Millet Opposite TRX 9/10 Rope Review

At last year’s summer Outdoor Retailer show, the one product that really stood out as being truly innovative was the Opposite TRX from Millet. While other companies have previously experimented with ropes utilizing different diameters, no one had put it together in a way that made as much sense as this. The basic idea is that many people who sport climb or go cragging have two ropes, one that is thicker and can take the abuse of projecting and top roping, and one that is skinny for the redpoint attempts when you want every advantage. The geniuses at Millet though, hey, why don’t we put all that into one rope?

The result is the Millet Opposite TRX 9/10, which is 50 meters of 9mm, and 30 meters of 10mm. The thick side can be used for projecting, top roping or anything that is going to be particularly hard on your rope. When it’s time to send, flip ends and tie into the svelte 9mm side and float your way to glory.

When I first talked to people about this rope, some thought it sounded cool, others rolled their eyes and thought it was another gimmick. After several months of use, I feel it’s an excellent tool for anyone who spends the majority of their time at cragging areas. The 10mm side is really beefy, and has shown very little sign of wear. By contrast, the 9mm side feels very skinny, and seems smaller than their Absolute TRX 9. It clips like a dream and will absolutely make you feel like a super hero.

I really liked how this rope simplified how many bags you need to carry around for a day of cragging. I always had the functionality of two ropes with me, but in one convenient package. Warming up, go with the 10mm. Lead that hard pitch, tie into the 9mm. But your friend wants to top rope it? Pull it through and they can climb on the 10mm side, saving the skinny side for the sends.

The rope is also 80 meters long, which means plenty of length whether you are going to be using it at Indian Creek or Kalymnos. It also means you should be able to get many seasons out of it, as you can chop the ends several times and still have quite a bit of rope left.

I only have two negative observations so far. One, the 10mm side seems to be holding onto kinks. I’m not sure why this is, as the 9mm side is kink free. Second, when lowering with a GriGri, if you are going from fat to skinny, you will likely drop your climber a short distance as the cam takes a second to engage the skinnier part of the rope. In my mind these are minor inconveniences that are far outweighed by the benefits, but certainly worth noting.

The rope retails for $299, which is a pretty good deal when you think about owning two different ropes, including an 80m.

More information and specs can be found here.

Disclaimer: Wait! Before you go handing over your credit card number, ask yourself, do you really need to buy more new stuff? If so, this product is worth a look. In the spirit of full disclosure, it was provided to SplitterChoss.com for the purpose of reviewing. Don’t worry, though, our integrity can’t be bought!