Does anybody ONLY use a Gri Gri?

J Cwrote:

I just weighed my gg + locker and my reverso + 2 lockers, for guide mode.

15 g difference.

If weight matters, I hope you remember to take a pee before climbing multipitch.

Yes but carrying both (minus one locker) could be quite the burden.

Caleb Milnerwrote:

I pull out…

My man

Tradibanwrote:

Yes but carrying both (minus one locker) could be quite the burden.

Why carry both?

Connor Dobsonwrote:

Why carry both?

Exactly.

I enjoy how this thread is mostly people claiming they don't ice climb. Also who doesn't pee before a multipitch?

I usually have 3 ATCs and a Grigri janglin from my harness while I am workin my gym proj. 

Tradibanwrote:

Yes but carrying both (minus one locker) could be quite the burden.

It could kill you

Tradibanwrote:

Yes but carrying both (minus one locker) could be quite the burden.

Yeah, but if you drop both, you really should have a third device. Better start training weighted pull ups.

This was addressed in my first post. Carrying more than two devices for a team of two is ridiculous in almost any situation. Being unthinking enough to just leave pounds of shit clipped on your harness wherever you go climbing is a red flag.

Gatekeep harder daddy I’m almost there 

J Cwrote:

Rock climbing with partner and compatibly sized single rope = grigri for both. I don't climb with people who disagree. Same for sport/trad, single/multipitch.

Also bring grigri as only rap device when TRS, whether rock, ice or mixed. That said, my TRS ice climbing tends to happen in favorable conditions.

I self lower when possible to avoid blocked raps, but do a lot of both.

Just curious, and for anyone of the same sentiment, do you mean a grigri specifically? Or are you talking about any assisted belay device? It gets confusing since a lot of people now use "atc" to mean any tube style device... wondering if that's happening with the grigri too. 

GriGri is a tool to be used in the right situation... steep overhanging sport routes, weight differences, gym - lol.  But Im concerned, we should be mindful new climbers are going read this thread and some will try to emulate advanced techniques like simul rappel, ect, then get hurt or worse.   A Grigri is just one tool. 

Brandon Rwrote:

Just curious, and for anyone of the same sentiment, do you mean a grigri specifically? Or are you talking about any assisted belay device? It gets confusing since a lot of people now use "atc" to mean any tube style device... wondering if that's happening with the grigri too. 

Well, my comment was a bit of a joke, because aside from two friends who live out of state I only rope solo. So what I wrote is vacuously true because the only other person I really climb with shares my opinion.

In theory I'd accept alternatives, but I'm having a really hard time coming up with any examples. Basically every other ABD has some downside that makes me pick a gg first. Do Birdies still break? If not, that would pass. Lifeguard is a no due to who makes it. Vergo is a maybe, but looks heavy and crossload-prone, not even sure if they figured out how to make them yet. Eddy is what I use more than anything else, but no way I'm using that if a gg can suffice. Revo is only for LRS or noobs who can't belay. I'd accept a belay from my one partner on anything, because he is a competent climber and has proved himself worthy of trust. However, if he showed up to climb with one of those other devices when he could've brought a gg instead, he'd have explaining to do.

J Cwrote:

Well, my comment was a bit of a joke, because aside from two friends who live out of state I only rope solo. So what I wrote is vacuously true because the only other person I really climb with shares my opinion.

In theory I'd accept alternatives, but I'm having a really hard time coming up with any examples. Basically every other ABD has some downside that makes me pick a gg first. Do Birdies still break? If not, that would pass. Lifeguard is a no due to who makes it. Vergo is a maybe, but looks heavy and crossload-prone, not even sure if they figured out how to make them yet. Eddy is what I use more than anything else, but no way I'm using that if a gg can suffice. Revo is only for LRS or noobs who can't belay. I'd accept a belay from my one partner on anything, because he is a competent climber and has proved himself worthy of trust. However, if he showed up to climb with one of those other devices when he could've brought a gg instead, he'd have explaining to do.

ha... fair enough. 

Slight shift in topic, but are there people that can only belay with a grigri? As in, they cannot confidently and competently belay using another device? They cannot confidently and competently belay using an atc/tube? I don't think I've met anyone yet that fits that description, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some new climbers out there who learn on a grigri and nothing else. 

Brandon Rwrote:

Slight shift in topic, but are there people that can only belay with a grigri? As in, they cannot confidently and competently belay using another device? They cannot confidently and competently belay using an atc/tube? I don't think I've met anyone yet that fits that description, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some new climbers out there who learn on a grigri and nothing else. 

This is super common in Europe. 

Brandon Rwrote:

Slight shift in topic, but are there people that can only belay with a grigri? As in, they cannot confidently and competently belay using another device? They cannot confidently and competently belay using an atc/tube? I don't think I've met anyone yet that fits that description, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some new climbers out there who learn on a grigri and nothing else. 

I’ve met plenty. A lot of them in the experienced climber/less experienced partner who got into climbing because of their partner. A lot of times the more experienced climber goes with “here’s how to use a gri-gri” bc that is what they have in hand, rather than starting with “here’s an ATC, I’m going to teach you how to use it, but then you’ll be belaying me with a grigri”.

Also, now that there are gyms that require the use of locking-assist devices ONLY, and teach their belay classes using gri-gri, it will be more common. 

Certainly nobody ever said someone needs to learn to hip belay before using a tube, its no different.

M Mwrote:

Certainly nobody ever said someone needs to learn to hip belay before using a tube, its no different.

I tend to agree with this one. I am much more disturbed when a partner refuses to use assisted belay devices than if they would only know how to use a gri gri. Haven’t met one that doesn’t know how to use an ATC though but I have met folks who refuses to use an assisted belay devices saying they’ve been climbing with a plate for years….

I suppose I'd feel more comfortable knowing that a partner's solid, attentive brake hand is what keeps me from hitting the deck, and that any additional technological assistance is just an extra safety margin. Not that a solid belay can't be given with a grigri, but a tube device (should) really reinforces the importance of a solid hand on the brake, where someone who's never used one might become content relying solely on the tech of the device, which I've already seen too much of as it is. It's the same reason I personally never TR solo on just a single device, even though it's probably fine 99+% of the time. I can see this happening in the future with all the assisted steering and braking tech that all cars will have soon too. Obviously it's misuse that's the main issue here, but will never having done something manually affect amount of misuse? I don't know. And when electronic belay devices hit the market... I think I'll pass, even if that makes me an old curmudgeon.  

For multipitch I use a Giga Jul.  I love having something that does everything (rap, twin rope, single rope, assist, guide belay, etc).  For single pitch sport cragging days I usually use the Grigri. I'd be happy with the Giga (or similar device) here too but they live in different bags and the Grigri tends to feel a little more idiot proof (despite all the idiots managing to misuse them, I do teach/verify proper handling on any new partner).