The Beginner’s Guide to Abseiling Descenders

Whether you want to have an adventure exploring the hidden gems of nature or just wish to spice up your weekend with a fun and daring activity, abseiling is exactly what you are looking for. It is an amazing adventure sport that is not just fun but also very beneficial for both your physical and mental health. Abseiling is a great form of exercise that can help you stay in shape and strengthen your body. Besides this, it is also the perfect way to stay in touch with nature, boost your confidence and challenge the inner explorer in you. The sport itself involves various techniques and methods which are not difficult to master. Once you learn how to do them, you will be able to quickly develop your abseiling skills.

Choosing the right equipment is the most important thing to consider before you venture out and begin your exciting adventure. From picking a hight-quality rope, to finding the perfect outfit – you really need to get yourself prepared. However, the most important piece of equipment are certainly abseiling descenders. Every beginner needs these essential tools as they are designed to apply friction and are basically a brake for the climbing rope. Abseiling descenders are specifically manufactured to help you control and manoeuvre the rope with ease and are essential for a safe climbing. They have a simple design, they are lightweight and very beneficial for your journey. There is a wide range of models available, from one piece descenders with a simple design, to advanced mechanical models with self-locking features.

Figure Eight Descenders

As their name suggests, the figure eight models have the shape of the number 8, incorporating one smaller and one larger hole. They have a compact design which allows for smooth and efficient abseiling. Models with square shape are a great choice since they considerably reduce rope twisting and make doing different tricks both easy and safe.

Tubular Descenders

Tubular descenders are available with either one or two holes. They are suitable for different sizes of climbing ropes and depending on the model, you can use them with either a double or a single rope. Plus, these descenders are lightweight and are very simple to use.

Assisted Braking Descenders

The descenders which incorporate an assisted braking mechanism provide extra protection and are perfect for beginners. They are heavier than tubular models and are designed to prevent falls with just a small intervention from the climber.

Auto-Blocking Descenders

Auto-blocking descenders have advanced features and are very convenient and easy to use. They include an additional hole through which the device is clipped directly with a locking carabiner into the anchor. Some models incorporate many moving parts, while others come with a simple construction.