Climb Right Rope Grab

The Climb Right rope grab is a cam-style device for gripping rope on a lanyard or a secondary positioning line. Slide it to adjust, load it and it holds, so you can set your distance from the stem with one hand.

How climbers use it

Most climbers use a rope grab like this on a rope lanyard, so they can shorten up to lean back on a spar or let out length to reach around a big stem. Gripping rope with a cam is faster than retying a hitch and easier with gloves on.

It also works for holding a light load on a short line or tensioning a tag line on the ground.

On spur work and removals, being able to snug up your position quickly matters. A cam grab lets you take up slack as the stem narrows without stopping to retie anything, which keeps the job moving and your hands on the work.

Fit and safety

Match the device to the rope diameter it is marked for. A cam on rope that is too thin can slip, and on rope that is too fat it may not close properly. Life-support gear has to meet the applicable standard and the manufacturer's instructions, get inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.

If you want a device that is built into a complete lanyard, compare it with the Petzl Zillon.

Before each climb, check the cam teeth for wear and packed debris, make sure the spring returns the cam crisply, and look for cracks or deformation on the body and the attachment hole. Test it on the ground with full weight before going up, and retire it if it ever slips under load.