Great belay device - Mammut Smart Alpine Belay Device

The only reason I purchased the Smart was for its assisted breaking/locking capabilities. The assisted locking capabilities pay dividends when you have a climber that is working out a sequence and they are sitting quite a bit and of course in the event that something happens to the belayer.

It did take some time to get used to using it overall but I was able to catch on quick except when I needed to lower someone that had been leading or top roping. At first when I would lower folks it would be jerky and it was hard to find the 'sweet spot' where I could feed rope and easily lower someone. However with practice I was able to do it just fine although controlling the rate of descent is much harder than with other devices like the ATC. You almost have to make sure that your rope is flaked out properly without any twists to ensure a smooth ride down. I have not rappelled with it yet but I suspect that I may run into the same problems. Someone had suggested about extending the rappel so asto make it easier but I can not confirm that.

I found no problems with belaying a leader, just pull the device out and up when feeding rope and try to stay ahead of the climber's needs and you'll be fine. All in all, I think that for the price and the added benefits it provides it is a great piece of gear.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.