

If you’ve learned to belay using an ATC then you can belay using the Guide straight away. It can be used with or without teeth, on multipitch to belay from above or directly from an anchor, it’s very good for rappelling, and it’s very easy to use.

#Atc belay device manual
We recommend the Black Diamond ATC Guide as the best manual belay device. It doesn’t have to be an Air Traffic Controller, similar belay devices for climbing are common. If you are buying your first belay device we’d recommend either getting an assisted braking device, or a good tube style device with teeth. The designs have been updated to include teeth and other extras while still retaining the original function. Since then many companies have produced their own simple two hole manual belay devices. It wasn’t even the first tube style device, that was the Latok Tuber in the 80’s. It’s like the way Americans use Kleenex – a brand name – to refer to tissues, and Brits call vacuum cleaners a Hoover – also a brand. No, but the ATC is such a popular and standard belay device that climbers often refer to all “tube style” devices as ATCs. The Edelrid Jul range and Black Diamond’s ATC Pilot can both be considered “tube style” but also assisted braking devices. There aren’t really any automatic devices, but assisted braking devices. Most tube style devices are also manual belay devices – meaning that stopping a fall must be done manually by holding the rope. Left to right – DMM Mantis, Black Diamond ATC and ATC XP Most tube style devices also have teeth for added grip on the rope.ĪTC or Air Traffic Controller climbing belay devices – Really they’re all manual tube style devices. Most have two tubes or slots so that they can be used to belay with two ropes or rappel on a doubled rope. What Are Manual / Tube Style / Tubular Belay Devices?Īny belay device that uses one or two tubes or elongated holes is a tube style or tubular device. The ATC is produced by Black Diamond and they now have a range of ATC devices with different features. It’s named as a sort of joke as if the falling climber dropping in the air is traffic and you’re the person controlling them. What Does ATC Stand For In Climbing?ĪTC stands for Air Traffic Controller. With it you can belay on top rope and lead in sport and trad climbing, as well as rappel from the top of a route. The ATC is a belay device used by a person on the ground – the belayer – to manage the rope attached to the climber and catch falls. It’s simple design made its debut in 1993, quickly becoming the most popular belay device on the market. The Air Traffic Controller is the classic climbing belay device that most climbers have used at some point. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest
