BlueWater Eliminator Review

Likes
For a 10.2 mm rope, this rope is on the lighter side. Like the Beal Edlinger, it weighs in at 65g/m while most other ropes of this diameter, such as the Maxim Equinox and the Maxim Glider, are 66g/m, which over the whole length of the rope adds up to make a difference. If I am going to use a thick rope, I would prefer it to be as light as possible, so this rope stands out in that respect.

The bi-pattern rope is BlueWater's exception to their no middle mark rule, so if you plan on buying a BlueWater, I recommend a bi-pattern. It makes it much easier to set up rappels and easier to communicate with a leader about how much rope is remaining. Even though many of the ropes in this review have a bi-pattern option, this was one of two where I reviewed that version, and I found that I preferred having the double weave. The only downside is that bi-pattern ropes tend to be more expensive.

Dislikes
After only a couple climbs I noticed a couple frayed threads sticking out. Granted, I was running the rope over rough granite, but I felt like it should take longer than a day or two to fray threads in the sheath. Ropes like the Mammut Infinity and Mammut Revelation take much longer to fray because of their teflon coating as well as the BlueWater Pulse with its thicker sheath.

Best Application
This is a pretty all-around use rope. Its thick enough to handle repeated top-roping and big walls but it is smooth enough for multi-pitch or sport cragging. BlueWater says it is even good for "dogging," which I assume means hanging your way up a route you are working.

Personal Stories
I used this bi-pattern rope on a climb with 15 rappels as the descent. Having a bi-pattern was fantastic for this application, it really sped things up and made us confident that our rope was positioned properly so we wouldn't rap down to uneven ends. If you plan on doing a lot of multi-pitch climbing with rappel descents, or you plan on doing a lot of rapping to clean anchors when cragging, then you should look into a bi-pattern rope even though its costs slightly more.

Value
If you buy the standard 60m version, the BlueWater Eliminator is very comparable in price to the Mammut Tusk and the BlueWater Pulse, ringing in on the inexpensive end. Buying the bi-pattern option means adding an extra $35, making it one of the more expensive ropes in this review. In either case, your money would be going to a well made and reliable rope, so you can let your budget determine what extra features (bi-pattern, dry treatment, etc.) you get with it.