REASONS TO BUY
Nice balance of weight and durability
Reasonable price
Rated for single
Half
Or twin usage
REASONS TO AVOID
Average handling
Minimal sheath
Not a standout performer in any metric
Bluewater Xenon 9.2 Review
A decent but basic climbing rope that does little to stand out from competitors
Credit: Jack Cramer
RELATED: Best Rock Climbing Ropes of 2024
Our Verdict
The Xenon is Bluewater's 9.2mm offering in their line of single ropes named after the noble gases. That's a nice diameter for a high-performance climbing rope but it's also skinny enough that you should expect to sacrifice some durability. In our tests, the Xenon offered superior handling and respectable weight savings compared to several thicker models. However, it failed to distinguish itself from other ropes near the same diameter in terms of performance. The Xenon is also priced the same or higher than some of its closest competitors. Because it doesn't offer any obvious advantages, we can't recommend this rope at full MSRP. However, it could become a decent value if you can find it on sale.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 22nd, 2022, to include our latest testing results and thoughts on this rope's performance.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Bluewater offers the Xenon 9.2 in 60m, 70m, and 80m lengths. Each length is available as standard or double-dry treated, and each length is also offered with a single or bi-pattern color configuration. For this review, we tested a 70m double-dry-treated model with the green/black single-pattern color.
Performance Comparison
At 9.2mm the Bluewater Xenon is lighter and skinnier than an ordinary all-around climbing rope.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Handling
The sheath on the Bluewater Xenon 9.2 features the normal 2-over-2 weave that's common on most climbing ropes and preferred by most of our testers. This sheath felt slightly softer and looser than our favorite ropes. The overall rope, however, still felt supple while tying knots or belaying. The double-try treatment left this model a little slippery at first so be careful until it's properly broken in. After that, it offered slightly better handling than an average rope.
Our testers noticed the sheath on the Bluewater Xenon 9.2 felt a little looser and softer than their favorite ropes at the diameter.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Durability
A 9.2mm rope is on the skinnier side for an all-around rope for most cragging applications. At this diameter, you benefit from lower weight and nicer handling at the expense of potentially reduced durability. Its sheath proportion of 33% equates to it containing 18 grams of sheath per meter. That's on the low end for a rope with its thickness. A few thinner ropes we tested actually contain more sheath per meter.
The weight of the rope is most noticeable on approaches and when making a desperate clip at the top of long pitch, but it also has an effect on the ease of coiling.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Weight
The primary advantage of a skinnier rope like the Bluewater Xenon 9.2 is weight savings. It tips the scales at a respectable 56 g/m. Most climbers will be able to notice the difference between this and thicker workhorse ropes which generally weigh around 62 g/m. For a 70m rope, that would equate to nearly a pound of weight savings. For shorter routes or at convenient crags, that might not mean much. But it's a welcomed savings on long approaches or at the top of rope-stretching pitches.
Although the 9.2mm Bluewater Xenon is rated for single, half, or twin usage, its diameter would be rather thick for regular use in a two-rope system.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Catch
The Bluewater Xenon 9.2 is part of the new generation of ropes that are UIAA rated for usage as a single, half, or twin rope. We only tested it in a single rope system but our testers reported soft, pleasant catches during small lead falls. They also noted solid top-roping performance with limited stretchiness. On paper, this makes sense too. This rope's impact force and elongation specifications lie within the “sweet spot” range that seems to supply the best performance in our real-world testing.
Our testers believe the Bluewater Xenon 9.2 is a decent climbing rope, but they identified few performance advantages over its closest competitors.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Should You Buy the Trango Agility 9.1
The rock climbing rope market is a crowded field and we realize cost is a huge consideration for most shoppers. The Bluewater Xenon 9.2 retails at a modest price premium compared to the most affordable ropes. In testing, we didn't identify much in the way of performance to justify the added expense. This is decent rope but it only becomes a great value if you can find it on sale.
The Bluewater Xenon 9.2 is sold in a factory drum coil so you'll have to carefully uncoil it to avoid tangles and twists.
Credit: Jack Cramer
What Other Rock Climbing Ropes Should You Consider
If you're searching for the best deal, we think the Mammut Crag We Care Classic 9.5 provides a better bargain at full MSRP. That rope, however, is a little thicker and heavier than the Bluewater Xenon 9.2. Near the same diameter, the Edelrid Tommy Caldwell Eco Dry 9.3 and Petzl Volta both seem to offer better performance if you're willing to pay more.
—
Jack Cramer
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