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Question about belaying with double ropes 23-Feb-2013 At 11:38:12 PM Mr Poopypants

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8mm ropes. I used them for stuff in Nepal and NZ but they doubled on rock here when we needed doubles. We were always really careful with them, so no real problems handling the rapping speed etc, but did have to watch it a bit. I wouldn't let beginners or kids use them. I often found myself wrapping the rope around my back or sticking a biner in my leg loop with them. On freehanging raps found myself wrapping a twisted knot around the biner on the leg loop, too. Could be quite hard to stop once you got going. (This was with the old tube style ATC, sticht plates wouldn't be great, either.)
I always get the kids I teach to buy ATC XPs or something similar (with the notches) for belaying. The notches seem to grab a bit better and they don't get their hands dragged into them like the original ATCs. Even teenagers seem to have trouble coordinating holding the rope, locking it off etc. without getting their hands pulled up into the device.

The 8mms really were skinny and stretchy. Ended up giving them to Pam's dad to use for teaching splicing and got some double 9s for rock, but I'd use at least 10s with kids.

Gotta be happy when you start talking about needing doubles with your kids!

Cheers

G.