DESCENDERS

We offer a wide range of abseiling descenders to cater for different purposes and varied budgets. We have a good selection of the ever-popular Figure-8 descenders, to suit differing abseiling needs over a range of prices. Our own design of Abseil rack, which has been well-proven in more than 15 years, primarily suits extremely abrasive environments such as caving. Finally we have a range of auto-locking Stop descenders, which provide hands-free braking at any point during the abseil.

Figure 8 descenders

We offer a range of figure-8 descenders to provide for every possible abseiling need. For professional use requiring long service life, choose the SMC Rescue 8, or the stainless steel SMC Descent Control for even more durability and corrosion resistance. For the ultimate in lightness, especially for small diameter emergency ropes, we have the SMC Escape-8. The other three figure-8s suit individual users, with the SMC Straight 8 being the best for belaying as well as giving good abseil control.

CT Figure 8 The CT Figure-8 is a standard aluminium figure-8 supplied by Climbing Technology. Simple styling and a polished finish keep it simple and surprisingly affordable. The elongated attachment hole allows use as a belay device. Strength 25 kN, weight 107 grams
SMC Straight Eight The shape of the SMC Straight 8 offers a smooth abseil action and good friction on single or double ropes. The D-shaped connection hole is designed for use as a belay plate. It is lighter than other standard figure-8s, and if you climb on single ropes the straight 8 is a simple device for both abseiling and belaying. Colour is purple. Strength 25 kN, weight 93 grams.

SMC Rescue 8 The SMC Rescue 8 is an aluminium descender which is hard coat anodised to provide maximum wear resistance. It stands up to abrasive North Island volcanic rocks far better than ordinary 8s, and is ideal for heavy duty or repetitive abseil situations. Colour is black. Strength 27 kN, weight 150 grams.
SMC Rescue 8 with ears Listen up. The SMC Rescue 8 with ears prevents an unloaded rope slipping and forming a girth hitch, locking the figure-8 when loaded. The ears also make it easier to tie off on abseil. Ideal for rescue. Strength 27 kN, weight 184 grams.

	SMC Descent-Control The stainless steel SMC Descent Control is among the most durable figure-8s available. Welded from stainless steel rod stock, it will far outlast aluminium figure-8s. Its unique shape helps prevent girth hitch lock-up and gives exceptional control and slow, steady descents. It’s not as heavy as you would expect. Strength 34 kN, weight 214 grams.

Figure-8s and belaying The use of figure-8 descenders for belaying is wide-spread, but there are right and wrong ways of doing it. The SMC figure-8 is ideal for belaying a single rope through the small attachment hole, and the device almost locks hands-free on the belay karabiner. You release it by pulling down the big end of the 8, which gives excellent control when lowering at the gym, or for top-roping. Belaying with a figure-8 configured for abseiling should be avoided, as it does not give enough friction for every situation, and it is difficult to feed the rope. Also, this method causes excessive twisting of the rope.

SMC Escape-8 The SMC Escape-8 is designed for emergency single-rope abseiling on thin ropes. It is a tiny device with almost negligible weight. However, it gives surprisingly good control. The lobes protruding down prevent girth-hitching of the rope. Strength 15 kN, weight 48 grams.

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Aspiring abseil rack

Abseil racks are an ideal friction device for both abseiling and lowering in heavy duty situations, including caving, outdoor education, and rescue. They are durable devices which provide variable control, and do not twist the rope.

The Aspiring Abseil Rack is a well proven five-bar rack made entirely from stainless steel, and weighing only 265 grams. The stainless steel bars are extremely durable, and the two top bars are thick walled for maximum life. All the bars can be replaced, as they are held in place by dome nuts backed up with locking hexagonal nuts.

