the forefront of modern climbing rope
technology and design.
Your rope is the most important piece of equipment you own. Therefore it
needs to exhibit a number of very different characteristics. It is the
combination of core and sheath designs that creates the balance of dynamic
load absorbing ability, abrasion resistance and the overall strength necessary
to give each climbing rope its desired performance characteristics.
All Blue Water ropes are built using kernmantle construction. The basic strength
of a climbing rope is in its core (kern). The combination of mechanical and
physical elongation of the nylon fibers allows a climbing rope the ability
to absorb the energy of a falling climber. The core of a Blue Water dynamic
rope consists of individual core strands twisted clockwise and counterclockwise.
These opposing twists help to minimize excessive spinning when lowering,
abseiling or ascending.
A climbing rope's sheath (mantle) can be made in different thicknesses and
braid patterns to achieve desired durability and handling characteristics.
A thicker sheath will give greater durability and increased abrasion resistance.
A thinner sheath can be used when a lighter weight rope is desired. A tightly
braided sheath will slip very little on the core but adds stiffness to the
overall flex of the climbing rope. A loosely braided sheath creates a rope
that is more flexible and easier to handle, but allows more sheath slippage.
A rope must be able to absorb the energy of repeated falls and withstand
fierce abrasion. For this reason Blue Water uses Allied Signal's Caprolan®
2000 nylon in every dynamic rope. Caprolan® 2000 is the best nylon fiber
available today. It combines the high strength, energy absorbing and abrasion
resistant characteristics required to make these high quality life support
products.
Blue Water's innovative Double-DryTM finish has been perfected
after an extensive two-year development program. This patented process bonds
all of the rope fibers in the core as well as the sheath with a superior
finish that not only provides the most effective moisture barrier available
today but also substantially increases abrasion resistance. Normal "dry"
finishes allow over 40% moisture pick-up in a one-hour submersion test. In
laboratory testing the new Double-DryTM finish reduces the amount
of moisture pick-up to 7%. Because of the superb water-repellent quality
of the Double-DryTM finish, ropes remain more manageable, even
under adverse weather conditions.
Blue Water's stringent quality standards demand all of our dynamic ropes
meet or exceed the UIAA requirements, and are CE certified. We rate the
performance of our ropes by their minimum, not average, strengths. Every
Blue Water rope is checked twice by hand prior to packaging. This, combined
with our ISO 9000 TQM program, results in the highest quality climbing ropes
available today.
1997 Climbing Ropes
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| 8.0mm Ice FlossTM Twin rope
The lightest twin rope in the world, designed for alpine and extreme ice
climbing. Features Double-Dry treatment for superior water and abrasion
resistance. Length: 60m. |
8.6mm ExcellenceTM Half rope
An ultralight construction for the weight conscious alpinist, this rope is
destined to become the classic for extreme alpine climbing. Length: 50m |
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9.6mm Lightning ProTM
This is a technical rope designed for climbers who want less weight and bulk
on red point attempts or for use on extreme alpine rock climbs. Length: 50m |
9.9mm EnergizerTM
Light weight and durable combining the excellent handling of a 9.6mm with
the durability of a 10.5mm.It excels on long hard routes and multi-pitch
climbs. |
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| 10.5mm AcceleratorTM
The Accelerator has the perfect balance of light weight and durability for
all terrain use. Length: 50m |
11mm EnduroTM
Our most rugged and durable size, this rope is great for entry level climbers,
guiding, or as a big wall rope for any "hard use" application. Length: 50m |
All Blue Water dynamic ropes exceed the relevant UIAA requirements, and are
CE certified.
Dynamic rope specifications.
Dynamic rope colours