belay kit

i agree in principle but with a few caveats. in recent years the grigri has become sort of the defacto standard in a lot of places, and you may find that potential partners are more comfortable being belayed on grigri, especially by a newer belayer. many gyms require it. on a personal note i wouldnt

Functionality is the same as the Mammut, BD, and Edelrid options. But the "pistol grip" style devices (Mammut, BD, and this WC one) are all over-engineered. The Edelrid Jul family is cheaper, WAY lighter, and works fine. What you get with these over-engineered designs is a "smoother feel" which help