Edelrid Live Wire 9.8 HyperDry
Have faith! There are ropes that do not kink, are extremely supple, light (62 grams per meter) and resilient.
Edelrid Live Wire HyperDry
9.8mm X 70m
$175
www.edelrid.de
4 Stars
Have faith! There are ropes that do not kink, are extremely supple, light (62 grams per meter) and resilient. Such are the qualities of the Live Wire 9.8mm, a super cord from the German company Edelrid, one of the oldest climbing rope manufacturers in the world. The Live Wire embodies everything I would want in an all purpose rope — it’s easy to flake right off the factory coil, feeds cleanly and without kinks through belay devices, and ties tight, clean knots.
Perhaps all these qualities are a function of Edelrid’s signature HyperDry treatment, a process that makes the core and sheath water resistant. The dry treatment on this rope makes it feel a bit slippery and soft, but I think it adds to the overall performance. This rope boasts 7 UIAA falls, and has a maximum impact force of 9.4 kiloNewtons. Plus, for $175 for a 70-meter model, the Live Wire is a good price for a year-round, all around cord.