#Black diamond positron quickdraw upgrade
#Black diamond positron quickdraw free

But if not, upgrade to the Positron or Hoodwire. In short, buy the Freewire Quickdraw if you’re a starving student. I do like that the Freewire has a straightjacket to hold the rope biner in place for easy clipping though. And finally, the Dogbone is durable but it also feels slick, like it’s going to slip out of your hand at any moment – perhaps that will lessen with time. Definitely a pain when project hard sport routes. Secondly, because of the “tooth” on each biner, they tend to get snagged on the rope and the bolt hanger when trying to unclip. For one thing this is not the lightest quickdraw on the market despite the wire-gates. However, the Freewire does have some drawbacks. These are a great entry-level piece of equipment that will hold up well in any environment. That’s why you’ll see a bunch of newbies at the crag sporting shiny Freewire Quickdraws on their equally shiny harnesses. This is one of the cheapest quickdraws on the market and Black Diamond bundles them so you can get a six pack at the cost of about $12 per unit. There’s one main reason why people would want Black Diamond’s Freewire Quickdraw: price.

Therefore, I would recommend the Super Chute for crag climbers who don’t have to worry about long approaches to their favourite spots. However, the dimensions of the bag are larger than some others and, due to its size, it’s hard to toss a rope in it and then throw it all into another backpack for those long approaches. Other features I like about the bag include the colour-coded internal tie-ins and the comfortable shoulder strap. The secret is the funnel design of the tarp that ensures, most of the time, your rope is properly stacked.

#Black diamond positron quickdraw free

The good news is the Super Chute rope bag is easy-to-use when loading and unloading and it does a good job of keeping your rope free from tangles. Packability is a bit trickier though – gauging how easy a rope can be put in and, more importantly, taken out of a rope bag requires testing. As far as I’m concerned it’s pointless buying a rope bag that doesn’t have an embedded tarp – you might as well just toss the rope into your backpack with the rest of your gear. I’ve owned a dozen rope bags over the course of my 25-year rock climbing career and I’ve come to learn there are two main factors to consider when purchasing one: tarp size and packability. Still, it’s one of the best ones on the market. The only thing missing from this harness are loops for ice screw holders and for that reason I’d classify the Solution as a three-season harness. Likewise the removable elastic riser in the back is a feature I’ve come to expect from all harnesses, although the one on the Solution can be tricky to use as you have to line up the hook with a tiny fabric opening. I’m used to the style of gear loops on the Solution as they’re on other harnesses I’ve owned and are excellent for their ease of use and strength. I was at a hanging belay for 45 minutes bringing up my seconder and the entire time I barely noticed I was wearing the solution, let alone felt uncomfortable in it. The leg loops have a similar construction and, because they’re elasticized, they conform to your body no matter how many layers you’re wearing. The waist belt is constructed of cushioned, breathable padding with three separate strands of webbing inside that contour around my hip bones perfectly.

The Solution is the first thin harness I’ve ever worn that’s actually comfortable. So when I first saw the Black Diamond Solution, I didn’t think it was going to work for me – but I was wrong. That typically means I need adjustable leg loops for when I’m wearing three layers in the cold and a few other features not common to ultra-light, non-adjustable projecting harnesses. Whether I’m at the sport crag, dangling from a cliff cleaning new lines or wandering up long alpine routes, I only want one harness in my quiver. I’ve mentioned in other reviews that I’m a one harness kind of climber.