ATC

Most of the comments thus far aren’t aware of the differences between a standard ATC, and an ATC Pilot. You can’t go wrong with a grigri or Pilot but the Pilot is the better option for most first devices IMO. Unless you’re gifting it to someone. My recommendation is not as a former Black Diamond rep

I have a Giga Jul and use it as my primary device for gym and outdoor sport climbing. It's super versatile, and can be used with double ropes as well as for rappelling, but if you're not going to be doing that, then your options are more open. I haven't used the Ocun Bow, but it looks to be the same

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

Yeah I was just playing around. Sounds like you have found your queen alright. Congratulations. My wife has seen me at my worst and she still loves me. We’re going on 30 years. Some people search their whole life for that kind of love. Ive been climbing for 40 years. Mostly multi pitch trad and I li

I used a black diamond ATC for about a year, learning to lead climb with it, then switched to a Grigri. I love my Grigri now because it has braking assist, but thankful for learning on an ATC! Black diamond ATC is inexpensive, learning lead belaying was easy with it, and I can now use it for learnin

It works and is safe. Sometimes this is the best option but generally not. I would highly recommend buying a belay device with guide mode (black diamond atc guide is cheap and good) so that you can belay directly of the anchor masterpoint. For almost any hanging and standing belays that is both safe

Crack gloves are a great idea. Ocun and black Diamond are popular. Rockie talkie is the Cadillac of walkies for rock climbing and you need walkies for some multipitch. I actually asked my boyfriend for a rockie talkie for Xmas initially but then changed it to an ember cup because I drink a lot of co

Either get a grigri or an assisted tuber like a mammut smart, edelrid megajul or gigajul, black diamond atc pilot. Get what people around you have is also a good way to solve the decision making problem. If you gym climb, get what the gym allows of course.

Black Diamond ATC Pilot is a really nice assisted tube-style belay device. It only has one slot though, so may not be as useful for multipitch as something like a MegaJul. For a Grigri style device, the Grigri is obviously a good choice, and I really like my Edelrid Pinch.