Black Diamond Full Rope Burrito Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Black Diamond Full Rope Burrito | |||||
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Awards | |||||
Price | $40 List Check Price at REI | $45 List $49.95 at Amazon | $37.39 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $40 List | $29.89 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A sleek and stripped down bag that is incredibly easy to pack and unpack | An excellent rope bag with a classic design that integrates a few subtle yet innovative features | An improved version of an older version of a rope bag, with a much larger tarp | The Antidote has some great standard features and is a decent mid-range model | Exactly as the name implies, a cheap easy to use rope bag for those looking to cut costs |
Rating Categories | Black Diamond Full... | Edelrid Drone II | Metolius Ropemaster HC | Trango Antidote | Metolius Dirt Bag II |
Packability (30%) | |||||
Carrying Comfort (25%) | |||||
Rope Protection (25%) | |||||
Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
Specs | Black Diamond Full... | Edelrid Drone II | Metolius Ropemaster HC | Trango Antidote | Metolius Dirt Bag II |
Bag Design | Burrito | Burrito | Burrito | Burrito | Burrito |
Tarp size (inches) | 40" x 40" | 46" x 40" | 52" x 58" | 48" x 60" | 52" x 58" |
Accessory Pockets | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Number Shoulder Straps | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Compression Straps | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Metal or Plastic Buckles | None | Plastic | Metal | Metal | Plastic |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Packability
When it comes to packability, the Full Rope Burrito performs very poorly as a standalone rope bag but is a great option if you plan to put it inside a larger backpack for cragging. It has an elastic cord running through the mouth of the bag. This simple closure makes it easy to tie your ends into the colored tie-in points on the tarp, fold it up, and then stuff it into the bag itself. Although the bag doesn't pack as tight due to the lack of compression straps, our testers didn't find any major issues with tangling or bunching when unpacking the rope.
Carrying Comfort
The Full Rope Burrito carries well for very short distances but if you're hiking more than five minutes you'll certainly want to carry it inside of a larger pack. It doesn't have any carrying straps and only features two short nylon handles, which force you to carry it like a suitcase. The Full Rope Burrito is built to be packed inside of a larger climbing pack and works very well for this application. If you're looking for a rope bag that can be used as a daypack or carried long distances on its own there are far better options available.
Rope Protection
With a 40" x 40" tarp, the Full Rope Burrito has plenty of space to comfortably fit most ropes. Although this isn't as spacious as some of the larger options, we didn't find it to be detrimental to the overall usability of the bag. Due to the lightweight design of the Full Rope Burrito, we feel that the smaller tarp is well suited for simple usage. This mostly consists of traveling between crags and being stuffed into a larger daypack for approaches.
Ease of Use
The Full Rope Burrito doesn't have much to offer when it comes to ease of use. It lacks pouches for accessories and is the most stripped-down rope bag in our review. For some climbers this is an advantage, but if you're looking for a rope bag that can be used independently the Full Rope Burrito leaves much to be desired. It features only a tarp and a thin pack with minimalist carrying handles. Although the outer fabric is not durable, our testers found that they only transported the bag within their larger packs or carried it over short distances in between nearby climbs, thereby minimizing the exposure to the abrasive outer world.
Value
The Full Rope Burrito falls at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to cost. The simple, easy-to-use packing system works well and if you already have a climbing backpack that you prefer, then it's an affordable and lightweight addition to keep your rope safe.
Conclusion
Overall, the Black Diamond Full Rope Burrito is a fantastic lightweight choice for those who always pack their ropes into a large backpack but isn't very functional otherwise. It has a simple, no-frills design but doesn't have much to offer in terms of versatility.