Is there any reason why someone should not belay bottom roping using a tube device linked direct to a swami belt with a krab? ( I still use a waist belay for this myself.)
Context. My son is going to southern sandstone with his two flatmates for a bit of lockdown fun. They're careful and responsible adults (wish I could say the same ).
They have all toproped a little on walls, and I toproped my son years ago at Harrison's and Portland. I'll be meeting my son to give him some gear (I'd rather not lend my regular gear in case I get a chance to go climbing myself). They only have one harness, and belay tube between them..
However it will be most convenient if all three have some sort of harness for roping up and belaying. I have 5m of 25mm tape for a swami belt, I'm happy for somebody not to use a sit harness in this instance (there's a note in the current guide mentioning that older climbers still tie in direct). I've also got an old Davek harness in good condition which has no belay loop, but one could use the tie in loop of the rope for the krab and tube, or thread a short sling through the tie in points and clip the belay krab through its ends. I don't want to suggest many techniques that they're not familiar with, as I won't be with them..