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Figure 8

SMC

Rating

Description

The lightest of our line of rescue descenders, this is a traditional figure 8 design without "ears". Machined from solid aluminum bar, this descender is hard-coat anodized to provide optimal resistance to abrasion and is therefore ideally suited for heavier duty or repetitive rappelling situations. The Figure 8 will accept a variety of rope sizes from 8 mm to 12.5 mm, either single or double.

Retail price

US$ 37.00

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Technical specs

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." 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. Brake Assist These devices assist in stopping the rope when a climber falls or hangs on the rope. 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. Descender For rappelling, not for belaying a lead climber or top-roping.	Figure 8
Weight (g) Weight (g) In grams, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand.	150 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. 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. 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/	No guide mode
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. 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.	4.0 mm - 12.5 mm
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