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CAMP OVO

OVO

Rating

My vote: None ( 3.8 avg )

Description

• Rock Climbing, Alpinism, General Mountaineering
• Auto-Locking belay for one or two followers

Multipurpose belay and rappel plate forged from aluminum alloy. Can be used with single, double and twin ropes and can be set up as an auto-locking belay for two seconds.

Retail price

US$ 9.95
Device Type

Device Type

Tube

The most commonly used belay type also called an “ATC” or “tuber.” Other than a distinction between other belay device types, “Tube” is a rarely used term, most climbers just assume you're talking about this style when they refer to your "belay device."

Tube belay device example

Figure 8

Mostly used in rescue, canyoneering, tactical, work safety, or by old school climbers and rappellers. One reason they went out of popularity with recreational climbers is because they tend to create twists in the rope.

Figure 8 belay device example

Brake Assist

These devices assist in stopping the rope when a climber falls or hangs on the rope.

Brake Assist belay device example

Often referred to as “auto-blocking” but that’s not the official terminology because no belay device should be assumed to work automatically by itself, even if it feels like it does (or does most the time).

Plate

When simplicity is a must, or you started climbing before Tubers were the norm. Bonus: They tend to be very light weight.

Plate belay device example

Descender

For rappelling, not for belaying a lead climber or top-roping.

Descender example
Plate
Weight (g)

Weight (g)

In grams, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand.

58 g
Belay Brake Assist

Belay Brake Assist

This is when the belay device significantly reduces the amount of holding power the belayer must exert to stop a fall and hold a climber.

This is also called "assisted-braking" as the device must hold a significant amount of the climber’s weight; this term does not include friction-adding "teeth" found on some tube style belay devices.

Confusingly referred to as “auto-blocking” or “auto-locking” these terms wrongly imply the device will always, automatically, stop a fall or hold a climber even if the belayer/rappeller is hands-free. These devices are not meant to be used without a hand on the braking side of the rope; the belayers/rapppeller brake hand should always be on the brake rope.

Worth Considering

Most of the mechanical brake assist devices only hold a single strand of rope and are not capable of double-strand rappelling (the most common method of rappel).

No
Rope Options 1 or 2 ropes
Guide Mode

Guide Mode

This is when you belay directly off the anchor instead of your harness. Guide mode is helpful if you climb outdoors a lot because it reduces the holding power required from the belayer. When your partner falls or rests, the weight of the climber is held mostly by the anchor and the belay device.

Tubers and Plates

When belaying in "guide mode," the tubers and plates turn auto-blocking. During a fall, the climbing rope pinches the slack rope, completely stopping the movement of either rope. A common guide mode setup shown below.

A double rope tubular device guide mode example

Mechanical Brake Assist Devices

There is no difference in the functionality of the device. A brake-hand should always be on the rope to ensure the climber is caught in the case of a fall. A common guide mode setup shown below.

A single rope mechanical brake assist guide mode example

Where guide mode is used

  • multi-pitch sport or trad climbs
  • single-pitch where you need to bring up a follower (say for a walk-off)

Learn More

http://www.climbing.com/skill/essential-skills-auto-blocking-belay-devices/

Up to 2 followers
Teeth

Teeth

Teeth are only seen on tube devices. They add friction that helps grip the rope for more belaying control.

This is helpful for belaying heavier climbers. Teeth are becoming standard on new tube devices.

The belay device teeth are shown in the red circle

Worth Considering

Teeth do wear out. You can limit wear by rappelling on the side without teeth (if you don’t need the extra friction). Once they’re worn, you’ll still have a usable belay device, just less friction.

No
Rope Range (mm)

Rope Range (mm)

The range of rope diameters, in millimeters, that the manufacturer/brand specifies can safely be used.

This is the best case scenario and does not necessarily take into consideration that certified ropes have a tolerance of +/- .3 mm.

Recently, manufacturers have started to add an "optimized" rope range -- this is the range that will result in the nicest handling of the belay device.

8.0 mm  - 11.0 mm ­­
single: 10 - 11 double: 8 - 9
Certification

Certifications

The main climbing gear certifications are CE and UIAA--and normally the UIAA creates the rules that the CE body also supports. When possible, we try to list all the certifications the product carries.

To sell a climbing product in Europe, the device must be CE certified. There are no official requirements to sell climbing gear in the US. The UIAA certification is a voluntary process.

Learn More

Rock and Ice Certifications Guide
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AVG RATING
5.04
( 5 avg )
Rating
5.04
( 5 avg )

I feel like a European guide when I use this...

Pros
Lightweight
No moving parts to futz up
Super fast way to belay one or two climbers; rope is a breeze to pull up and through
Secure "lockdown" if the rope is weighted
Cheap
Cons
Trickier to rappel with
Tough belaying a leader with it
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton

It may sound unecessary, but I carry one of these and a DMM Pivot at all times. The OVO is bringing up the second, the DMM is for rapping and belaying the leader. 
I feel having the OVO for belaying the second is key for a few reasons:

It may sound unecessary, but I carry one of these and a DMM Pivot at all times. The OVO is bringing up the second, the DMM is for rapping and belaying the leader. 
I feel having the OVO for belaying the second is key for a few reasons:
- Very secure locking mode if the second climber weights the rope; no rope creep or slippage
- Handles a variety of rope diameters well, and is super smooth when taking in rope
- Lightweight, and lives on my back gear loop when not in use

All that being said, it is never my first choice to rap with. I have used a few tricks to help with the friction (two carabiners for the rope vs. one, etc.) but it is not where this device shines. 
For my money, it is the most simple, easy and effective device for bringing up one or two climbers securely and safely. 

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