In Feb 2017, we organized a series of ABD workshops to introduce different ABDs and talk about their advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a summary of what we shared.
Note: This workshop was tailored to lead climbers (because we're focused on ABD lead verification), but some of the general principles may be useful knowledge for top rope climbers too!What is an Assisted Braking Device?
Traditional belay devices use friction to assist you in managing the weight of your climber when you need to catch a fall. Assisted belay devices take this one step further and assist in holding a falling or hanging climber.
Classification of ABDs
Active ABDS
Assisted braking relies on pinching mechanisms within the device
Assisted braking effect is due to pinching of rope between the carabiner and the device
Triggered by a slight pull of the rope and is generally dependent on the type of carabiner used
Only works if brake rope in a specific direction (brake hand in brake position): This means that if you let go of your brake hand during a fall, the device may not brake
Active ABDs might help to arrest fall even if belayer gets knocked unconscious
Minimizes incidents from climber letting go of rope due to rope burns or not being able to catch full force of fall
Disadvantages
More complex device to learn especially for feeding rope (lead climbing) and lowering
Risk of uncontrolled lowering if climber is not proficient in use of device
More costly than most friction based devices
How to use an ABD?
Basic Things to Note for Lead Belaying
Setting Up the Device – Follow the diagrams on the device to guide you. Do a tug check by pulling fast on the climber end to check that it catches
Feeding Rope – Feed consistently and let the hand on the climber end of the rope lead the way. Avoid fast movements as the ABDs might lock. And always always remember to keep one hand firmly on the brake position in braking position.
Taking In – The usual 5-step belay is sufficient.
Arresting a fall – Give a dynamic belay by moving in a controlled manner in the direction of the pull from the fall.
Lowering – Varies from device to device. Please refer to manufacturer recommendation. Generally, always keep your master hand on the braking rope.
We’ve covered 3 devices during the workshop and participants got the chance to try lead belaying with all 3 devices. Here are the manufacturers' videos for your ease of reference.
EDELRID Mega Jul (Available for rental at CC)
MAD ROCK Lifeguard
CLIMBING TECHNOLOGY Click Up
Choosing a device
Some factors to consider…
Where will you be using the device? Indoor use only (consider the Jul2) versus an option that will work outdoors too (consider the Mega Jul which allows for abseiling)
How much are you willing to spend? Cheaper option (consider the Mammut Smart) versus more expensive (consider Petzl Grigri). Remember that expensive doesn't mean better though.
Ease of Feeding / Ease of Lowering / Handling Errors. This may be a little bit more subjective so it's best to try out the device for yourself before committing.
Whatever device you choose, smooth handling is definitely something that comes with familiarity and practice. And of course, no device is a substitute for bad belaying!
