The Black Diamond ATC Belay. Lightweight and oft-copied design.
DECENT FEATURES of the Black Diamond ATC Belay
The SPECS
ALL CLIMBING SALES ARE FINAL.
Average Custy Rating:
(based on 28 reviews)
If you don't ever plan to do outdoor climbing this is a fine belay device. If you think you might ever do multipitch climbs outdoors spring a little more $ to get the ATC Guide, the extra features are worth it. You'll eventually end up with a backup one of these that you find or a friend gets out of the sport and gives you one.
This was my first ATC and I bought it because it was cheap. Not worth it, just pay the extra 10 bucks or so and get the guide or autobloc. It takes a lot more pressure and effort to keep slack from paying out. When you are catching someone or holding someone on top rope, it gets really annoying, especially if the person outweighs you by a lot. Go with a different belay device.
This was my first ATC and I bought it because it was cheap. Not worth it, just pay the extra 10 bucks or so and get the guide or autobloc. It takes a lot more pressure andeffort to keep slack from paying out. When you are catching someone or holding someone on top rope it gets really annoying, especially if the person outweighs you by a lot. Go with a different belay device.
I do not reccomend buying this. It was my first ATC and I got it becuse it's cheap. Spend the extra ten bucks to get a guide or autobloc. It takes a lot more pressure and effort to keep slack from going out, and when you are catching someone or holding someone on tope rope, it's really annoying.
The Black Diamond ATC Belay does the job, but do not expect anything like the reverso or a gri gri. This ATC gets as basic as it gets doing functions like belaying and rapelling. Other types of ATC like the reverso you can belay from anchors, makes braking a whole lot easier, and also self brakes when top belaying.
I used to carry one of these to rap and occasionally belay. I have since given mine away because the petzel reverso (and, probably, the BD knockoff) is superior in every way. It can perform an identical function, or it can be used to belay one or two seconds off an anchor hands free. Its also lighter.
The black diamond atc will never let you down because it is so incredibly simple. Without any locks or levers or ridges, there is nothing to go wrong. Feed the rope through, pull the slack and thats all there is to it. Durable and lightweight. I prefer the atc to a gri gri because of its minimalist appeal. Cant even feel its weight but its always ready to work when you pull it out.
This product is what I learned how to belay with, and there's a reason "ATC" has replaced "belay device" in my vocabulary. I actually prefer the Black Diamond ATC over a "gri-gri". The reason I love the ATC so much? No frills. Follow the diagram on the side of the device and come prepared with an adequate amount of training (as with any piece of climbing equipment) and get going. The lack of "friction ridges" doesn't affect the reliability of this product one bit; it has plenty of bite to stop any unexpected slip (without the added price of fancy features).
The ATC is a simple, reliable device that's easy to use. It doesn't have any fancy features like Petzl's Reverso, but for most applications, this device will do you just fine. And for the price, it's a great value!
For ATC in general, this is the big boss. Cheap and good! I've tried couple of brands from my climbing peers ranging from Ocun to Petzl with weird shapes and designs... nothing beat this in the league of "ATC". It is smooth and doesn't jam up at all. Sane pricing most importantly.Only probable downside I think it might have is less friction for locking down for those belaying people people much heavier than them.
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