Our Verdict
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Bluewater Xenon 9.2 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $240 List $205.95 at Amazon | $119.96 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $82.46 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $220 List Check Price at Backcountry |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A decent rope that struggles to distinguish itself from the field | No rope does a better job of including all the attributes we want – durability, soft but safe catches, great handling, and all at a reasonable price | An excellent deal on an environmentally friendly and high-performance rope | Exceptional handling for a thicker rope that can take loads of abuse | A good rope for single pitch trad climbs |
Rating Categories | Bluewater Xenon 9.2 | Mammut 9.5 Crag Cla... | Mammut Crag We Care... | Sterling Velocity X... | Beal Booster III |
Handling (35%) | |||||
Durability (25%) | |||||
Weight (20%) | |||||
Catch (20%) | |||||
Specs | Bluewater Xenon 9.2 | Mammut 9.5 Crag Cla... | Mammut Crag We Care... | Sterling Velocity X... | Beal Booster III |
Diameter | 9.2 mm | 9.5 mm | 9.5 mm | 9.8 mm | 9.7 mm |
Weight | 56 g/m | 59 g/m | 59 g/m | 62 g/m | 61 g/m |
Lengths Available | 60m, 70 m, 80m | 60m, 70m, 80m | 60m, 70m, 80m | 40m, 50m, 60m, 70m 80m | 60m, 70m |
Dry Coating Option | Standard, Double-Dry | Classic, No Dry Treatment | Classic, No Dry Treatment | XEROS Dry Treatment (PFOA-free) | Dry Cover |
Middle Mark or Bi-Pattern Option | Bi-pattern or Standard | Middle mark | Middle mark | Bi-Pattern or Standard | Middle mark |
Certified Use | Single, Half, Twin | Single | Single | Single | Single |
UIAA Fall Rating | Single 7, Half 22, Twin 44 | 6-7 | 6-7 | 6 | 8 |
Impact Force | Single 8.1 kN, Half 6 kN, Twin 9.3 kN | 8.8 kN | 8.8 kN | 8.6 kN | 7.3 kN |
Static Elongation % (in use) | Single 4.8%, Half 4.8%, Twin 3.1% | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 9.7 |
Dynamic Elongation % (first fall) | Single 34, Half 30.4, Twin 27.2 | 33.8 | 33.8 | 28.8 | 38 |
Sheath Proportion % | 33 | 40 | 40 | 35 | 42 |
Calculated Weight of Sheath | 18 g/m | 24 g/m | 24 g/m | 22 g/m | 26 g/m |
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.