Petzl Freino with tube style belay device...

I'll keep it short...

Outweigh the wife, she would rather belay with a tube. Is there any reason she can't use a Freino biner with a tube for adding a little friction via redirect on the spur? I know all about adding a carabiner to the leg loop etc.. but I doubt she'll do that. Just want a little more control when lowering, she's fairly new to belaying and climbing, and it seems as if this would work well. Was ready to buy one and noticed on the REI website..
'NOT TO BE USED WITH AN ATC'

I know they're overpriced...but I got coupons!

Do the Mountain Project masses have any helpful insight??

Thanks!

The best way to add friction with an ATC is to double up the biners. Note that they both need to be clipped through the belay loop.

On a side note, if your wife can't control you lowering how do you expect her to arrest a fall.

The Freino won't work. In order to load the rope into the spur you'd need to come out the ATC from the side. Or come in from the front but that would require a weird braking position.

Buy her a pair of gloves as wellthat, will help.

There are now a few tube style belay devices that have assisted locking. I use the Mega Jul and it only took one day of climbing to get use to the differences from a regular tube style, there's an updated version that only takes one rope that is suppose to be better. And there are other options as well, but the Mega Jul is the only one I have experience with. There are multiple threads about these devices.

Rock n Ice on their initial review of the Freino stated that when paired with an ATC they also benefitted from the added friction...interesting.

Am I asking the obvious to make sure you're already a high friction option (XP, Guide, etc)?

I'll hazard a guess that it won't take long for her to get accustomed to your weight -- don't overthink this, but belay gloves might be a good addition.

Brady3 wrote:There are now a few tube style belay devices that have assisted locking. I use the Mega Jul and it only took one day of climbing to get use to the differences from a regular tube style, there's an updated version that only takes one rope that is suppose to be better. And there are other options as well, but the Mega Jul is the only one I have experience with. There are multiple threads about these devices.

+1

My sister gifted me the mega-jul for my birthday(kinda made her,since we were there, at REI...on my birthday). For minimal brake hand tension, it's the beesknees. If friction is all your wife is concerned about, I highly recommend it. And as Brady3 said, it really only takes a day using it to get the feel for it. Lowering can be jumpy(working the thump loop and holding the brake side) for smooth lowering. But it locks up pretty solid so long as the brake strand is running in line with the lead strand. I have not tried rapping with it, I use a kong tube style for that. But the mega-jul works for me just fine between 10.2 and 9.8.

Have you considered using the Click Up. She may like that.

Second the gloves idea. Easier to catch falls, way easier to lower, and adds a huge margin of safety. Really should be S.O.P. with new belayers. $20 at home depot goes a long way.

Brady3 wrote:there's an updated version that only takes one rope that is suppose to be better. And there are other options as well, but the Mega Jul is the only one I have experience with.

The single rope "jul 2" is designed for fat ropes. It may not provide the braking assistance you want for a heavy climber unless you are climbing on gym ropes.

See the rope diameter to weight chart in figure 2:
edelrid.de/out/documents/do…