Left Handed Gri-Gri

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Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic

originalpmac

Mountain climber

Timbers of Fennario

Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 16, 2018 - 09:33pm PT

Is there such a thing? I have been teaching a left handed friend how to climb and while explaining a gri-gri she asked about. The thought had never crossed me mind. If not a gri gri, are there other auto locking devices that are more user friendly for southpaws?

maldaly

Trad climber

Boulder, CO

Nov 17, 2018 - 07:18am PT

First, there is no such thing as an auto-locking belay device. The proper term is “locking-assist” and the terms matters. They all require practice, skill and attention to work properly and safely. Currently the Petzl Grigri 2 the Mad Rock Lifeguard are rated as Class 6 belay devices (Locking Assist and Rappeling). The Petzl Grigri+, the Camp Malik, the WC Revo and the Edelrid Eddy are rated as Class 8 belay devices (Locking Assist and rappelling with panic stop). The Trango Verso should be a Class 6 locking assist device if they can ever get it to market.

The WC Revo is the only device without a lowering handle and, thus, can be considered both left and right-handed.

There are several “braking assist” devices that are symmetrical and can be used with either hand. They are the BD ATC Pilot, the CT Click-Up, the Edelrid Mega Jul and Micro Jul, the and the Mammut Smart. All of these will lock the rope up pretty well but they all require an assist or guide hand to activate them.

Climb Safe,
Mal

JLP

Social climber

The internet

Nov 17, 2018 - 07:32am PT

I know many lefties including myself that do just fine using their right hand to brake while using a gri gri. The device takes some time to learn to use correctly, switching hands is the easy part IMO.

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Nov 17, 2018 - 07:36am PT

It's all in how you say it. Take the hangman's noose and rename it as a Suspension Assist.

Run some tests and now it is a device fit to be marketed, certifiable as a lethal injection alternative.

Jon Beck

Trad climber

Oceanside

Nov 17, 2018 - 10:20am PT

Revo does not require any assist, pretty much noob proof.

hooblie

climber

from out where the anecdotes roam

Nov 17, 2018 - 11:11am PT

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/climbing/belay-device/camp-matik

To feed slack to a leader quickly, you have to depress a tab at the bottom of the cam, pistol grip-like, using your thumb and forefinger. The motion is not dramatically different from that required with a GriGri except the primary force is applied with the index finger rather than the thumb. The position of the tab allows it to be gripped left or right-handed which makes it easier for southpaws to learn.