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I have been using the original Grigri since I began climbing and am very comfortable using it. I am considering getting a Grigri 2 for someone as a gift, but I want to know one thing from those of you have used it: when belaying the leader (particularly with gloves on) do you find it difficult to hold down the cam with the thumb in order to quickly pay out slack? The cam on the original Grigri is quite large, so there is plenty of real estate for the thumb to quickly find it and depress it for giving slack. My concern is that with the Grigri 2s smaller cam (the exposed part, anyway) it may be harder to quickly find that cam in order to give slack to a climber whose forearms cannot afford to wait an extra second, especially when the belayer's dexterity is diminished by wearing gloves. Aside from it being annoying to be short-roped by your belayer, it could be dangerous, and if the Grigri 2 does not feel slack as readily and easily as the original, I would like to know before getting one. Thanks to anyone with some insight.

DonnyP wrote: do you find it difficult to hold down the cam with the thumb in order to quickly pay out slack?

That is the first approved method; the grigri2 is more amenable to the 2nd approved method.

caribe wrote:

DonnyP wrote: do you find it difficult to hold down the cam with the thumb in order to quickly pay out slack?

That is the first approved method; the grigri2 is more amenable to the 2nd approved method.

To me it sounds like DonnyP is talking about the second method...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSVchbjVKLE

2nd method does not require a large device. 1st method requires at least a big enough nose on the device to give a squeeze.

I didn't read anyone of the other posts, but FUCK THE CINCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

allah wrote:I didn't read anyone of the other posts, but FUCK THE CINCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You pretty much summarized the consensus... thanks, lol.

thats what I said

Hi climb2core:

You asked if I had any financial interest or otherwise in the Cinch!

None whatsoever!

I am just a fanatic/passionate person about safety, and always concerned about the sport getting bad vibes from the public and governmental agencies if they see a rise in accidents.

Over the years I have used every type of belay device that is practically out there, and just feel compfortable in using the Cinch as I feel a auto locking device could be there if ever something serious happened. And it's quite light, takes many different sizes of rope which is important today, as so many climbers are using smaller diameter ropes than in previous years.

Keep up the good work!

Bill

Cinch: 192g
GriGri: 225g

GriGri2: 185g
ClickUp: 43g

So an immense 33g difference btw GG1 and Cinch. And the Cinch does indeed suck.

IMHO, the cinch has a very poorly designed brake release system. The plastic lever that releases the brake has to slide under pressure against a small piece of metal. this pressure point on the plastic lever gets worn after a short period of time and causes difficulty lowering or total jamming of the device. the problem is exacerbated with small ropes and heavy climbers. After taking a lead fall and having my belayer unable to release the brake until i got back on the wall to remove tension, my cinch was permanently retired.

To sum up: the cinch sucks