Mammut Revelation Review

Likes
I love this rope and have used it extensively, from sport climbs to ice climbs to trad climbs. Even when running it over rough granite, it holds up really well. The Teflon coating gives it really great glide and handling and also makes the rope tougher and longer lasting.

I was worried at first that this rope would not work in a GriGri since they are specified for ropes between 10-11mm. (The GriGri 2, for 8.9-11 mm ropes is coming in 2011!) However, with careful attention, I have been caught and have myself caught many a fall on this 9.2 mm rope with a GriGri (though this is not recommended.) I find that it glides and locks well in a GriGri, Reverso, or ATC.

This is a great rope to get in a 70-meter length because it is so skinny and lightweight. I can carry it on long approaches and not even feel like I am carrying a 70-meter. It is extra length for no extra weight.


Dislikes
While this rope is very well suited to sport climbing or cragging, I wouldn't say it is the perfect all-around rope since it seems more limited in application. This rope would not be the one I would pick for aiding or jugging, because a thicker rope would be more desirable in those situations, something like the Sterling Marathon Pro. Though I would usually prefer a 60-meter on multi-pitch climbs, this rope is so light it is great to bring on long climbs as well.

After a lot of use, the ends on this rope shredded a little, and I had to trim the ends, but I find that to be the case on just about any rope. Overall I was impressed with the durability of this rope, especially for being a 9.2mm.

Since this is the skinniest rope in the review, it is rated to hold less UIAA falls than any of the other ropes (5-6.) However, I feel that this does not effect the way I use the rope or the confidence I have in it.

Best Application
The Mammut Revelation is perfect for sport climbing. These days, routes are getting longer and longer, and where the standard used to be a 60 meter rope, (and before that 50-meter) many places now are bolted with the assumption you have a 70-meter rope. This rope accommodates that length while staying lightweight. Since the trend in sport climbing is keeping everything as lightweight as possible, having a skinny yet durable and longer rope is ideal. This rope is also great on alpine climbs. Being the skinniest rope in this review, and weighing only 55 g/m, it is the ultimate "light and fast" rope.

Value
This rope is on the expensive end of the scale, however for being a dry-coated, Teflon-coated, 70 m rope, I'd say that is perfectly acceptable. I also feel that this rope and Mammut ropes in general last longer than the Petzl or the Beal ropes, so for the little bit of extra money, you are getting more use out of your rope.