Review Date
March 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Tim (Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $20.00 at EMS

Summary:
I picked up one of these a few years ago not long after they came out because I liked the idea behind them. In practice I have not found the extra friction to be very useful however. Mostly I just have found that this device provides a less smooth feed than compareable devices. It probably does catch falls a little easier but I've never noticed in the heat of the moment. One thing it is good for is rappelling on really skinny ropes in the rain. For small light climbers it might be beneficial. For everyone else either an ATC or a Reverso (for double rope work) would be a superior device.

Similar Products Used:
Reverso, ATC (and clones), Pyramid, Figure 8s, Gri-Gri, WC's VC, Munter Hitch.

Review Date
June 19, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Tim (Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $18.00 at EMS

Summary:
Great all around device.

Much better handeling of double ropes than standard ATC style devices. Very solid lockoff, smooth feed.

For rappelling on ropes between 9.5 and 11mm you can switch the device around so that the notches are toward the anchors rather than your brake hand. (otherwise it has too much friction)

Similar Products Used:
HB sherrif, BD ATC, Petzl Reverso, WC VC, Trango Pyramid.

Review Date
March 15, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Travis DeLong(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Mertztown PA USA

Price Paid:  $20.00 at Shoreline

Summary:
Nothing locks like a Jaws. I use it for everything (climbing and repel). My partner is a lot heavyer than me and this atc works great.

Similar Products Used:
Petzl Reverso

Review Date
January 11, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Andy (Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Chattanooga, TN, USA

Price Paid:  $20.00 at REI

Summary:
The Trango is the best belay divice I have ever used. If the climber is tired and needs a break its no problem to hold them there for a while. Its nice when your hands are tired because the jaws take a good bite of the rope I paid a little much for it but it is still very much worth the money.

Similar Products Used:
ATC
Reverso

Review Date
October 10, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Get_it(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Sunrise, FL, USA

Price Paid:  $17.00 at Moutain Gear

Summary:
It works great! I had a basic ATC before and since I am a light guy
would have trouble lowering my friend that were usually 20 to 30
pound heavier. The rope would fly though the device and burn my
hands, actually leaving black marks. Not that I'm a wimp but I would
much rather tare my hands up wile I'm climbing. Also holding a
climber while they rested was a hand wrenching annoyance.
I tried a friends Wild Country Variable Controller but it just kept
locking up. Then I tried the Jaws and have used it now for a
month. It is amazing, it holds heavy climbers easily and lowers
them extremely smooth, I think it only locked up on me once for
a second. I have heard that it doesn't work well for repelling
because of the V-notch jaws. I have yet to repel so I don't know.
But if you're a gym rat like me, or are lightweight and find yourself
belaying bigger loads this is the best non-auto-locking belay device
around

Similar Products Used:
ATC
Wild country Variable Controller