Black Diamond ATC

Summary

Belayed thousands of people on this tube.

This belay tube device does exactly what it's intended to do for a great price. I have been using BD's ATC for 12 years. I have belayed thousands of people on my high rope challenge course, and I've never had a problem with one of these. No, they don't last forever, and you do have to replace them over time, but that's with any piece of equipment.

Companies continue to try and come up with the perfect belay device. Frankly, I feel some of these "improvements" make for lazy belayers--creating a false sense of security by saying it will lock if the belayer makes a mistake.

If you don't know how to use one of these devices, find someone who does. No one should be belaying without some qualified training. Most climbing gyms and adventure challenge programs offer classes.

Very easy to learn and get used to, but you really have to be attentive as a belayer (which should be the case, regardless of the system in place). due to its simplicity, you are sure to get consistent performance (have tried 3 different units of this model, one of which is old).

Same goes when you use it to rappel. Very smooth, never got me worried, which makes me pay attention more the locking/braking parts of the system.

Reason why only 4 stars is because can't be setup as locking when you are belaying seconds. For this, you might want to check out the ATC Guide or Petzl Reverso.

Very easy to use. I have used it for the past three years. It is very easy to see if you have it threaded correctly. Easy to use on a double line rappel. It does get hot when rappelling.

Bottom line I would buy it again.