There is a video on the Trango website as well as YouTube and EVERYONE that wants to use the Cinch should watch it BEFORE they use it. I see a lot of people using it incorrectly. A friend at the gym was taught incorrectly and there was a near deck at the gym. It is a great device and you will understand it better after you watch the video. As far as lowering goes it should be just as easy as any other device. The Cinch relies on angles if it is hard to lower it is a indication that you are doing it incorrectly. Once you get the angle correct be careful as it will really speed up the decent and you may need to re-direct to slow larger climbers down. This also is explained VERY well by Malcolm in the video.