BlueWater Lightning Pro 9.7mm Climbing Rope reviews and deals for sale

oh so nice!

I’ve been climbing on the lightning pro for years now. Every time I go to buy a new rope I go right back to it. The stretch is good and the rope feeds well when belaying. I’ve also found that this rope lasts longer than other ropes I’ve had. Highly recommend! Mostly used on overhung sport routes.

Great bang for your buck!

Very impressed with this rope. I use it once a week for sport sessions and it's been holding up great. Super smooth clips, light enough, and handles my big whips. The only thing to keep in mind is it's really slick for a nondry rope. Becareful with beginner belayers.

pretty sweet all arounder

I had the dry bi pattern 9.7mm 70m. Climbed on for about 2 years, 2 weekends a month. It was a great all around rope for the approx 60% trad and 40% sport mix that I do, with the occasional top rope. It's a bit heavy for multi-pitch, but bearable, and that is the trade off for having a good all around rope. In the end the sheath started to fray at a few spots and got cut pretty… read more badly. Core seems to have lasted fine. A bit disappointed in the sheath wear, but all in all seems to be reasonable for how much climbing I've done on it. Other than the sheath cut it seems to have plenty of life left, so I've turned it into 2 30m gym ropes. pic is from when it was brand new

Not bad

I've owned two of these ropes, one dry-coated and one non-dry. I climb hard single pitch routes at my limit, so take a lot of falls. The rope has held up well over two seasons but my friends and I often prefer using other ropes because this one feeds through belay devices so quickly. Both ropes I've owned feel a bit harder as if they have a plastic coating on the outside. Even… read more after breaking them in and washing them repeatedly, this feeling remains and the rope doesn't have a satisfying feel to it. It has a harder, slicker feel than many other ropes I've used - most namely most Beals and the Sterling Evolution Velocity. That rope feels significantly more supple and handles so much better while belaying either lead or TR. This is by no means a bad rope, however. It has a soft catch while not allowing the leader to fall dangerously far (I've climbed with a Petzl Volta 9.4 that stretched far too much, risking decking on outcrops or ledges below). The sheath has also held up very well over the 15+ days I've had it out and I am tough on ropes. I usually lower instead of rappelling (I know, I know, so sue me...) and I often climb at or above my limit often so I take a lot of falls. Overall it's not a bad rope, but I will not buy one again. I'll most likely go with the Sterling Evo Velocity or a Beal. FYI oddly enough, the dry-coated version of this rope actually handled better than the non-dry. Not sure why that is, but the non-dry coated rope actually feels more like it has a hard coating on the outside and feeds much faster through ATC's and GriGri's.

Best rope I've ever used

I have used this rope very many times now and I can definitely say this is my favorite one by far. This rope is great for any type of climbing. I have used it on trad routes and short sport climbs and it has done its job perfectly. I have only taken one good fall on it and it held up very well. It also is very resin

Love it!

This rope has been awesome. I have been doing a lot more lead climbing and I have loved it. Easy & not too heavy to get through the quick-draws, simple to set up for top-roping and BRIGHT & easy to see! I've gotten so many compliments on the neon pink rope, people always ask where I got it. I've used it a lot in Southern Utah in the red rocks and some in Rock Canyon up north in… read more the Utah Valley area.

Great mid-thickness rope for general use

This is the first rope I've ever purchased, so I suppose my opinion may hold less weight than others, but regardless: This rope is great! Just used it on a week long trip in Kentucky doing mostly sport and I came away very happy with the rope's performance. It never got kinky or twisty when running through a belay device which was very nice. Also, the rope wasn't super stiff to… read more begin with and feeds very easily through an atc. There was an initial shininess to the rope (I have the dry version) but that went away rather quickly. I haven't noticed any fraying or fuzziness, the former of which I would expect but the surface of the rope feels essentially new which is very nice as it was used quite extensively for the 5-6 days it was climbed on. It took some large lead falls and caught very softly, probably because of the low kN fall rating. I would think this aspect would be nice for trad too, but I can't comment on that. Additionally, the weight is pretty nice. You don't sacrifice any noticeable durability going a few tenths of a milimeter down, but on long pitches I didn't notice a significant amount of weight behind me which was always a plus. Also, even after big lead falls, the knots tied in the rope were still pretty easy to work out. Overall, a really great rope at a nice price on sale! Assuming it retains its durability I would have no issue purchasing another when this one craps out.

Top rope soloing

I would actually go with a static line if you've got it for this application. Don't try this at home. Top rope soloing at a secret ice crag in CT, of all places. Mar 2015.

