Silent Partner popular

This device will be your best friend.

I would suggest that you find a tree and learn to fall with it at different heights. Don't forget to use backup knots tied at least 12ft from the ground as I've found adding the Kong absorber really is essential with enough rope to pull through to slow you down. It will basically lock-up at 4-5mph i.e. within six ft of your fall. So don't hold back you really need to jump & let it catch you, after a while you'll really enjoy it if you use the Kong shock absorber & 10.2 rope threaded through.

I did some research on this product before i bought it. The engineering is impeccable. There is a four-way fail-safe design- meaning, up to four parts can break on the device and it will still catch a fall. If something does break (which i can't even conjure a situation that it would) it automatically locks itself so you can't climb on it anymore. This way you're never wondering if somethings broken. It's also pioneered with similar technology to a seat belt (and we know those don't fail). Torque is what causes a lock off.

It does take some getting used to and some baby sitting at first, but once you know how to use it, it's leagues above any other self belay device. Clove hitching 10 foot loops to your harness helps with the weight of the rope. Instead of trying to drag the rope through the device while most of it is on the ground, it's closer to your hips so you aren't pulling that weight. It's a little confusing at first, but the loops are definitely worth the effort.

If you're leading, you'll want to go a few levels down while you're learning the device. You have to make clips at the level of the device unless you have a position that allows use of one or both hands to pull slack through it. You also have to pay attention to the loops you make and unclip them when they run out. You also have to stop and make more once you've run out.

It's a bit tricky at first, but again, very worth it. I figured it out by reading the instruction manual and hoping on a climb. I did a 5.4 G and did just fine (i've only been leading for about 3 months).

Enjoy!

There are many times I can't find a partner or don't have the time to call around for some human company. Sometimes, it is nice to climb alone. With the silent partner, I've been able to climb whenever I feel like it AND feel safe.
The device works and works well. I have taken several falls, on purpose, to test it and to learn how to use it after falling (sometimes it is hard to unlock after a fall).
There are a few cons. The idiom 'a pain in the ass' applies figuratively. Literally, it can be a pain in the crotch. A huge hunk of metal dangles between your legs where some of us have other stuff dangling. Backing up, as suggested in the manual and online pdf, is mess. Last con = $$.
Personally, I am satisfied with the purchase. I am not tearing up my rope with a contrived setup and I am using a device designed and tested for roped soloing.

I love my silent partner. It allows me to climb on days that I otherwise wouldn't be able to due a partners lack of availability. I looked at several other methods of roped soloing including; the clove hitch method, ascenders/prussik method, protraxion device, modified grigri, and the Soloist, none of them seemed able to address all of my concerns like the SP does. I like the fact that I dont have to wear a chest harness with the device or feed rope through it. Also the SP is very easy on the rope unlike some of the other methods. The system is great and Wren's SP manual speeds the learning curve. I have found that for top roping the system can be safer and more redundant than normal TR climbing. My only complaint with the SP is that I have yet to find a harness that can accomadate the numerous locking carabiners the manual suggests for use, three at a minumum each of which must go thru the swami belt and leg loops. This device is definately geared toward the more advanced climber who has a firm understanding of bombproof multi-directional anchoring.

The Silent Partner is a great device for roped soloing. It is without doubt the best device for self belayed free climbing. It feeds the rope smoothly while you progress and locks up in an instant if you fall. The use of this device is not for novice climbers though. It requires advanced knowledge of anchors and rope work in general, but it’ll make the process of roped soloing less cumbersome. Even though the device will almost certainly lock itself in the instance of a fall, it requires the use of backup knots. It will catch any fall regardless of body position. It locks up when the drum gets accelerated. So do not grab the rope in the event of a fall, or you will prolong the time it takes for the acceleration to engage the clutch. It shouldn’t be used on muddy or icy ropes nor should it be used in sub-freezing temperatures, so it is not recommended for alpine climbing. The Silent Partner comes with a comprehensive manual that explains the basic rig and gives lots of tips that will make the climbing faster to get used to and more enjoyable. The manual can be downloaded from Wren Industries’ website, so it’s possible to get an idea of how it works before you go out and buy one. If you’re serious about wanting to do roped soloing, then this is the device you’re eventually going to end up with.