The Atc-guide is great. I use both the regular friction side and the high friction side. I like using the high friction side as it take nearly no pressure to catch a fall. I use the low friction for rappeling,in the gym when belaying and on shorter single pitch sport routes. I use the high friction when belaying longer routes and multiple pitches or if I feel the likely hood of a fall is eminent on a certain route ( a little harder route then the person I am belaying might be up to). a little heavy when compared to some others but if you like better quality gear and dont cut your toothbrush in half this is a non-issue

I have used this device since it came out and I really like it. I had both this and the original Reverso on my harness when doing multi pitch (always have 2 in case I drop one like a dummy). I eventually made this my primary and the Reverso my backup. I felt that it autoblocked well when I had one or two climbers following and I could pull rope pretty easily for my second. I always like the fact that it didn't have any square edges like the Reverso did - that always bothered me.

I have rapped with this and it was smooth enough for me. Belaying in normal mode was just as easy to me as the regular ATC.

Overall, no complaints and I can't think of any issues I have with it

because of the mixed reviews i bought the atc-guide and the reverso3 at the same time so my boyfriend and i would both have an atc and then we could compare them and see which was best for us- we're both beginners and climb at the local gym so we haven't been able to use all of their features, but they both belay very well-

particularly when using the friction side- the only reason we prefer the reverso3 over the atc-guide is the fact that the reverso3 will take the thicker ropes that my gym still uses and refuses to change out-

it is not important to note but the atc-guide is also a bit heavier than the reverso3- when we are able to purchase our own ropes and go outdoors i can leave a more thorough commentary on the atc-guide-

I'd would say it's simpler that a reverso. Easy to use, easy to set up. At first I thought the rope ran through it a little slow, but the key is just to have the anchor in a direct line above your second. Good asthetic propertiers as well.

I belay for a rock climbing gym (a lot) and this harness works very well. high friction works well for heavier first timers, and the low friction allows even the smallest kid to come down without a hassle, unless the awful Missouri humidity gets to the ropes, but thats a different story. I have notice a bit of wear after many uses, but nothing that wouldn't happen to any other belay device