I reserve the five star rating for very few items, but the Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender is worthy of it. This was an instant design classic when it first came out and has improved with various iterations over the years. These are the ascenders of choice if you are going to be doing lots of jugging as they are comfortable, secure and have a smooth action. They are ideal for Big Wall climbing, but I have also used them for Adventure Racing, Caving and cleaning routes.

About the only thing to watch on them is that the rope is fully engaged before you start fumbling with the trigger. Unlike other ascenders, with this one the rope is either in, or out - there is not threading, or halfway about it. This is good as it is secure, but if you are tired and not paying attention, the rope will pop right out when you thumb the trigger. Always tie a backup knot and never trust your life to one piece of equipment!

Standard ascenders and have stood up to a bit of abuse. Mostly used for cleaning/bolting

These ascenders are intuitive, color coded, and light they work well.
My only complaint is that it feels more difficult to open the rope-grabbing mechanism than I think it could be. In a way, that is a sort of built in safety that prevents someone from accidentally opening it, but I still think it could stand to open more easily for one handed operation.

Well, they finally departed from the gold and blue that has become so iconic. But don't worry, these ascenders are still the standard by which others are judged. They are extremely functional and secure. Too bad about the colors though.

I'll admit that I have the old colors, but it's not like the design changed at all. Not much to say but they work great.

I primarily use these if I'm in some sort of keeper hole canyoneering or when exploring some new caves and need to find an OUT! This ascender is a classic that has proven to be dependable over the years.

If you need a handled ascender, in my opinion, these are the best. I've used mine for years as an integral component of my frog rig for SRT (e.g. vertical caving.) Over time, I've made the decision to switch to a Petzl Basic, but not due to any failures or perceived shortcomings of the Ascension. I wanted to shave off some weight and bulk from my rig. If the form factor works, there will be no drawbacks with this device. Highly recommended.

Well after years of Blakes, Prusiks and Icicle knots I finally broke down and purchased these. They are nice if you have them and less nice if you don't. Just wonderful being able to pull and hang with something solid in hand.

Awesome device. Makes ascending super easy, fun, and of course extremely safe. I've used the Petzl ascender a lot at my rock wall during classes when we practice rescues or when we need to get up the rope and put in new holds on the wall for routes.

I have always been a huge fan of PETZL. I use their harnesses exclusively and helmets are breathable and, well, protective. This ascender is top notch. It grabs with authority, slides like there is lube involved, and catches without missing a beat. GREAT PIECE OF GEAR. The only drawback of sorts, is the safety catch. When weighted in a precarious stance, the device tends to hold to the rope a little too tightly, but it sure is better than it coming open under weight, committing the climber to the depths. GREAT PIECE OF GEAR. Wish they had a right/left combo piece however. Good gear, good price, will save that ass. The auto belay option is progressive, clip the biner in as directed with a harness leash and an etier and you have a great piece of ascending gear that will take you to the top, clean and sure. Thanks Petzl.

You'll see more of these than any other ascenders, and for good reason. They are comfortable, light, strong, and easy to use.

I got to use one of these last weekend when the rope got stuck in a slot canyon. I used one of these and a tiblock to ascent up 100' of rope to retrieve it. I own the BD Ascenders which I LOVE, but I also really liked this ascender too! It seams a little lighter than the BD version, and is easier to open to put on and take off the rope than the BD version because there is no "Z pattern" you have to follow. It doesn't seem as smooth to open and close though, but there was no slipping and it worked great! The Petzl and Black Diamond Acsenders are both great ascenders and are the same price, but I would probably go with the Petzle because it is about 2oz lighter per ascender than the BD ones.

The Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender glides smoothly up the rope while ascending unlike any other ascender I’ve used.

I've used the BD nForce ascenders for a few years, and thought they were ok. I had no idea what I was missing out on until I gave these ascenders a try this past fall. The ease of use is unparalleled. There is no extra moving parts or procedures I have to go through to unlock the tool or get it past a knot, which is cluth for fast ascents. I would highly recommend this piece of gear for any big wall climber or anyone looking to add an item as useful as this to their rack.