This is a really nice ascender and I also love that it is so nice to your rope. It's beefy and worth spending a little more than you would with some other ascenders. The only thing I didn't like was that it didn't have a handle and I wouldn't rely on it for ascending yourself up the rope. I actually purchased it to do some top-roped soloing. It isn't made for soloing and I do not encourage the use of any climbing product for activities that it wasn't designed for...but...if like me you heard about a few devices you might be able to use for soloing at your own risk and you have decided your going to do it no matter what...I would consider using this. It is nearly impossible to come undone and detach from the rope on it's own, it's easy one the rope, it catches reliably as soon as you put weight on it, and perhaps even to use as backup for a primary soloing device?...I think it would be great and I have used it dozens of times with another ascender as a backup. You also have no way to release it with wieght on and so overhangs won't work well with it. Great product, buy it just as a gear ascender and just in case a situation comes up where you need to have something that does more!

This a huge pad! It makes some of my friends pads look like doormats! It is more than the pads you find stocked in your local shop, but well worth the price. Its just so big! It's thick and folds in half nicely in a way that doesn't make me worry about landing on the fold/middle. The waist and shoulder straps are nice but still it can be akward to carry if the trail/path is a narrow one. Aside from that it's comfortable easy and worth more than two standard pads that you find at the store. I couldn't be happier with it and I highly recomend it if you want a BIG pad.