NewDoar Climbing Stop Descender Rappelling Belay for Ropes 10-12mm The Novices for Rescue & Arborist CE Certification

I was looking for a device to descend from a tree when hunting on a hang-on tree stand or on a saddle. I bought this Stop Descender from NewDoar after buying and returning Mad Rock Lifeguard (red) that has an internal spring built-in the release that would not lock and hold the rope in position. Mad Rock Safeguard (black) would be the best device of choice for my purpose of use but I can not find a Mad Rock Safeguard anywhere online or offline. I also bought a Beal Birdie and the latest model of GriGri. Neither one of those worked either. On a low load, the Beal Birdie and the GriGri would fall on the rope. The NewDoar Stop Descender has no spring built-in the release handle. It stays on the rope even with no load on the rope. When descending, while pressed (touched, jabbed action) lightly of the release, I can descend at a controllable pace. It works just like the Mad Rock Safeguard. As a safety measure, I added a short prusik loop tied on the slag side of the rope onto a carabiner attached to my right side hook of the saddle or climbing harness. So when descending, if inadvertently pressed too hard on the release, the rope stopped by the prusik and the fall is arrested even before the Stop Descender engaged. The size of this device is a little bit big. But the function is perfect for what I need.

This item is being used for hunting so 15' up, no shock and it's simply holding me in place and allowing for a quick rappel. There is no way I would use this item to do any real climbing. As an arborist or a Rock Climber, I would not put this into any serious use. The material feels cheap, and the finish is rough. However for the role I have it in it is adequate.I attempted it on some blue water 7 and 8 mil rope and it did not work. Used a sterling 9mm and it was fine. Stepped up to a blue water 11.5 and had a very very hard time with that. Ill be sticking to the 9mm anyways but I was hoping to get away with a 7.

I wanted something that I could attach to a rope, let go and just hang there as I removed my ascend devices . I also wanted a very controlled descent. This is perfect. I ran the rope using the diagram on the device, closed the cover plate and it automatically locked the rope. The descend handle is depressed slightly and a slow descend is made. Squeeze too hard ( as if in an emergency) and the device grabs the rope for a full stop. A bit large but very easy to use and it matches my eyes.

GET IF YOUR GOING TO CLIMB

Quality descenders usually have easy speed control. This one will drop you like a rock if you squeeze the handle a little too much, then give you whiplash with the jerk-stop when you let go. It's very difficult to control descent with this design. I suppose it would probably work OK used in conjunction with a belay device, but that's not how it's described. It's also difficult to ascend without removing from the rope.I returned this and instead use a mechanical ascender from Goodypai, which works better in both ascent and descent.

This thing is very particular about what size and kind of rope you use, it works best with static rope. Be aware if you use dynamic rope it will not hold very well. I don't think you have a very controllable descent IMHO

If your like me and don't always have a partner available to belay you, you will love the Doar Descender.It allows for self rappelling and self climbing with lots of safety. A few weeks ago I was rappelling a slippery waterfall with a figure eight, in a moment of slipping I inadvertently lost the tail rope and took a pretty quick drop into a pool of water which broke my fall....well let me tell you it all happened so fast, if the pool of water wasn't there, I wouldn't be here to tell you this story. If you are using the doar, as soon as you let go of the tail line and you start a drop, the cams kick in and it locks on to the rope, stopping the fall almost instantly. The product is lightweight and easy to use, it can protect you from an accidental fall or a momentary loss of concentration that in climbing could kill you in a heartbeat! We all make mistakes, but in climbing a mistake can be deadly. I recommend the Doar stop descender for people who want that extra barrier of safety.

High quality item.