Teufelberger Tutor XG semi-static rope - Thanks to Spanset

[Pete K]

I have spent some time at Spanset in Middlewich over the last couple of months, doing my IRATA L1 and a few other bits. Some of you will perhaps know that Spanset have been particularly friendly to cavers, donating large amounts of new rope to expedition groups and competition winners on places like here on the UKCaving forum. On my most recent visit to Middlewich last week, I was offered some rope to play with and provide feedback on. Although this is not a new type of rope, it is something that is only recently been taken on by Spanset and as far as I?m aware, there are no cavers out there using this stuff just yet. I?ve been kindly given 100m of this rope by Spanset to test and report back on. https://www.spanset.com/

The first thing that some of you will notice is that this looks exactly the same as the Mammut Pro Static that has been available for some time. You might be tempted to click away now as that rope was truly terrible once it had stiffened up, but this is not the same stuff. From my understanding, Teufelberger took over the production of Mammut ropes some time back and now produce similar looking, but different spec ropes. Only time will tell if this doppelganger remains supple.

So, the details are as follows:
Teufelberger Tutor XG 10.0mm
Semi-static EN1891 Type A
Polyamide construction divided into 41% sheath and 59% core.
Stretch in normal use <5%
Shrinkage <6%
61g per meter
https://www.teufelberger.com/en/tutor-xg.html

Apparently this is designed with teaching in mind (hence Tutor) and as a general rope access rope. Off the reel it feels supple and as you?d expect a new rope. The instructions provided did not give specific advice on whether it needed a pre-soak before its first use, so I did so anyway. Soaking for 24 hours, with 2 changes of water, before air drying and cutting. The 100m drum was reduced to a 44m, 33m and 19m rope, showing some shrinkage straight off the reel (as expected). In use, the ropes are marked up as a 40m, 30m and 18m. This is my most frequently used range and should permit me to get lots of use out of this stuff.
The rope was prepared and logged onto my system on the 1st of September. I?ll be keeping a track of how much use it has and reporting back when I have something interesting to say. I?ll probably start with an initial use post as soon as I can and follow it up with something longer term.
This thread will mirror my blog and is likely to just be a cut and paste from there: http://www.peakinstruction.com/blog/tutor-xg-rope-test-thanks-to-spanset/

 

[Pete K]

After a couple of months of varied use, I have put a short update together on this rope which can be read on the blog:
http://www.peakinstruction.com/blog/tutor-xg-rope-nov-2019-update/
In short, seems fine still and has not begun to stiffen up like the older Mammut version, but that my down to the OCD levels of cleaning that all my kit receives.

Once again, mega thanks to Spanset for providing me this rope to review. https://www.spanset.com/

 

[NewStuff]

I have some of this, have had for a year or so. Very, very nice stuff. Arguably better than the Marlowe it replaced. I've not had any issues with stiffness (Quiet at the back!), But you certainly use you're more than I use mine (I said quiet at the back!). 

 

[Madness]

It would probably be a wise move by Teufelberger if they changed the colour and/or pattern so that this didn't resemble the Mammut stuff.

I have some 'Spanset Gold' which looks identical. It's stiffening up despite being fastidiously cleaned after each use.

 

[ILT]

Do we know that Tuefelberger changed the spec? I had no issues with the rope they made for Mammut and swapped about three years ago due to a slight price advantage. In use the ropes seemed exactly the same and the colour/markings were exactlty the same. One difference was that the larger diameter ropes (10, 11 and 12mm from memory) were described at a a slightly narrower diameter by Tuefelberger whilst they were exactly the same when measured accurately. eg. Mammut 11mm was Tuefelberger 10.5mm (the half mm thinner description actually being more realistic in use).

 

[Pete K]

My understanding is that TB took over the Mammut production factory or at least the machinery. The rope is produced on the same machines from the same coloured fibres as the old Mammut stuff. How it is woven together and how tight in what ratios etc... could have been changed (and I think it has) by TB. There are a few models of rope which they produce that share the same colour schemes but are of differing characteristics. One blue Ford Mondeo might not perform the same as another blue Ford Mondeo if they have a different spec under the hood.
The rope certainly seems to be marketed as a new 'formula' anyway....
https://www.teufelberger.com/en/tutor-xg.html
The Spanset Gold is either this stuff rebranded or perhaps the old style Mammut rebranded. You'd have to ask them for sure. Might also depend on when it was bought as it may now also be the Tutor XG.

 

[Wardy]

When SpanSet first produced the Gotcha kit in the year 2000 we used standard white semi static.
In early 2001 we changed supplier to Mammut and as our volumes were quite high I decided to explore a different colour option to make the kits look less bland.
At that time most colour options were simply changes to the fleck rather than the main colour and so I went for Gold as the main colour with a black fleck which at the time was very different and more akin to their dynamic ropes.
Our agreement with Mammut did not stop them selling the same combination to others, but adding colour costs more, so initially very little was sold apart from to us.
About 2012 there were a lot of changes in the rope team at Mammut and whilst they had a lot of knowledge of dynamic ropes they were unable to support us with some technical issues so we parted company. They carried on selling the gold and black rope though, just not to us.
After an extensive evaluation we selected Teufelberger as our new supplier. I also took advantage of the change to adjust the spec and so the SpanSet gold they produced for us was a completely different specification - different plait, different diameter, different core etc - but for continuity in the rescue kits we continued with "our" colour scheme.
There is therefore no relation between the Mammut rope and SpanSet Gold.
A few years ago Teufelberger did indeed take over the Mammut production facilities and they continue to produce ropes for Mammut presumably to their specification as well as producing Teufelberger ropes.
Our experience of Tefelberger is completely different to our previous suppliers. They are a first rate supplier with excellent technical capability, quality control and reliability of supply.
As one of their larger customers I also get offered new developments or sometimes offers where they wish to sell off excess stock. I normally get people to try out new ropes and provide feedback and sell the offers or use as prizes.
In the case of the tutor I have stock and I am happy to sell direct, but prefer to sell in boxes or larger reels.
So if you are following Pete's review and fancy some then give me a shout.
Wardy

 

[Pegasus]

100m to be won - here: https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=28634.0

 

[Pete K]

Still using mine, still like it a lot. Has had a fair bit of abuse on DCA jobs.

 

[Ian Ball]

My favourite rope was Teufelberger, I won a UK competition for 100m of Platinum I think it was called.  It since has been discontinued and nearing the end of its usage with me, sad to see it go.

 

[Pete K]

Here is forum member pwhole swinging about on the Tutor XG last month. For grotty mines and project work it is my go to rope, and the 3 lengths Spanset originally donated to me to test live on my van permanently now. Despite the often grim locations I use the rope in, it still cleans up well and remains supple to knot, although not quite so much as when new.