Stats| Weight | 50 g | | Max Diameter (mm) | 8 |
| Black Diamond ATC
4.5 out of 5 based on 97 user reviews.
Cred: 40569 | | Review by marks on Mar. 31, 2007 |
| Simple and time tested. The ATC (air traffic controller) is a staple for the climbing industry. It only does what a belay device must do and thats all we ask. Low price point. |
| If you are planning to climb multipitch climbs you may want to consider the Petzl Reverso or Black Diamond ATC Guide. |
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Cred: 1451 | | Review by Keese on Dec. 19, 2007 |
| Great little belay device, much smoother than the Reverso, and well time tested piece of gear, which regardless if you are carrying an autoblocking device is still nice to have an the harness. Much easier on ropes, and pretty much all you can want for a cragging belay device. There is a reason ATC is now an acronym for belay device. |
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Cred: 881 | | I've used the ATC for years and it has never let me down. It works great for leading and top roping. Very light. |
| doesn't have the rope locking feature of the ATC guide or Reverso. |
| ATC Guide, Reverso, etc.. |
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Cred: 4097 | | Review by Ruze23 on Mar. 02, 2011 |
| Wonderfully simple and easy to use. I'd say best to put a newbie on so they learn early & quickly to never ever let go of your brake hand. I've trusted mine for years (I'm talking for either indoors or doing single pitch). |
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Cred: 468 | | My ATC has been to hell and back with me, seriously. I love it. Simple, solid, and worth every penny. |
| I have heard of a few people who have had the black ring fall off, but that's one of those one-in-a-million things, and it doesn't compromise the ATC at all. |
| There are so many different ATC-type devices out there, but BD is the original and the best. |
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Cred: 240 | | I greatly prefer it to the Trango Pyramid and ATC-XP. Easy to set up, multi-purpose, rugged because of its simplicity. |
| Not as smooth as a Reverso. |
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Cred: 330 | | works to hold your rope, can be used to open a bottle of beer |
| Should have scratch and sniff coating, I would love to have wonderful smells woft about as I rappel |
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Cred: 12 | | easy to use, works great, much better alternative to a stitch plate. |
| if one forgets to clip the rope into the locking biner the climber will hit the deck, this is uncommon and will usually be noticed before the climber starts climbing |
| none, but for autolocking i would reccomend a petzel grigri |
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Cred: 2509 | | the indespensible time tested belay device. Works great with larger diameter ropes. Feeds great and is smooth to operate. Can't beat the weight |
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Cred: 556 | | Very simple device that wears well. |
| Friction is less than the auto blocking devices |
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Cred: 15 | | Great basic belay/rappel device. Simple to use for short rappels and to belay on sport or trad climbing. Light weight. |
| Not that it is designed for it, but gets to hot if used for anything over a 100 ft rappel. |
| An old school spring plate works in a very similar manner and with the spring, it actually works a bit smoother. |
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Cred: 803 | | Simple and clean, this should be a go-to belay device for anyone getting their first. |
| It does what it needs to - nothing more. no mechanicals, no extras. |
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Cred: 1306 | | Review by MikePB on Feb. 27, 2011 |
| time tested stable. I have had one for about 15years and it still works great. A must have for any climber. |
| Not the best on small diameter ropes. Use the EP or Guide version. |
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Cred: 1194 | | Review by bruton on Jul. 27, 2011 |
| Works every time I use it and it lasts for ever.
Great for sport or gym. |
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Cred: 2643 | | The ATC is a classic. In my opinion the best belay device there is if your not going to do multipitch. Works really well on rappel too. I love it. |
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Cred: 312 | | Great for any beginning climber. |
| None! Eventually should be replaced with a more advanced form of belay device. |
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Cred: 279 | | Lightweight, low cost, and does everything it's designed to do.
