Best Rappel Device For Canyoneering (With Five Examples!)

The activity of canyoneering is incredibly fun and a great way of getting in some rappelling. Nevertheless we thought that you all might have a problem in finding a Rappel device for canyoneering and we also know that you have some tiny winy expectation from us as well. So we we are not going to break your expectations and so we have decided that in this article we will be discussing about some famous rappel device which you will require while Canyoneering.

So after doing some research, we have got some few names which are quite familiar in the rappelling world, so without wasting much time let’s get started, the names are as follows:

• SQWUREL 2
• Canyonwerks CRITR 2
• Petzl PIRANA
• Sterling ATS Belay/Rappel Device
• Figure 8/ATC

The above-mentioned five candidates are capable of getting you down any rappel that you need. However, it comes down to personal preference when it comes to determining how they should be compared, since they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

What is Canyoneering?

Before talking about the rappel devices let’s learn about the activity in a brief!

Traveling down a canyon using a variety of techniques, including scrambling, walking, swimming, and rappelling, is known as canyoneering. You can do simple, two-hour excursions in which you only swim up to your knees to full-day expeditions requiring several technical sections and a lot of specialized gear.

A canyon hike usually begins at the top, or wherever there is a convenient access point. Once you are at the bottom of the canyon, you follow the natural current by jumping into pools and rappelling down cliffs against the current. It’s a true jack-of-all-trades type sport; its rapids can be tricky, which requires strong swimming abilities, and you’ll also need strong climbing skills to complete more technical sections.

There are a lot of technically challenging rappels you’ll find during canyoneering expeditions. You name it, and you’ll need to use it on your canyoneering trip. Waterfall rappels, overhanging rappels, tandem rappels, rappelling with a gear bag- there’s a canyoneering trip for you. For this reason, having the right gear is essential.

Rappel Devices For Canyoneering

Canyoneering involves numerous rappels, so it makes sense to invest in a solid device to increase your control over the rope. It is a must to choose the correct one to ensure your safety.

Typical rappel devices, such as an ATC or Figure 8, will also work completely fine. Although these belay devices are capable of handling canyoneering’s complexities, they cannot handle all of them as well as more specialized gear.

Specialized devices have the advantage of allowing you to adjust the amount of friction mid-rappel. Canyoneering uses this a lot, since you often have to perform technical, demanding rappels under varying conditions. Need to make your device slip over some overhanging lips? Add friction to it. You can do that with the Piranha, ATS, CRITR 2, and SQWUREL. Are you wanting to loosen up the rope once you are hanging freely so that you can reach the bottom of the rope faster? The devices you mentioned are able to handle that as well.

  Additionally, there is the issue of rappelling with a wet rope. It can be a lot harder to control the rappel when your gear is wet, especially after a long day of climbing. Life is so much easier when you have a device that adds friction.  

In this light, let’s look at the more specialized gear that will enhance your canyoneering experience.

The SQWUREL 2

Verdict:

  Over 60 prototypes were built for this funky little device, which is named after its distinctive head and tail design. The SQWUREL 2’s cleverly designed ‘tail’ at the end of the rope gives you the option of on-again, off-again adjusting friction levels. This allows you to slip the rope over it to add stopping power during belaying.  

  Specifically built for canyoneering, the SQWUREL definitely stands out. Because it doesn’t just do what other devices do, but it does them even better The feature set required to do so is also smaller. Other devices on this list lack the power to compete with it in terms of rope control. The product is designed with streamlined features, extra material at friction points, and cleverly designed features. In fact, this device is likely to last you more than 200 rappels if used properly – and that in itself makes it worth the money.

However, there are still some shortcomings to the device. The main problem with the SQWUREL’s asymmetrical design was that people with left-handed dominant hands found it difficult to use. However, there are still some shortcomings to the device. The main problem with the SQWUREL’s asymmetrical design was that people with left-handed dominant hands found it difficult to use.

When the quality of your device begins to decline, you should definitely consider buying a new one. When used properly, the SQWUREL 2 offers every feature a canyoneering rappel device could possibly need, and that is what makes it worthy of the #1 spot.

The Canyonwerks CRITR 2

Verdict:

  Choosing this device over the SQWUREL was a no-win or no-lose scenario. Canyoneering-specific features such as multiple friction levels, sturdy designs, and many features are included in every device. In the end, the SQWUREL edged out the #1 spot due to the smoothness of its descent. Nevertheless, the CRITR 2 is still an impressive device to get you down even the most challenging abseils.  

  You can tell just by looking at it that the device is built to deal with technical terrain. There’s just something about its design that I find sturdy. Despite its wide, flat body and protruding legs making it slightly less maneuverable than the SQWUREL, they also add a layer of durability to the device. The CRITR is also reversible, so it can be worn in sand for longer periods of time. You can’t go wrong with the CRITR if you want an alternative to the SQWUREL that is more simple and stable than the SQWUREL.  

The Petzl PIRANA

Verdict:

A surprisingly affordable rappelling device designed specifically for canyoneering, the Petzl PIRANA is a good choice for those looking for a device that offers some pretty decent features. Despite not having all of the features the above two devices have, it still has a lot going for it, and for most canyoneers, it’ll work just fine.

PIRANA has the advantage of allowing you to set up your rappel without ever having to remove the device from your harness. Therefore, there’s a reduced chance of dropping it after five hours of canyoneering with wet fingers. Furthermore, the PIRANA allows you to set three different friction levels before a rappel, and another two levels after the rope is weighted.

You may not get the same degree of customization with six varying friction levels as with the SQWUREL or CRITR, but it’s also nothing to scoff at. In addition, the wide, flat design of the PIRANA reduces rope twist. Although it’s not as technically advanced as other devices, the Camelbak is designed to bring safety to rappelling, which makes it a worthy addition to the list.

The Sterling ATS

With the Sterling ATS, you get an all-around device that combines the tube design of a traditional rappel/belay device with the features of a CRITR or other canyoneering device. Despite its ability to take you from the canyons of Utah to the alpine meadows of Colorado, the ATS lacks some of the functionality that is found in more specialized devices.

It is possible to belay and rappel with the ATS, and it is perfectly capable of doing both – but it isn’t particularly good at either one of them. The belay device is too big and bulky to justify bringing it on fast-and-light alpine expeditions. It does not offer the same level of control and specialization that the CRITR and SQWUREL do. The 4 horns work well, and you can adjust friction pre-rappel with the concave/convex nature, but we found that the ATS wasn’t quite as controlled as the other 3 when it came to more technical rappels.

In spite of that, it’s a fantastic device, and it works perfectly for most people going into canyons. As a climbing fan, you can take advantage of the ATS to spend some time at the crag without having to buy another device. Furthermore, it offers easy-to-perform two rope rappels, which is always a plus in our book. Despite its advantages, however, it doesn’t quite outweigh its disadvantages.

The Black Diamond ATC and Figure 8

The readers of our blog know that we recommend the Black Diamond ATC. We consider it to be the best rappel device on the market: small, easy to use, practical, rugged. Even though we love it a lot, we concede that, as canyoneering devices, it’s not the best on the market.

To begin with, it does not allow you to adjust your friction in the middle of a rappel. As a matter of fact, you cannot adjust your friction at all. There is no way to accomplish canyoneering using a carabiner-prussik setup, as it takes up too much time. ATCs (and the classic figure 8) do not offer as many features as the devices above.

For the most part, these two devices should work fine for most people going canyoneering; especially if they’re doing something not too technical. There is almost always an ATC or Figure 8 hanging in the gear shed of almost every climber we know. It will serve you just fine if you want to head out to the canyons for a day and do not want to invest in a new device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):