Black Diamond Air Traffic Controller
There are 5 reader reviews
Tom Hughes
Reviewed: 04 June 2005
IDEAL FOR USE WITH THICKER SINGLE ROPES
Simple, lightweight, durable belay device, ideal for use with a single rope, and a lighter climber. My belay device of choice for sport climbing on a 10.2mm rope. I have not yet had one of these jam on me. I personally don't find it too fast for abseiling, but I do only weigh 45kg!
On 8.5s its VERY slick, I would not like to belay a heavy leader with one of these on skinny halves, or for that matter a slender single, (a bug, or ATC-XP would be more suited to this).
HB sherriff is cheaper.
This was the first belay device I bought, and for indoors, and sport climbing it is fine. I have replaced it with an XP for trad, as I am weak and feeble, and often belay people twice my weight on halves, but I still use this occaisonally.
Andrew Wright
Reviewed: 13 April 2005
I THINK ITS COOL
Cheep... well compartivally
hard to work with gloved hands
I am an American an dthis is a standard peice of "kit" overt here. everyone has one.
Ian Baker
Reviewed: 07 May 2003
GREAT HANDLING AND FAST
very fast paying out/reeling in of slack
lightweight
a bit slick with new 8.5 ropes
could be cheaper
excellent bit of kit that will last years. you can use it for most things and it will handle well
Drew Withey
Reviewed: 17 April 2003
POSSIBLY TOO SLICK FOR LEAD BELAYING
For top ropes, and indoors, it's really slick, and smooth, and quick. The rope never jams, and hardly ever kinks.
When belaying a lead using two 8.5mm ropes, I could cope, but wouldn't be as confident to hold a fall, as with a Bug, or Variable Controller.
If you belay good climbers, who will get up really quickly, then this is perfect, but if they're a little more worried, and a bit slower, then there are other devices which will allow better holding power.
ben brockway
Reviewed: 09 August 2001
Slick and speedy - a little too slick with thin ropes!
The original device of its type, the ATC is light, strong and easy to use. The rope feeds well and threads easily. Good heat dissipation in comparison to flat plates. Pleasntly radiused edges wear well.
Abbing off twin or double ropes can be unnervingly quick, and a suitable braking adjunct should be used if neccessary. The plastic coated flexible cable can sometimes be caught under the rope loop if you are not careful - but then you should be concentrating when belaying, remember...
A good but not perfect belay device, best used with ropes 9mm or thicker - can be a little too slick for comfort with 8.5s.
There are 5 reader reviews |
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