Edelrid Jul² Review

In use I found the Jul² really easy to use, it offered plenty of assisted braking when mates were working routes. It must be noted though that the Jul² is not a hand free device (I always teach my clients that no belay device is hands free) and I did notice on a recent Dry Tooling day out with my 8.9mm alpine rope there was a little slippage through the device. Also it works best with a HMS screwgate carabiner. Since then, Edelrid stated that the Jul² is engineered to worked with the Bruce Steel FG screwgate as the steel to steel minimises wear and I’ve used it several times with the Bruce FG since. When I have used it I have noticed an improved performance, I have also used it with the HMS Strike Slider for a lighter weight option (as the steel was quite heavy, which is not an issue with sport climbing or cragging but I wouldn’t pack it for a mountain day, although it is lighter than a screwgate GriGri set up).