Black Diamond ATC Guide

Lightweight and easy to use

Durable, light, and strong!

Like most BD gear, this is simple, reliable, effective, and durable. I prefer this on any repel vs. a regular ATC due to the added friction. Works great on multi-pitch and is pretty light weight and compact. Great piece of gear for the price.

You need a belay device. This is the standard by which all other tube-style devices are measured. All the features you need, none that you don't; all in a durable yet relatively lightweight package. Buy one now, and don't look back! Climb on!

The ATC-Guide is the leader, they created the ATC, they created the Guide. This ATC device is light but is strong and can handle smaller ropes for smoother belays but still able to autoblock on the guide mode.

This device makes setting up a multi pitch belay super easy. It can take a beating. The high friction mode comes in handy from time to time.

I've owned a few iterations of a plaquette guide style belay device, and this one has become my favorite. My biggest gripe is that is doesn't accomodate smaller diameter ropes as well as the petzl reverso 2. I think this is due to the Petzl Reverso 2 having a deeper and steeper angled friction section in comparison to the BD ATC guide. But I have found that the BD outlasts the petzl, and it's high wear zones do not get as sharp as the petzl.

thumbs up

I love the guide im an old school kind of guy so I always use an atc.

Much improved over the previous model. The carabiner hole at the front is bigger and they stiffened the guidewire (somehow i bent the wire on my previous one) which makes it way better. Feeds smooth and looks good, what's not to like?

Multifunctional perfection really. Personally used for belay and rappel situations for outdoor climbing. Feel is solid, lock is tight and Controlled and comfortable. Plus it looks great, can't complain there!

This unit is solid, seems pretty scratch resistant, and the teeth offer more friction than other belay devices I have used.

This is a must have tool for any multi-pitch climber. Similar device to the Petzl Reverso, though in my opinion, the BD Guide ATC handles a variety of rope sizes better and feeds smoother in guide mode which keeps my elbows happy.

The auto-blocking mode for belaying direct off the anchor or off your harness works great, and can also be used as a standard belay/rappel device in either high or low friction mode.

The extra little hole in the front is to be able to release the auto-blocking mode, but this is a complicated maneuver and should only be done with a fair bit of experience and practice and should always be backed up.

Wear, such as with any belay device can happen between the two tubes of the device on the bottom side and should always be checked for sharp edges.

This is my go to for any and all multi-pitch routes. The easiest to use, it clips straight to the anchor point and self locks. It's pretty light, given its solid construction and just as easy to use for rappells or belaying as the regular atc.

This thing has definitely been my go to through years of use. They are extremely durable and if you take care of it, it will definitely take care of you. It is extremely easy to use in guide mode and almost fail safe if is set up correctly. You can ascend with it in a pinch or to get to your immobilized partner half way up a pitch and belaying a second is easy as pie. As a guide I carry 2 on occasion, so I can set up a simple belay in guide mode for someone with little experience to be able to handle it, yet knowing I am safe, and to still be able to have one on me for belaying them up or for an emergency ascension. There are others on the market that do the same thing, but BD makes a top notch product that is easy to use and extremely functional. Weight isn't a huge issue between them, wearing gloves or bare handed, this is a dream to use. As far as ropes, I have used this in the gym with the 10+mm, I have a single 9.5mm Mammut Infinity Dry, as well as Mammut Twilight 7.5mm twins and it works exactly as it should with any of the diameters. Granted with the 7.5mm I almost always run a third hand autoblock just in case.

There's a reason it's the go to belay device. Very simple and effective it's not only easy to use but very easy to teach others on. The option of auto-locking in Guide mode makes this great for belaying followers on multi pitch and it works great as a progress capture in crevasse rescue. Can't speak highly enough of this device

Great device for multi-pitch climbing.
More durable than the Petzl Reverso 4, better with thicker ropes (9.5-11.0 mm), and creates less friction for the belayer in auto-block mode.
The Petzl Reverso 4 is an ounce lighter, but the durability of the Black Diamond led me to believe this will last for years to come.

Works great! I personally use it for repelling. It is built strong, which does make it a little heavy, but not too bad. Definitely recommend.

easy to use. pretty large and heavy but it works great

I love this device. I have about a dozen belay devices including a GriGri and almost every form the Black Diamond ATC has come in.

The key to this piece is the additional friction funnel on the side, and the anchor loop on the other side. These features make this device awesome for multi-pitch projects. Most especially I like the funnel on the side. It adds a little more resistance, and that helps when you are belaying someone who has a little more mass than you. This is a double edged sword, if you belaying someone who is very light the added resistance may be a catch instead of a pro.

The added resistance also makes this enjoyable for long rope canyoneering projects. The kind that use 60-80 meters of rope, an additional system to manage the friction is very welcome.

Its light, its simple, and its Black Diamond. Bomber.

I love this belay device - even more than my GriGri2. It feeds really nice and has versatile use. When belaying from the top sometimes the auto block lays sideways but it can be redirected if it really is impeding use. I have 2 of these in my gear bag.