Belay Devices

Rappelling down cliffs or deep caves can be thrilling, but it’s also dangerous if you don’t use the right gear. One tool that makes a big difference in safety and control is the rappel rack. If you’re new to caving, canyoneering, or rescue work, you might have seen these metal frames and wondered what makes…

Quick note: A rescue eight is a figure-8 descender — a metal friction device for rappelling and lowering. It is not a rescue stretcher or litter. The rescue eight (also called a “big eight” or “bent-ear eight”) is a heavy-duty version of the classic figure-8 descender: a simple, immensely strong metal friction device shaped like…