Doug Dobkowski recommends the Edelrid Edelrid Mega Jul Belay Device for belay & rappel devices. I recommend belaying the leader with an assisted braking device. You can use a GriGri (I do sometimes), but this is a great option that saves a lot of weight. It uses geometry, not a camming mechanism, to provide assisted breaking. I think that this added layer of security is almost always mandatory. There have been many accidents where the belayer has lost control of the belay. A device like this can prevent a catasrophic injury. An added benefit is that this device also works as a rappel device as well as belay and can belay from above. When I multipitch, each climber has a Petzl Reverso to belay from above and rappel and the group has one Edelrid Mega Jul to belay the leader and to use as a rappel device in the event that someone drops their reverso.
Yes — Doug Dobkowski recommends the Edelrid Mega Jul Belay Device by Edelrid as their belay & rappel devices pick. I recommend belaying the leader with an assisted braking device. You can use a GriGri (I do sometimes), but this is a great option that saves a lot of weight. It uses geometry, not a camming mechanism, to provide assisted breaking. I think that this added layer of security is almost always mandatory. There have been many accidents where the belayer has lost control of the belay. A device like this can prevent a catasrophic injury. An added benefit is that this device also works as a rappel device as well as belay and can belay from above. When I multipitch, each climber has a Petzl Reverso to belay from above and rappel and the group has one Edelrid Mega Jul to belay the leader and to use as a rappel device in the event that someone drops their reverso.
