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Maxim 9.5mm Pinnacle Bipattern 2xDry
  • Maxim 9.5mm Pinnacle Bipattern 2xDry
  • Maxim 9.5mm Pinnacle Bipattern 2xDry

9.5mm Pinnacle 70m Bipattern 2xDry

Rating

My vote: None ( 6 avg )

Description

MAXIM’s Pinnacle series are lightweight 9.5mm ropes with our twill pattern sheath technology (TPT). This results in a smooth climbing rope, which significantly reduces drag and improves hand. The Pinnacle ropes have a feel to them that is like no other climbing rope on the planet! For Ice climbing MAXIM recommends 2x-DRY treated models.

MAXIM’s Pinnacle is a lightweight 9.5mm rope designed to meet the needs of today’s sport climber. It is light enough for redpointing, but still has the legendary durability for which MAXIM is known. Pinnacle is also an option for the trad climber who wants to climb longer pitches without adding weight or sacrificing durability and abrasion resistance. All Pinnacle ropes have an Endura DRY-treated core. Some versions are 2x-DRY meaning that we coat the sheath as well. These models meet the UIAA Dry standard, making Pinnacle a good choice for a lightweight single ice rope as well.

The sheath of the Pinnacle series features our Twill Pattern technology (TPT) which makes it super smooth for raps and minimizes drag on your pro. Our friend, Randy W from the Subaru Adventure Team, calls the Pinnacle Yellow Jacket the “buttery snake” due to its superior handling. It is one of the best ropes available on the market today!

Retail price

US$ 397.00
Award Image
Weight 61.0 g/m
9.413 lbs / 4270 g
Diameter (millimeters) 9.5 mm
Length (meters) 70 m
Rope Type

Type

There are 3 types of dynamic ropes that are used by climbers. They are known as Single, Half (Double), and Twin. The type of rope preferred varies by climbing style, location, and region.


Single

By far, the most common type of rope. Great for indoors and out. In the US, it is the most common sport and big wall and are also used for trad cragging. The handling is simple and the diameter options are quite varied.

Half (Double)

The best cure for a meandering route, only one of the ropes will clip into each piece of protection so a mindful climber can can reduce rope drag considerably. You can also rappel twice the distance, it’s easier to safely protect traverse pitches and there is a smaller chance that both ropes would become damaged (by rockfall, crampons, etc).

Twin

Both ropes must be clipped through each piece of protection. This is the lightest style of (two) ropes. They excel for rappels, going twice the distance vs a single rope, but do not have the ability to mitigate rope drag even though there are two ropes.

It is unlikely both ropes will be damaged at once, and is why many alpine, ice and mixed climbers choose twin and/or half ropes.


Learn More

Every rope type and when to use them
Single  
UIAA Falls (Single / Half / Twin)

UIAA Falls

This refers to the number of UIAA falls a rope has been tested to be able to withstand without breaking. The UIAA fall is a complicated test that is designed to create a uniform standard for strength in ropes, and is not generally reflective of real-world climbing situations. The test involves dropping a weight tied to the rope in such a way that it will see the highest amount of force a real-world situation could generate. The UIAA requires that Single and Half ropes must pass this test without breaking at least 5 times, while twin ropes must withstand 12 falls. In practice, it can likely be concluded that ropes that have higher than this standard number of falls will be stronger and put up with more abuse.


It is important to note that any rope that is UIAA or EN certified is considered safe to climb on, regardless of the number of UIAA falls it is rated for.

5 falls  / 0 falls  / 0 falls
Dynamic Elongation (Single / Half / Twin)

Dynamic Elongation

This refers to the amount of stretch measured during the dynamic testing (or drop test) used when certifying ropes. Higher stretch will absorb more force and result in a softer catch but increases chances of groundfall at the beginning of a climb. The EN and UIAA require a stretch of at least 10% and no more than 40% for dynamic ropes. Single and Half ropes are tested individually and Twin ropes are tested as a pair.

26.0 % /  0.0 % /  0.0 %
Static Elongation (Single / Half / Twin)

Static Elongation

This refers to the amount of stretch measured during the static test used when certifying ropes. Most climbers will notice the difference in static elongation when climbing in a top rope situation, where higher stretch will make for a springier belay and could result in a ground fall when climbing closer to the ground. The EN and UIAA require a stretch of no more than 10% for Single and Twin ropes and no more than 12% for Half ropes. Single and Half ropes are tested individually and Twin ropes are tested as a pair.

