Customer Reviews

Black Diamond ATC Belay Device - Assorted Colors

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the easiest to use belay devices. Push a loop of your rope through the slot, and clip in your carabiner through the wire loop and rope. Couldn't get any easier to load. Great for single rope belays, and requires almost no effort to stop a fall. Cheap enough to stock enough for Scout Troops without sacrificing quality. When I teach a new belayer, I teach them on an ATC.

Most everyone I know carries one as their belay device. I don't like to repel with it though, prefer a figure eight for that. Smooth rope handling and it lasts well.

This is a great basic belay device. I didn't expect any more or less from it.

I've been using this belay device for indoor climbing. It's almost perfect. Of course, loading is extremely easy, and the rope moves VERY smoothly. It's a significant improvement over a Mad Rock model that I have also used frequently. It's also true that it will stop a fall with little effort.

The only minor issue that I have with it is the fact that sometimes it seems to allow the rope to slide a little TOO easily. Once you stop a fall, you have to maintain significant downward pressure on the rope to keep it from continuing to slide slowly through the device.

For example, sometimes on a harder route, I might come off the wall accidentally, and instead of immediately jumping back on, I might hang there for a few seconds to get my bearings and come up with a plan of attack. If my belayer doesn't maintain downward force on the locked-off rope, the belay device is so smooth that the rope will slide - slightly but noticeably - adding up to some lost progress on the wall.

If you want an absolutely solid lock off, you will probably want to consider something like the Black Diamond ATC-XP Belay Device, which has a higher friction side that should help to maintain the hold on the rope.

In the end, I took off one star for that minor inconvenience (if it can even be called that, since whether or not it's an issue at all will ultimately depend on your style and your belayer), but otherwise this is a great device. And while my girlfriend may benefit from a device with greater holding power, I still like my ATC for its super smooth rope flow.

Hats off to Black Diamond for yet another excellent product.

Its simple, works great and means I don't need to borrow one or pay to rent for the day at the local climbing gym. There isn,'t much to it but it work great.

Ah,well, it does it's job, very durable, lightweight, belays nicely but of course it doesn't repell to quickly and will tear up non-climbing rope. Doesn't maximize stopping power without doubling up the rope esp. on smaller sizes. Too bad I got it for 20.oo instead of 14.oo. =(. your getting a good deal for this price.

I've been climbing for the last 5+ years and my BD ATC is only thing I use. It works great. The rope runs through it smoothly and like I say its lasted 5 years for me so its durable. BD is one of the best climbing companies and I would recommmend anything by them. I also use it to repel which it works good too. If you have really think ropes like 11mm or so and its gets wet so it swells it can be a little tuff to get the rope through the holes. A figure 8 might be better in that situation or you probably can muscle it through.