Black Diamond ATC-Sport Belay Device - 2008 BCS

Granted, it may not be as handy as a XP or Guide, but it sure isn't crap. There is a reason it's called the ATC-"Sport."

I got one because I found it for under $10 (so I'm biased on the price) but quite frankly, I think it works pretty dang good. It's extremely smooth and catches well, it's small and light and it does exactly what it was made for: single pitch and gym climbing!

If you want a solution to prevent sport anchor wear from lowering or you just need/want to rappel, just learn how to set up a pull-able single rope rappel! It's good knowledge to have whether you own this or not.

If you don't plan on doing much more than single pitch and gym climbing, this does what you need. And if the time comes that you need to buy another device for multi pitch or rappelling or whatever, you'll have two belay devices. The more, the merrier.

If your going to buy a tube device just spend the extra money and buy one that can do it all (double rope rappel, autoblock, etc...).

As most reviewers point out, what's the point? I suppose the sleek, colorful design does look pretty flashy hanging on the gear loop...but no meaningful functional benefit whatsoever.

Do you weight weenies really need to save the whole 29 Grams over an XP? This might be one of the most useless things BD makes. This might be fine for some short sport routes or in the gym but if you are going to buy an ATC just get a real one that won't leave you up shat creek if you need to come down on 2 ropes.

OK, so for single pitch and you are never going to leave the ground its an ok device, its does feed the rop well, but thats it.
you can rap with it for crap, you cant stuff a doubled up rope in there. You can belay a second for an anchor.
$17 worth of limiting equipment. go spend an extra $2 and get a twin tube at least. for $10 more get a atc guide.
this has got to be just about the most useless thing out there for the money. Don't get it.

might as well get one so you can double rope rappel. this one is pointless

Those climbing shoes you bought work fine in the gym, in cracks, and on faces. That harness is safe both indoors and outside. So why buy something so limiting, as is the ATC-sport? If you climb (anywhere inside or out), someday you're going to want to rappel, and if you have this thing, you're going to be kicking yourself!

Barely useful. Only needed in a gym, if you don't already have a dual rope device- in which case the people you're climbing with hopefully do.

Also, all the people bashing climbers for lowering from the chains on a single pitch sport climb are fucking idiots. The people who install the hardware at outdoor crags need to suck it up. Why would you needlessly pressure people into rappelling, the statistically most dangerous part of climbing, off of a SINGLE PITCH ROUTE?! You people are fucking disgusting. To save a few bucks? If you install the gear, you need to realize and be OK with what will happen to it. Put your vaginas away.

this is made for single pitch sport climbing. it is a good size and weight for use at a gym or at any single pitch crag. if you re doing multi pitch or rap then spend the extra cash for the atc guide. if not this ll work just fine

Just dumb. Why would you ever spend 17.00 to limit yourself. Lets see, all this does is belay 1 rope, you cant rap and then pull the rope, and you cant use double or twin ropes. Just dumb. Why limit yourself. Buy an standard ATC and you will be much happier.

Not significantly cheaper/lighter/easier to use than the XP to make it worthwhile getting one of these.

Don't quite know why Phunk gave it 1 star because I think the ATC Sport kicks ass. Super smooth. Makes feeding rope out for the leader really easy. Also locks off nice and fast and easily holds big falls. I use a 10.2 and a 9.8 and it works well with both. It even works with 11mm ropes at the gym easily. You can also never have to many belay devices so why not pick one up. Cheers.

this product is quite possibly the worst idea that the usually great development team at Black Diamond could have ever thought of. not only can u only belay on rope but more importantly should u choose to go climbing outside you can not rappel on it. I would implore Black Diamond to pull this product from the market and reuse the metal for something we can all enjoy. that being said the only time this product will work is in a gym at at that point the weight savings doesn't matter anyway so all in all do not ever waste your money on something that is so poorly designed and implemented.

Bought one of these because it fitted my short term need (device for glacier travel/crevasse rescue). As soon as I started a mountaineering course I realized I needed an XP for rappelling. The folks are correct who ask why limit yourself?

The sport gets three stars from me because as a belay device it does, in fact, work quite well. But in the end, the sport is lighter and takes up less space, but not enough to outweigh the potential benefit of having an extra XP around to lend to a buddy, or to person X's significant other who loves accompanying to the crag but not enough to buy their own gear.

Twin rope through one critical point????????? What is the point? Safe'n up fools!

What is the point of eliminating the functionality of double rope belays for a couple of ounces and a couple of bucks? A friend of mine (new to climbing) bought this, and my soul cried a little. Poor fool.

For the gym this thing is perfect. In the real world, not so much.
If all you plan to do is climb at the gym, this is a great belay device. If you EVER plan to hit the rocks, don't waste your money. get something that handles twin ropes.
To be fair, I use this at the gym ALL the time, but for anything else I use the Petzl Reverso 3

Does what it's supposed to, but spend the extra bucks on an XP or guide and don't give up your ability to use double ropes. More than once I wish I'd just bought the XP (Like when a friend needed a device to rap with and I was going down first). It works, and it works fairly well but I wouldn't buy another or recommend it to anyone.

Alright, this ATC is very light weight but not the best choice for multi pitch or even more intense climbs. However, this ATC does work and is a great choice for someone that does not need to spend the extra money on the HP or will not be needing an ATC for twin rope belays. For gym use this ATC is awesome.

Wow, those folks over at bd don't disappoint, do they? Hey Black Diamond, I have an idea for you: the ATC Double-Sport!! It's just like the ATC-Sport but with 2 holes for double rope rappels...

P.S. phunk that is the best review I have ever read - I'm still chuckling!

If I catch you and your chuckle-headed, 32-ounce-Monster-Energy-Drink-guzzling, 5.8 beta-spraying crew lowering off toprope laps through the chains while belaying with this thing, I'm going to punch you (all) right in the bread-basket.

Don't know where the "bread-basket" is located on a person? You'll find out.

i fondled this guy and its just feels weird. id much rather go for an xp or guide. i didn't like how its only the single option. not a good call

Then combine them with a zip tie to simulate a normal ATC. (Two stars = 1 for each ATC-sport).