This is a really nice ascender and I also love that it is so nice to your rope. It's beefy and worth spending a little more than you would with some other ascenders. The only thing I didn't like was that it didn't have a handle and I wouldn't rely on it for ascending yourself up the rope. I actually purchased it to do some top-roped soloing. It isn't made for soloing and I do not encourage the use of any climbing product for activities that it wasn't designed for...but...if like me you heard about a few devices you might be able to use for soloing at your own risk and you have decided your going to do it no matter what...I would consider using this. It is nearly impossible to come undone and detach from the rope on it's own, it's easy one the rope, it catches reliably as soon as you put weight on it, and perhaps even to use as backup for a primary soloing device?...I think it would be great and I have used it dozens of times with another ascender as a backup. You also have no way to release it with wieght on and so overhangs won't work well with it. Great product, buy it just as a gear ascender and just in case a situation comes up where you need to have something that does more!

This rope grab is the best and kindest of all the rope grabs. It is designed to grab the rope without teeth. It is also able to provide slippage under extreme shockloading. From memory I think it slips at around 700 kgs. This is highly beneficial and it does not strip the sheath of the rope in doing its job. For anyone wishing to set up haul systems this is the only type of gear to use for that job particularly so if you are going to setup 5 to 1`s or greter mechanical advantage systems. Top notch piece of gear.

...Phil...