No surprises here. |
| Not sure they could shave more weight, but lighter is always better. |
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Cred: 150 | | simple and will do about anything a beginning climber needs to do. Light enough and rugged. Great buy for the Price |
| More advanced climbers should consider the guide version |
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Cred: 315 | | Review by kord92 on Aug. 09, 2011 |
| simple to work, easy to set up, variety of uses, smooth rappel |
| doesnt autolock, sometimes twists rope |
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Cred: 5 | | Light, compact, safe, simple and easy to use |
| It can get really hot if used for top rope climbing |
| For topropes use a Gri-Gri |
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Cred: 53 | | keeping it simple...
works great with 10-10.3mm ropes |
| holding power is decreased greatly with smaller diameter ropes. |
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Cred: 12 | | Easy to use and teach others how to belay. Used for belay and rappel. Good for beginners. |
| lacks many features helpful for mountaineering and canyoneering. Not recommended for multi-pitch climbs |
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Cred: 5 | | Despite the unusual name choice (air traffic controller) this is a staple for the climbing community. |
| No dual friction mode but at the same time this is a good feature (simplicity). |
| Reverso or ATC Guide for multipitch. |
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Cred: 464 | | Doesn't get better than this for a basic belay device. |
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Cred: 422 | | Review by roytse on Aug. 09, 2008 |
| Simple. Bombproof. Not even my girlfriend can misfeed the rope. |
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Cred: 507 | | First class stopping power. Won't twist the rope. Makes a smooth rapping device too. |
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Cred: 951 | | Great ATC. THE standard for belay devices. Great price on a very functional piece of gear. |
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Cred: 99 | | Simple to use, single or double rope raps/belays. |
| Gets sharp inside due to abrasion. |
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Cred: 173 | | A classic works well, better than anything else out there. |
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Cred: 275 | | Everyone know this one. It does pretty good doing what it's supposed to. |
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Cred: 60 | | The standard tube device. Can't go wrong. |
| A little slippage under heavy loads. |
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Cred: 5 | | Review by vonpad on Mar. 12, 2011 |
| It just works. The classic belay device. |
| If you are planning on doing multipitch climbing check out the Petzl Reverso. |
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Cred: 392 | | Simple and time tested. If you want features go buy a GriGri2 |
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Cred: 52 | | if you do alot of multi pitch stuff just get a reverso |
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Cred: 244 | | Review by lenhcr on Apr. 25, 2013 |
| This was my first belay device. It fed rope through very smoothly. |
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Cred: 557 | | Simple, Versitile, Affordable |
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Cred: 26 | | Cheap, Simple, easy to use for rappelling or belaying |
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Cred: 327 | | best general belay in the world |
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Cred: 26 | | it is light and easy to use |
| i'll suggest grigri for sport climbing |
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Cred: 358 | | Nothing special just pure reliability |
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Cred: 443 | | Only one size (no + or -) feed |
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Cred: 29 | | Review by alex m on Sep. 29, 2008 |
| smooth handling, my absolute favorite of all ATC style belay devices |
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Cred: 27 | | Review by devin on Oct. 28, 2008 |
| The classic belay device. Good for 80% of my climbing. |
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Cred: 29 | | Review by alex m on Dec. 14, 2008 |
| smooth handling,one of the absolute best ATC style belay devices |
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Cred: 29 | | Review by alex m on Dec. 16, 2008 |
| smooth handling, my favorite of the bucket style belay devices |
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Cred: 4460 | | Simple, smooth and good price |
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Cred: 29 | | Great durability and dependable for all conditions. |
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Cred: 3262 | | Good price, light, easy to use, smooth. |
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Cred: 208 | | So simple, yet so good. My favorite ATC |
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Cred: 62 | | simple, light, good backup device |
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Cred: 98 | | it's a classic, never fails |
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Cred: 25 | | Solid, dependable belay device |
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Cred: 43 | | locks alright, not good for big rests |
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Cred: 32 | | The old and trusty. Replaced by ATC guide nowadays |
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Cred: 77 | | All around great belay device. |
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Cred: 12 | | simple, guick and verstile |
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Cred: 3 | | These things are the gold standard for simple belay devices |
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Cred: 21 | | works great as my back up rapel device |
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Cred: 36 | | easy to use atc. it wil last foreverrr |
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Cred: 13 | | sucks when someone's window washing |
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