Click Up Rappel
Climbing Technology ClickUp +. Review
A curiously innovative device that simply doesn't work as well as the competition
Photo: Climbing Technology
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Price: $80 List | Check Price at REI
Pros: Lightweight, still able to lower climber if loaded backwards, ambidextrous, easy top-rope belaying
Cons: Locks up too easily while leading, not easy to release back into lead mode, not very smooth lowering, expensive compared to other passive assist devices
Manufacturer: Climbing Technology
By Andy Wellman ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Feb 21, 2020
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
55
OVERALL
SCORE
RANKED
#17 of 17
-
Catch and Bite - 30% 7
-
Lowering and Rappelling - 30% 5
-
Feeding Slack - 20% 6
-
Weight and Bulk - 10% 7
-
Auto Block - 10% 0
Our Verdict
The Climbing Technology ClickUp + is a passive assisted braking device that is an update to their popular ClickUp. Much like other similar devices, the assisted braking action comes by pinching the rope between the device and a carabiner. While other devices require lifting a handle into a position that allows one to smoothly feed slack without locking up the device, the ClickUp + instead uses spring-loaded levers to trap the carabiner in place until enough force has been put on it by the rope to yank it into locked position. The ClickUp + is best used for single pitch climbing or at the gym. We think that it works better if it is used exclusively for top-rope belaying, and warn that it takes quite a bit of practice to belay a leader effectively.
Compare to Similar Products
| This Product | Petzl GriGri | Black Diamond ATC Guide | Edelrid Mega Jul | Petzl Reverso | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | Check Price at REI | $99.95 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $32.95 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $33.71 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score | 55 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Star Rating |
|
|
|
|
|
| Pros | Lightweight, still able to lower climber if loaded backwards, ambidextrous, easy top-rope belaying | Easy catch and hold, feeds slack smoothly, smooth lowering, handles ropes down to 8.5mm | Great for belaying seconds on multi-pitch climbs, durable, good value | Lightweight, small, great value, strong braking assistance | Lightweight, easy to unlock, great for belaying two skinny ropes |
| Cons | Locks up too easily while leading, not easy to release back into lead mode, not very smooth lowering, expensive compared to other passive assist devices | A bit clunky, can only use one rope, takes time to master techniques | Heavier than the Reverso | Rappelling and lowering autoblock is hard on the shoulders, brake assist friction depends on carabiner used | Softer aluminum seems less durable, not ideal with ropes thicker than 9.5mm |
| Bottom Line | A curiously innovative device that simply doesn't work as well as the competition | The gold standard remains the best and most popular belay device available today | An excellent value for multi pitch climbing, rappels, and double rope ascents | A great belay device for light-and-fast climbers and alpinists on hard multi pitch routes | A match made in rock heaven for skinny ropes and climbers counting weight |
| Rating Categories | Climbing Technology... | Petzl GriGri | Black Diamond ATC G... | Edelrid Mega Jul | Petzl Reverso |
| Catch And Bite (30%) | 7.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 |
| Lowering And Rappelling (30%) | 5.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 |
| Feeding Slack (20%) | 6.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 |
| Weight And Bulk (10%) | 7.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Auto Block (10%) | 0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Specs | Climbing Technology... | Petzl GriGri | Black Diamond ATC G... | Edelrid Mega Jul | Petzl Reverso |
| Style | Passive assisted braking | Active assisted braking | Auto-block tube | Passive assisted braking | Auto-block tube |
| Recommended Rope Diameter | 8.5 mm - 11 mm | 8.5 mm - 11 mm | 7.7 mm - 11 mm | 7.8 mm - 10.5 mm | 7.5 mm - 11 mm |
| Weight (oz) | 111 g | 3.9 oz | 179 g | 6.3 oz | 79 g | 2.8 oz | 71 g | 2.5 oz | 62 g | 2.2 oz |
| Double Rope Rap? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Belay off anchor? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Assisted Braking? | Yes, passive | Yes, active | No | Yes, passive | No |
Show full specification details Hide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The ClickUp + doesn't look like any other belay device you will see, and we had many people ask us what it was every time we were testing it. When a certain amount of force is applied, the rope pulls the carabiner upward in the device, making a "clicking" noise, which the device is named after, and signifying the device is locked. Because there are lever arms that hold the carabiner in place while lead belaying, the device comes with its own locking HMS style carabiner that fits it perfectly and must be used for belaying every time. We also like how if the device is accidentally loaded backward, despite the pictures telling you which way is correct, you can still safely lower your climber back to the ground.
Unlike other passive assisted braking devices, you do not need to hold the ClickUp + at a certain angle in order to feed rope through it, and therefore there is no handle. However, the slightest amount of tension from the leader will lock up the device, and you must then push it up to unlock it, then move it back down into the correct position, not unlike some carnival game, all while your leader is yanking for slack after you short-roped them. This is not easy to do. The trick to feeding out slack in the first place is that you cannot allow even the slightest tension to come from your brake hand, basically meaning you cannot grip the brake rope. However, you still need your hand on the brake line for safety, so it feels slightly like you are working at cross purposes. Also worth noting is that the brake line must not be held up next to the lead line, or the device will not function as it should to lock up. If this sounds a bit complicated, that's because it is, and this device took us longer than any other to figure out completely and master. Only after watching this video, which we highly recommend, then using the device many times, then watching the video again, then using it again, did we finally master the techniques.
