UKC

About to buy a Beal Joker but I've heard that some belay devices are not suitable. I've got quite an old Black Diamond ATC and a Wild Country VC - am I best with a different device? Any recommendations?

Ta!

In reply to d80f0u:

I like the title of your thread, straight to the point.

I use two Jokers whilst guiding and belaying, for this I use a Reverso3; it works fine. As you would expect the Joker is quite slick anyway, but there is still a fair deal of control to be had.

Actually, I was out on a multi-pitch this evening, and ended up abbing on a single Joker, it was alright and even though I had backed it up with a prussic I still felt safe and in control.

In reply to d80f0u: should be fine with those, they are both fine with using a 9.1mm rope
I have a Petzl reverso which is fine with single ropes past 8.9mm according to manufacturer.
BD ATC Guide according to instructions is for 7.7mm >
VC and VC pro are all fine with a beal joker too.
Use them or splash out on new belay its up to you!

In reply to sleavesley: that should of said reverso 3 as above!!
That and the BD ATC guide are very familiar with design but the instructions favour the BD on skinny ropes as above.

In reply to d80f0u:

I use both of the above (BD ATC and VC pro) and it seems fine.

In reply to d80f0u:

I use a Reverso 3 or an ATC Guide with my Joker - both handle it as a single just fine, including in autoblock mode. I would be a bit reticent about using it single with the classic ATC - I stopped using mine a decade ago after deciding it was too slick for my taste on thinner ropes.

Of course if you are using it as a one half of a double rope system I reckon it would be just fine with anything.

In reply to d80f0u:

Thanks everyone for your advice, probably about time I updated my 'classic' ATC anyway, so I think I'll go with the ATC Guide!