Trango Agility Duo Dry 9.1 Evaluation

Developing on 2 many years of climbing, I’ve by no means been severely injured. I chalk it as much as persistently protected practices, nice climbing companions, and plenty of luck. I’ve just a few pals who haven’t been so fortunate. They stay with life-altering spinal accidents, partial paralysis, and continual ache. These are a results of the most typical climbing accident — rappelling or being lowered off the tip of the rope. 

I’ve seen it occur to seasoned veterans and new climbers alike. And I’m satisfied that if you happen to don’t tie knots on the finish of your rope habitually, each time, it may occur to anybody.

The Trango Agility 9.1 climbing rope takes a crack at this downside with its “purple flag therapy.” The final 5 m of every finish is vibrant purple to point when the tip of the rope is approaching because it slides by means of the belay gadget.  

Whereas there is no such thing as a substitute for a knot, that is no gimmick. I discovered the purple ends are super-effective at rising consciousness concerning the approaching rope ends. After 6 months of utilizing the rope on the crag and on multipitch climbs, I found just a few different rad benefits of the purple flag therapy, too. Oh, and the Agility 9.1 has the dealing with and sturdiness to rival any of my favourite ropes.

In brief: This rope is a good choice for redpoints or alpine climbing due to its sturdiness and low weight (56 g/m). The purple flag therapy really provides an essential security function I’d be joyful to see adopted throughout the business.

To see how the Agility stacks up towards the competitors, try GearJunkie’s information to one of the best climbing ropes.

Trango Agility Duo Dry 9.1 Evaluation

Really feel

9.1 mm is nicely inside the realm of being a “skinny rope,” which usually ranges from 8.9 mm to 9.4 mm. Producers have slightly leeway with this measurement, and typically, two ropes of the identical acknowledged diameter received’t really feel the identical. The weave and sheath proportion may also have an effect on how a rope feels within the hand.

To me, the Trango Agility 9.1 looks like a “fats” 9.1, which means I’ve used 9.2 ropes (just like the Sterling Aero) that really feel thinner. This isn’t a knock towards the Agility in any respect. The primary time I used this rope, it caught and held simply with a Petzl Grigri. Different skinny ropes slid by means of, particularly once they had been model new. 

As I’ve been climbing with the Agility over the past 6 months, it has fuzzed out minimally. However it nonetheless felt supple and simple to pay out slack by means of a Grigri.

Weight

When contemplating weight, grams per meter (g/m) is the quantity to have a look at, not diameter. The Agility 9.1 is a decent 56 g/m, the identical as the favored Sterling Aero 9.2.

I shouldered a 70m size of this rope into the Excessive Sierra for alpine climbing a handful of occasions this summer season and out and in of the Owen River Gorge numerous occasions this winter. I’m glad it’s not any heavier. The low weight was particularly appreciated on longer sport climbing pitches after I wanted to drag up all the weight of the rope to make a clip.

The Pink Flag Therapy

Trango weaves the ultimate 5 m of each ends of the sheath in vibrant purple. This caught some eyes, elicited many feedback from different climbers … and began conversations about security! The brilliant purple delivered the message, “Oh shit, right here comes the tip of the rope.” And there have been another benefits to this function that weren’t instantly obvious.

I at all times tie an enormous double figure-eight on the finish of my rope after untying it and throwing it again right into a pile on my rope tarp. This makes discovering the tip simpler. The brilliant purple ends are even simpler to search out, significantly after unpacking the rope from the rope bag.

On a multipitch, typically the belayer will name out how a lot rope is left so the chief can begin in search of a spot to construct the subsequent belay. Most occasions, the belayer is filled with it, wildly guessing at how a lot rope they nonetheless must pay out. However 5 meters is 5 meters, and when the rope reached that time, there was no extra guessing.

And when rappelling, it was a lot simpler to see the place the rope ends landed. Plus, I had a 5m body of reference down there if I used to be attempting to guess distances.

Sturdiness

After utilizing the Trango Agility 9.1 for about 6 months, put on and tear has been pretty minimal, and I used to be not variety to this rope. I used it on just a few multipitch climbs and took many falls whereas sport climbing. My dwelling crag is the Owens River Gorge, a volcanic basalt space the place the bottom of each cliff is roofed in positive mud.

Whenever you stroll out of the gorge, you’re filthy, no getting round it. I examined the dry-treated model of this rope, and whereas I by no means had to make use of it moist, the dry therapy helped maintain mud from working its manner into the rope’s sheath. 

After a lot use, yellow fibers started to indicate by means of the tip of the rope I tied into most incessantly. At first, I used to be bummed that the purple flag therapy gave the impression to be carrying off, although the tip may nonetheless be simply differentiated from the remainder of the rope.

Upon nearer inspection, I discovered that the sheath had practically worn by means of on the place the place essentially the most yellow appeared. One other security advantage of the Pink Flag Therapy? Supposed or unintended?

Both manner, my eyes had been drawn to the purpose of most put on. I had my companion tie into the opposite finish of the rope. Later, I chopped the rope on the worn part (about 3 m in). The near-core shot would have occurred with nearly any rope. I had been climbing brief, bouldery routes with fastened attracts, and never plenty of rope was out, and I fell many occasions.

It’s essential to notice with Agility 9.1, if you happen to chop an finish off, your purple “warning monitor” shall be shorter and is likely to be completely different from the opposite finish of the rope.

Gripes

The 70m dry-treated Agility 9.1 I examined retails for $450. Whereas I’m very glad with the efficiency and sturdiness of this rope, that’s an actual hit to the pockets. I’m unfamiliar with what’s concerned in making use of the Pink Flag Therapy, however apparently, it ain’t low-cost. 

This rope has a black center marker. Very like each center marker on each rope I’ve used, it fades pretty rapidly. How a few Pink Flag center marker?

The Verdict

The load and diameter of the Trango Agility 9.1 is about excellent for me. More often than not, after I’m climbing, I’m main, not top-roping, and I desire a thin rope. I’d desire a thicker rope if I had been top-roping or help climbing.

Whereas the Pink Flag Therapy provides to the value, I feel it’s a really cool and efficient security function. For those who’re available in the market for a thin wire and the value doesn’t trouble you, get this rope.