Pivot

Dragons are amazing, more nuts but you’ve already got them coming. 100% need the guide version of the belay plate, I’ve got a dmm pivot and it’s just amazing, especially for your half rope setups when the time comes. If you ever try some “escaping the system” drills you’ll find out why it’s so much

If you ever plan on climbing trad, then yes. We use half ropes by default, so the only options you really have for assisted braking in that case is the mega/giga jul. I haven't personally used the giga jul, but I do know a couple of people who love it. A double rope device also allows for abseiling

I have the DMM Pivot and Edlrid Pinch as my one, two combo. I don’t do any climbing on double ropes and am not a huge fan of belaying from above on an ATC. I would sooner belay a follower off a Munter than use a guid mode device if I was at all concerned about lowering the second and don’t have a Gr

My son has been using this with 8.5mm triples for a year or so. He finds it super easy and likes the surety. We still both carry a DMM pivot for belaying off the anchor in guide mode and abseiling.

Protection: 16 Walnuts sized 1-10 (some overlap) 4x Torque nuts (size 1-4) 4x cams (sized 1-4) Instead of the torque nuts, get either DMM alloy offsets 7-11 (or 7-9...10/11 don't really leave my harness in my experience). I don't know a ton about slate, but in limestone you will probably need smalle