Petzl Basic Ascender

My rating is more for the store. This place sold me a Petzl basic for 55 USD INCLUDING SHIPPING!! Usually these things are 85 bucks here in the US. The shipping was super fast. This came from Finland faster than plenty of items I’ve ordered that are shipped from the states. So this store is awesome. Will look to them going forward for more gear.

Completely adequate

I haven’t used it yet but it looks like it works. It is exactly as advertised. I wonder why it is so difficult for Petzl to provide logical instructions for how to use their products….

Excellent hand blocker

Great compact, lightweight, resistant and functional hand blocker as there is a hole that supports two carabiners at the same time. I just missed an easier opening system just like the Petzl Ascension system.

Great little tool for the box

This ascender is just as its name suggests "basic" no thrills, but always gets the job done. I use this in my SRT setup for longer ascents in a rope-walker system as a knee ascender w/ the RW. Custom footstrap and short bungee, and your off and climbing. Its never failed to grab or chewed up my ascent line. Easy to remove in the canopy to store, or if your stopping mid ascent to make a cut leave it on the line. I've even used it in a pinch as a progress capture for a haul system. The one I use is over two years old, the lock spring, cam, and teeth are still in great shape and it does see its fair share of abuse. When it breaks or is retired, I will buy another.

Petzl Basic Ascender

Bought Petzl Basic as back up to micro Traxion when solo top roping. Works smoothly and will be nice to have a mechanical ascender if one is ever needed. Realized I need largest diameter carabiner for top point to hold rope in place. While climbing it can be cross loaded or rope can slip out of slot and not feed smoothly. I wear this attached to a chest sling to keep it positioned correctly.

Petzl Basic Ascender

Climbing a 15 metre mast on your own was near impossible until I brought a Petzl Basic ascender and a Petzl Grigri 2 belay device. Now I have been up and down those 15 meters 7 times. Not bad for a 68 year old who is defiantly no spring chicken.

Simplicity that works

Grabs the rope every time, easy to down climb with. Compact, with large enough holes for all your needs. I'd pick this over a hand ascender almost any day.

This little guy packs a punch!

I bought the basic instead of the usual ascension to put in my harness as I was looking to downsize my whole kit. My main concern was the missing handle but the new design of the basic makes it very comfortable to grip and I haven't missed the handle one bit.I've done a lot of climbing with it and don't regret getting it at all.

Used for toprope soloing

Works well for what its designed for. I use it as a backup for top rope soloing and it has served me well. It slides along the rope very well and does not require tending which is key.

top rope solo must have

I use this in conjunction with a grigri for top rope soloing and haven't looked at any other device. the top hole is great for clipping into a chest harness for smooth tracking.