5.0 % /  0.0 % /  0.0 %
Impact Force (Single / Half / Twin)

Impact Force

Impact force is the amount of force in kN that is measured at the testing mass during the UIAA dynamic drop rope test. When the weight is dropped, the force measured must be at or below 12kN for Single and Twin ropes and 8kN for Half ropes. The real world application of this test is determining that the rope can dissipate and absorb the appropriate amount of force from the fall as it would be felt by the climber. The variables used in the test set a situation that is well beyond anything climbers encounter, and shouldn't be considered realistic to actual climbing situations.


In reality forces of this magnitude would result in severe injury as this test is designed to test the limits of the rope and not the comfort of the climber.

10.30 kN /  0.00 kN /  0.00 kN
Dry Treatment

Dry Treatment

When a rope is dry treated, it has had a coating applied to its core fibers, its sheath fibers, or both. The purpose of this coating is to reduce the amount of water the rope can absorb when in wet or icy conditions. Wet ropes are heavier, handle and belay differently, and have been tested to be weaker than dry ropes. Many climbers prefer dry treated ropes for very dusty or dirty environments, as they are more resistant to uptake of dirt and can stay cleaner longer.


Learn More

Benefits of Dry vs Non-Dry ropes
Sheath & Core ­
Sheath Proportion (%) ­
Sheath Slippage (mm) 0 mm
Type of Middle Mark Bipattern
Rope End Marker None
Certification EN, UIAA
RFID / NFC Option

RFID and NCF

This technology can be helpful if you are a gym or professional business where you'd like to track the usage and age of your ropes.

RFID is how items are uniquely identified using radio waves (Radio Frequency Identification). It's for 1-way communication from 10cm to 100m away depending on the frequency. Example: Airport Baggage.

NFC is a subset of RFID that is restrained to close proximity communication typically less than 10cm (Near Field Communication). NFC chips can operate a 2-way signal to exchange information. Example: Apple Pay.

None

When used as a single rope, UIAA falls range from 5-7

AVG RATING
1.02
( 1 avg )
Rating
1.02
( 1 avg )

Terrifying wear within first 5 days of use

Pros
Initial handling
Cons
Extremely rapid wear
poor response from company
Familiarity
I’ve used it a few of times
Disclaimer
I did purchase this rope on a pro deal from the distributor.

My experience with this rope is terrifying. Until Maxim can address production issues I would strongly advise against buying it. I am an industry professional for 20 years, and have been climbing since the early 90s. I have owned, abused, and retired over 100 ropes from most manufacturers.

I have never seen a rope degrade in such a short amount of time. My 80m version of this cord was used for no more than 15 pitches in 5 or 6 days of climbing. I'm fully aware of the various scenarios that can cause premature sheath damage: lowering or rapping over sharp edges, crystals, etc.; burrs on carabiners; hard falls. None of these were ever present in the short use of this rope. Fundamentally, this rope was babied. Within this time, and number of concerning characteristics occurred: 1) The ends separated from the sheath within a few uses. While this isn't necessarily a danger, it does indicate that the rope wasn't finished well. Sheath slippage can contribute to soft or weak spots, especially at the main fall point within the first 5m of rope. 2) the sheath began to fuzz almost immediately. It was more noticeable with every use. 3) The last time this rope was used, upon pulling it after lowering, a 5" section was found split open in a twisting, kinked configuration. I've never seen anything like this. Again, there had been no traumatic use that should have caused this. The rope was being used gently, and well within the range of normal use that should allow for dozens of days. Here's my main point: given that this degradation happened within a few uses in normal conditions, I would need at least a dozen of these ropes to get through a normal year of guiding and climbing my own projects. This is completely unacceptable. Especially given the price. I have reached out to Maxim. They have responded but with minimal regard to my concerns. I have sent the rope for inspection. I have also spoken to two colleagues/friends who have had similar issues with this specific model. Based on my professional experience, and my familiarity with similar products from other companies, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this rope. I am actively encouraging potential buyers to look elsewhere until Maxim can address these concerns.

Outdoor Gear Lab Gear Review rating 5/5

The Maxim Pinnacle is a great niche rope for those who like to sport climb. It's not too heavy, and has great clipping and belaying action. This isn't the best all-around rope, and it certainly isn't suited for beginners, but if you've been sport climbing for a while and are looking for a high-performance line for your redpoint attempts, this is an excellent option.

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