Performance Comparison
The ClickUp+ is a passive assist belay device that is unique and cool, but perhaps a bit more complicated than it needs to be. It uses two spring loaded hinges at the bottom of the device to keep the rope in the feeding position, and when enough tension is applied the rope and carabiner will be pulled upward, making a clicking noise, to lock the rope in place.
Catch and Bite
The ClickUp + certainly locks up reliably, perhaps too reliably. It has two different notches that the carabiner with the rope wrapped around it sits in — the upper one for top-roping and the lower one for leading. When tension is placed on the rope with the locker in the lower position, it slides upward very quickly, pinching the rope to lock it, and "clicking" in the process. This system is reliable, smooth, and provides auditory feedback. The delay as the locker slides upward may also allow a little extra rope to slip through the system, adding a touch of dynamic-ness to the catch, which is always welcome.
When a climber falls or they are being held, the rope will pull the carabiner to the top of the device, pinching the rope in place. The device catches very reliably, and the design makes for a very easy lock off.
In top-rope mode, the locker does not need to slide and click upwards, as it is already positioned at the top of the device. Tension from either the climber or the brake hand reliably locks the device. One thing to beware of, however, is that the device will not reliably lock if the two strands of the rope are next to each other pointed up. There needs to be a V shape between the two strands of rope, as displayed in the instructional video.
Lowering and Rappelling
To lower a climber using the ClickUp +, or to rappel a single strand of rope, requires a unique technique. While holding the climber on the end of the rope, the device will be locked up. To release it and lower, one is meant to hold the brake end of the rope with one hand, and with the other grab the device, which will be oriented horizontally, and push the bottom of it down, releasing tension and enabling rope to slide through. It takes a bit of practice to find the sweet spot and requires a bit more effort to push the device into the right position than the easier to use handles on the Mammut passive assist devices. We also experienced a bit of a weird high-frequency rubbing or vibration when lowering, which didn't seem unsafe, but is not super smooth as we would expect.
To either lower or rappel with the ClickUp+, the rope will be locked and the device tilted horizontally, as it is here. With one hand on the brake line, the other hand will push the device downward, toward a more vertical orientation. This releases the tension on the rope. It takes quite a lot of force to do this, and the position is not the most favorable for keeping it perfectly in the sweet spot. Be sure to check out the instructional video for proper guidance in lowering technique with this device.
Feeding Slack
Feeding slack to a leader with this device is certainly safe, but surprisingly easy to short rope your partner, and once locked the device is a bit unwieldy to unlock into the correct leading position again, especially if the leader is still trying to yank for rope. Unlike other passive assist devices, one does not need to hold a lever up to keep the device in the correct position when feeding slack, although those other designs may be a bit more foolproof in the end. You can easily feed slack in the standard two-handed method as with traditional belay devices, but when your leader needs to clip and wants an armload of slack, you need to yank it out, but applying not an ounce of grip force to the brake line with your hand, or you will lock the device up. Of course, the brake line should still be running through your brake hand, and you should be ready to grip it tight if a fall happens. Needless to say, an extremely attentive belay is needed at all times to prevent locking the device up, and it is simply nowhere near as user-friendly as most other belay devices.
When belaying a leader, the carabiner and rope will be held by the springs in the lower slot, as seen here. Feeding rope quickly requires very precise coordination between the two hands to avoid locking up the device, and once locked, it is even more difficult to quickly unlock.
Weight and Bulk
On our scale, the ClickUp + weighed 3.9 ounces, not including the carabiner that comes with it. Since all devices need a locking carabiner, which wasn't included in their weights, we didn't feel it was fair to weigh the carabiner with this one. It is quite a bit larger than a standard belay device, but roughly the size of a GriGri and weighs a couple of ounces less.
One advantage of this device is its low weight. It also comes with an HMS style carabiner, and you must use this carabiner to belay with it due to the precise geometry of the braking mechanism.
Four of the passive assisted braking devices we tested, for comparison of their size. Not shown here is the BD ATC Pilot. In the center is the ClickUp+, with the carabiner that comes with it. On the left is the Mammut Smart 2.0 on top, and the Smart Alpine on the bottom. To the right is the smallest of all, the Edelrid MegaJul.
Auto-Block
Climbing Technology, in their user manual, cites that you should not belay off the anchor or use this device in auto-block mode. This limits the range of applicable usage to pretty much single-pitch cragging.
Value
This device retails for around double the price of most passive assist belay devices. Of course, a nice locking carabiner is included (and must be used!), but this still makes it the most expensive passive assist device in this review. Since it is by no means our top recommendation, we have a hard time calling it a good value.
We think the ClickUp+ is best used for top-roping, as this doesn't expose the trickiness of belaying a leader with this device.
Conclusion
The ClickUp + is an innovative passive assist braking device with a reasonably large following in Europe. We have literally never seen one being used in the US, although that is no reason you shouldn't try it. While it has some solid safety features that are certainly recommendable, we also feel that functionally it is a bit complicated and difficult to master, not to mention a bit expensive compared to competitors.
Belaying with the ClickUp+ on a peaceful afternoon in the sun at Smith Rock.
— Andy Wellman
Source: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/climbing/belay-device/climbing-technology-clickup-plus
0 Response to "Click Up Rappel"
Post a Comment