Pinch

Pinch, from the brand Edelrid, is a new versatile belay device with assisted braking for sport climbing, big wall climbing, and rope access. 

The Pinch is the first device on the market that can be connected directly to the central ring of the harness. 

Thanks to its low positioning close to the body, it is not necessary to lock off the Pinch to give slack, which allows the brake hand to maintain a constant four-finger grip on the rope. 

Furthermore, the compact belay system offers a greater range of motion, allowing the belayer to give 20 to 30 cm of additional slack in a single motion. 

The linear progression of the rope through the front steel braking grooves prevents the rope from twisting during lowering or abseiling. 

In addition to operating the lowering lever, it is possible to control the speed by applying pressure with the brake hand, which contributes to better brake-side rope control, particularly with thin and supple ropes. 

The anti-panic function provides an added safety benefit, not only for beginners. 

The integrated second braking level, which is triggered by pulling further on the lowering lever, is a specific feature enabling controlled lowering when belaying particularly lightweight climbers or in systems with significant rope friction. 

Experienced users can permanently deactivate the anti-panic function using a screw supplied with the device. 

Another advantage: when used on big wall routes, the Pinch is the only device on the market that can be connected to the anchor in four different directions, in 90° increments. This ensures that the lowering lever can always be positioned to allow free and unobstructed operation.

• Belay device with assisted locking for versatile use in sport climbing, multi-pitch and rope access techniques
• Close-to-body positioning thanks to direct connection to the harness, increasing control of the braking side of the rope and facilitating use
• No risk of cross-loading on the safety carabiner when directly connected to the harness
• Disableable anti-panic function for added safety: the device locks automatically if the descend handle is pulled too far back
• Second level of braking if the anti-panic function is triggered too often due to insufficient load and/or excessive rope friction
• Front steel braking grooves allowing linear rope progression, thus limiting rope twisting, increasing its longevity and avoiding unsightly discoloration caused by rope friction on aluminum
• Connection to the anchor in four different directions in 90° increments
• Equally suitable for right-handed and left-handed users
• Suitable for static ropes with a diameter of 10.0 to 10.5 mm (maximum user weight: 120 kg)
• Suitable for dynamic ropes with a diameter of 8.5 to 10.5 mm