ATC Guide

IMO, everyone should learn on a non-assisted device first to build strong brake-hand-always-on habits, and then if assisted braking is desired, get a Grigri because it's more or less the standard ABD. I started on a BD ATC-XP, which worked very well. I would recommend a two-lane device, and to get a

I stick to screwlocks for basically all my carabiners (save for a couple small wiregates I have for clipping shoes/chalk to my harness). For a belay device, assuming it's an ATC style, get a round stock carabiner - ie it looks like it's made of a cylinder of metal instead of the flattened profile th

the atc you have isnt really usefull on multipitch, not that it is the end of the world but something like black diamond guide or dmm pivot would be good to have. Some of my friends use mammut nordwand atc

Left handed climber of more than 25 years here. I use a grigri and I belay right handed with it. I use a Black Diamond ATC Guide when multi-pitch trad climbing and belay left handed, though I can now belay ambidextrously when needed on awkward belay stances. It's not confusing. Learning to belay rig

I use a 60m Petzl Rad line for exactly this purpose. I pair it with a Black Diamond ATC Guide and it works really well, plenty of friction for the purpose in my opinion. I will add that it’s pretty much a necessity to have a third hand because that skinny rope isn’t gonna do any of the work for you