By AMY JURRIES
Based in Italy, Climbing Technology has developed a new type of belay device, the Click Up, which is a lightweight and simple auto-locking device that employs an HMS carabiner to do the hard work. To use, insert a bight of rope into the top of the Click Up and clip your ‘biner through the center open area on the device. Then attach it through your belay loop on your harness like with any other belay device.
To arrest a fall, you pull down on the free end of the rope and the HMS carabiner will automatically “click” into a lock-off position on the belay device. Little effort is required to give or take in slack or lock off if your climbing partner should fall, according to the company.
After a fall, when you are ready to lower your climbing partner, you apply pressure with the palm of your hand to the outside of the Click Up and the rope will feed through. If the climber falls while being lowered, the carabiner will automatically click back into lock mode.
The Click Up Belay Device retails for $59.95 and is sold in the United States through Liberty Mountain.
—Amy Jurries is founder and editor of TheGearCaster.com, a blog dedicated to profiling emerging companies and technologies in the outdoor sports industry.