Skinny yet beefy

Maybe it's hard to call a 9.7mm rope skinny, but this one is plenty thin and light for my purposes, yet with enough beef to provide some staying power. The bright green color is easy to spot and looks great in pictures, as well. I have a 70m, which is usually more rope that I need, but I decided to carry a 70m rather than something shorter + a tag line. No complaints on that… read more setup so far.

An Amazing rope

This rope is great! the color is brilliant. It handles extremely well. I've taken fall after fall on this rope without a worry. Its followed me to Zions, Redrock, and little cottonwood. I would highly recommend this rope. Blue water ropes rock.

Brilliant!

Great catch and awesome visibility. I love the length (70m), and the rope diameter is a great fit for a intermediate climber like myself. No problems and no complaints!

Lightning on Fuego!

Although I've only climbed with it for a week, I am psyched on Blue Water's Lightning Pro Double Dry 9.7mm Climbing Rope. I've never enjoyed a rope right out of the box this much. It feels more fluid than my recently retired rope, after a few seasons of flailed attempts and whippers up the wazoo. So far, I've climbed with this rope on multipitches like Arm and Hammer, or shorter… read more pitches like this photo of me on Ferguson's Fuego. It's superlight and super compact in backpacks, so feel free to stow a few more sending sodas from now on. The rope's stretch seems to offer the perfect balance between giving a soft catch on lead, and not stretching down past the crux you just climbed. And the color! You can see this thing from space. At least, my buddies could see it when they were looking for me from the road.

never regretted it

The lightning pro is my favorite rope I've ever used. Super soft catches. It has just the perfect dynamic stretch. 70m takes you anywhere. my rope has been through a lot with me over the last 4 years and I plan on replacing it with another lightning pro 70m soon. anywhere from TR to Sport to Trad to ascending and rappelling, mine has done it all fabulously. blue water knows how… read more to do ropes and webbing great. i Also have a blue water static rope for caving and canyoneering and use their webbing for slack lining. never regretted it.

Light, easy to clip, easy to manage

I'm a big fan of the Blue Water Lighting 9.7mm. It's been super easy to clip and manage and doesn't get TOO heavy on long pitches. I've only taken one good fall on it, but it stretched nicely for a soft catch. It does run quickly through the belay device, but that's normal for a thinner rope. I love it.

Wonderful

Disclaimer: I have used the rope extensively for 2 weeks, but I do not have any knowledge of the longterm durability of this product, only its "in the moment" action. The rope is great. Totally perfect. Super soft catch. Anyone who says the catch isn't soft is insane. The rope is very light. My friend said it was lighter than his dirty 60 meter 10.2. Diameter is awesome. It works… read more great for rappelling, belaying a second with an autoblock device, regular belay, extra friction belay, whatever . I would never ever consider getting a rope above 9.8 unless I was planning on top roping a lot. Love it! There's no middle mark, but still deserves 5 stars.

Lightning in the Creek

This rope handles beautifully and it's tough as nails. We took it down to the creek and gave it a pretty good beating and the sheath still looks and feels like new. Go for the 70m.

Arthur's Feathered Friend

Backcountry's own exulted and wise Gear Guru Arthur sends a pitch in Idaho at the City of Rocks. A feathered friend flaps in frenzy as Arthur raps down after finishing Wheat Thin on Elephant Rock.

best all around

I have used my blue water lightning pro in every condition on so many types of rock, and i must say that it is a solid rope that can take abuse and hold up without any doubts. The stretch is great and tends to lean towards a soft catch. I used a lightning pro when I was learning how to lead, and I have continued to use a lightning pro while testing my abilities on more difficult… read more sport/big wall/trad climbs as well. I have friends that own the exact same rope with the same opinions. A really good all around rope that is durable and lasts.

Great rope for all kinds of climbs

Not impresed

I took a gamble when I got this rope. I'd never used a blue water rope but the reviews were favorable, I like trying new brands, and heck it was on sale. So far I've put it through two months hard use (climbing 3-5 days per week) including a week in the Red and have been disappointed. Pros: Feeds VERY well and doesn't get super kinky. It's pretty. Seems to shed dirt well. … read more Con: Has worn super fast (I need to chop it already) To comare my Sterling 9.2 is holding up better and has been through worse. At .5mm larger I'd expect more durability. Con: As a result of the wearing out it has gone floppy when clipping. I have used PMI and Sterling ropes nether of which have ever done this to me. Con: Stiff catch, maybe I got a bad batch of rope b/c everyone below says it catches softly. My climbing partner who has used my other ropes as well agrees this thing is jarring in comparrison.

Does this rope have a middle marker?

Will there be some kind of tag or indication...

Will there be some kind of tag or indication to tell whether the rope is dry or standard? As im concerned if i bought a pricer dry rope on line and got the standard instead, it would cost too much to send it back via international post. Thanks