Gear review- Black Diamond Gridlock

Every once in a while, a new product innovation is released that is so beautiful in its simplicity, and so obvious, that it makes you thump your noggin and say "why didn't I think of that ?"  The new Black Diamond Gridlock is just such a product.

                                                                    

How many times have you looked down at your belay biner while it defiantly cross-loads the rope through the minor axis, leaving your beloved leader on the line with only 1/3 the breaking strength of the biner? Think of how redundant every other system is in climbing- you tripple up your anchors, you tie keeper knots in your ropes, you never rely on just one piece of protection...right? Future generations of climbers will look back and chide us for our stupidity in allowing a 8kn cross-loaded single belay carabiner potentially be the only thing between us and eternity...

The Black Diamond Gridlock is simple, clean and effective. It is impossible to cross-load, because the keeper end in your harness loop acts as a fulcrum, physically preventing the biner to do anything but line up directly on its major axis in all scenarios. When the gate is closed , the keeper is closed. When the gate is open, the keeper opens to set the biner into your belay loop. Done. A few days in the field with this unit has shown no inconveniences, extra thought or nuisance- there is simply no reason not to replace your current belay biner with this significantly safer tool. GET ONE!