The new EDELRID PINCH belay device wins the ISPO Award 2024 as an innovative new product at OutDoor by ISPO 2024. As the first device with direct harness attachment, the PINCH impressed the jury with its position close to the body, offering significant advantages in usability, brake rope control, and safety.
The expert jury of the ISPO Award 2024 selected the EDELRID PINCH for its innovative direct harness attachment. It is the first device on the market that can be attached directly to the central ring of the climbing harness without a carabiner. This placement positions it closer and lower to the attachment point, creating a more compact belay system. When paying out rope, the PINCH does not need to be fixed, allowing the brake rope to be securely held with all four fingers. Additionally, this design eliminates the risk of cross-loading the carabiner and increases the span, enabling more rope to be paid out quickly and efficiently. The PINCH features additional steel brake grooves that ensure a linear rope run and improved control for thin and soft ropes when lowering and abseiling. Its anti-panic function, which can be switched off, along with easy handling and versatile application options for sport and multi-pitch climbing as well as route setting, were also praised by the jury. “We are delighted that the PINCH and our approach to improving a mechanical belay device was appreciated by the expert judges and recognized with the ISPO Award,” said Orlando Zaddach, Head of Marketing at EDELRID. The detailed jury statement can be found here.
The PINCH is already available from retailers.