Rack design

We use a U-frame on our abseil rack primarily because this design is much stronger and lighter than an open-ended rack. Also, it enables the use of fixed bars on the rack, which simplifies use, as there are only two bars that need to be threaded. Furthermore, in the event that very thin ropes (7 and 8mm) are used, unlimited braking can be obtained by passing the rope around the top bar again. weighs only 265 grams minimum strength 30 kN length of only 23 cm simplicity - two latching bars durable stainless steel bars takes ropes 7mm to 12mm will not damage the rope great value for money made in New Zealand

Stainless steel

Many racks have bars made from aluminium rod, a fact we find hard to comprehend. Aluminium bars have only a fraction of the life of stainless steel tubular bars, especially in abrasive conditions. And once they start to wear, they leave aluminium powder all the way down the ropes, and in an abrasive situation can completely coat a rope with a hard surface of aluminium and mud. Why anyone would treat their ropes like this is a mystery, but many people do. Aluminium does have better heat dissipation, but an out-of-control descent down Harwood Hole (176m) in 1996 on a stainless bar rack did not damage the rope, so this does not seem to be relevant.

Not surprisingly our original rack design, first produced in 1985, has been widely copied. Strangely though, open frame racks with aluminium bars are still commercially available.

The rack will accommodate sizes of rope up to 12mm, single or double. A captive DMM screwlock karabiner can be fitted. Instructions are supplied. Strength over 30 kN, weight 265 grams.

Rack terminology

Abseil racks are often incorrectly referred to in New Zealand as "brake bars". A brake bar is the bit of the rack that the rope passes over, originally designed for use on karabiners, which is now considered bad practice because of likely damage to the karabiner from side loading the gate and from wear due to friction. An abseil rack is a "rack" of brake bars and could equally correctly be called a brake bar rack.

Stop descenders

Stop descenders offer the convenience and safety of automatically locking when the handle is released. Apart from the obvious safety benefits, this is very useful when rigging pitches, for roped rescue, or for whatever reason you need to stop on the rope. It also gives complete control over descent speed, regardless of the size and friction of the rope being used.

Anthron doublestop

The Anthron doublestop is a new descender made in Slovenia, with some unique features. It has an unusual design, in which the friction surfaces are a cam-type arrangement, which swings open to admit a loop of the rope. This provides a mechanical effect to lock the rope against a small aluminium roller, providing a default braking action. To release the brake, a long, ergonomically-designed handle is squeezed gently; however if it is squeezed tightly the handle itself comes to bear on the rope and provides friction for braking. This is the "panic-grip" which some people find is an instinctive reaction in a crisis, and makes a standard stop descender unsuitable for them.

The Anthron extremely effective as a stop descender, because it does not "creep" as most descenders do. Despite this it provides very good control without being too sensitive. It will function effectively on rope sizes from 8mm to 11mm.

Finally, the Anthron is very light, weighing just 340 gms, and compact - just 190 mm long.

SRT stop descenders

Single Rope Technique Equipment in Australia makes stop descenders with the option of a second brake, which operates when you squeeze the handle too hard. This guards against a panic reaction. If the double brake is not required, it can be removed or disarmed. These descenders have a small latch on one side plate so that you can thread the rope on without removing the device from its karabiner. The handle and friction surfaces are cast as one piece of stainless steel. Having the friction surfaces made entirely from stainless steel is an important feature, as other stop descenders leave aluminium stains on your rope. The Sydney-based company Single Rope Technique Equipment is expert at high quality engineering. Their products are well designed for high strength, and are extremely well made. Finishing work is unsurpassed.

SRT Single Rope Stop

The single rope Stop is the lightest and simplest of the SRT Equipment auto-stop descenders. Weight is 403 gms, or with the double brake, 513 grams.

SRT Double Rope Stop

As for the Single Rope Stop, except two ropes can be used. Weights are 495 grams for the single brake, and 626 grams for the double brake version.

SRT Double Rope Stop

As for the Single Rope Stop, except two ropes can be used. Weights are 495 grams for the single brake, and 626 grams for the double brake version.

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