Gear Review - Edelrid Eagle Climbing Rope

Edelrid has been around for about 150 years.  It was founded originally by Julius Edelman and Carl Ridder, a mountaineer and sales man and a technician that worked with braiding machines.  They started with braided fishing line in the late 1800's and by 1953 they created the very first kernmantel rope.  This, for obvious reasons, revolutionized the climbing industry from hemp ropes and progressed the climbing world because climbers now had the ability to climb much more difficult and committing climbs with better safety.  If you fast forward to today Edelrid is one of the leading climbing companies in the world.  They have mastered climbing ropes and also have divisions for adventure parks, industrial and safety.  They really do lead the industry when it comes to the sport (climbing) side of the business though.  Many Americans do not know much about them, but Edelrid would be comparable to a company like Black Diamond in America, but for Europeans.  Edelrid produces ropes, climbing shoes, harnesses, carabiners, draws, via ferrata, camping cookware and stoves, and crashpads.  Their quality is unsurpassed and the engineering in everyone of their products is outstanding.  For example; they have recently come out with an autolocking tube style belay device (autolocking ATC for ~$40), 6.9mm twin ropes and a 19g carabiner.  They are innovative and passionate about climbing.  With all that being said, they still have their steadfast products that have been in the line forever and change very little from year to year because they are already so good.  Their Eagle 9.8mm climbing rope is one of these great products.

Edelrid Eagle climbing rope on my rope bag

Beautiful looking rope

I have been climbing on Edelrid's Eagle for a couple months now and I must admit, it is a great rope.  It is the perfect diameter at 9.8mm and because of the, albeit minimal weight savings, I went for the 70 meter length and I also got it dry treated and bi-color.  The dry treatment and 70 meter length is so I can use it for ice climbing and the bi-color is just so nice I opted for it.  The Eagle is incredibly smooth because of Edelrid's braiding process and the suppleness is better than any rope I have ever used.  It fed so smoothly through my Reverso for ice climbing and through my Grigri 2 for sport climbing in Boulder Canyon that I think there is finally a winner against the BlueWater Eliminator (one of my personal favorites).  The overall durability of the rope seems to be great.  I have only used it a few times sport climbing and once ice climbing, but I haven't noticed any frays, dead spots or issues otherwise.  I have climbed on the sharp rock of the Poudre Canyon and the alpine ice terrain of Longs Peak and I am looking forward to many years of use for this rope.  I really can't say enough about the quality of this rope.  I am really encouraged about Edelrid coming to the USA and I hope they get bigger and bigger over here.

Final Say:
Edelrid makes a great rope and the Eagle 9.8mm is probably their best all around work horse.  If you need a new rope, get an Edelrid.