I find rappelling using the thumb release to be a fight between holding the device open and its desire to lock-up, causing the decent to be jerky, jumpy, and requiring muscle (not fun after a long multi-pitch with multiple rappels) When weighted, it is difficult to get the auto-lock to release and requires quite a bit of strength to keep it open. However, in practice, this method is a pain. A brake-assisted rappel can also be released by using the thumb lever. When the carabiner is released, the device locks (Note: larger carabiners will NOT fit in this hole, test one first for fit). When the carabiner is pulled down it acts as a lever "unlocking" the device. The device is in brake assist mode when the yellow thumb lever is pointed away from the body (the same position as when you are belaying). For the assisted-brake rappel to work smoothly, place a small carabiner in the smallest hole closest to you (called the "autoblock release hole" - see photo below). When in "assist" mode, a rappelling back-up knot is not needed. The rappel can be set-up with or without the brake-assist feature. It is easy to load, like any other style of ATC. It is made of solid stainless steel, not aluminum. If you can have an assisted-braking ATC with no downsides, then why use anything else? After having used the Mega Jul for the past year, I recently re-tried a basic tube style belay device and it felt nothing short of dangerous. Not only does it protect against shit-happens events like a rock knocking a belayer unconscious, but also from other grip-compromising scenarios like rope burn, getting knocked over by an out-of-control crag dog, dealing with rope twists, managing one or two ropes on a multi-pitch climb, or loosening your grip a tad to much and contending with a run-away rope (especially if the climber is significantly heavier than the belayer). The assisted-brake capability is a must have safety feature.In fact, I now use it exclusively for both indoor and outdoor climbing. It has become my number one go-to belay device. The Edelrid Mega Jul is an amazing assisted-brake (loosely referred to as "auto-locking") ATC. (In fact I own two, one for the gym harness and one for the outdoors, and my husband owns one.) Edelrid Mega Jul (by Stefani Dawn, 2016 photo credit, 2016)
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