Ah, DMan, now I get it. Yes, not being a guide, I do not yet own one of these fancier devices. Thinking about it though. On that note, which do you prefer? Reverso 3 or ATC Guide?
I own both and don’t feel the differences are big enough to make either really stand out, especially the newest incarnations. That being said I almost NEVER use them in “guide” mode, more accurately “direct belay off the anchor mode” as I also carry a Trango Cinch which I do 95% of my 2nd belaying with. Main reason is almost friction-less take in of rope as the 2nd climbs. Even better than the Gri Gri in that regard, and can be installed on a loaded rope as an emergency ascender, handy for leader rescue.
Getting back to Reverso/Guide one nice advantage to carrying one over a regular ATC is they have the ability to function as an emergency ascender, and with practice you could switch from belaying a leader to ascended the loaded rope to help a fallen/injured or unconscious leader with just one prussik added to the system.
Leader rescue is an oft neglected skill in recreational climbers, and it is fallacy to assume the guy your belaying is immune to getting hurt someday. I’ve been refreshing my systems mentally since tomorrow I’m teaching a self-rescue course to a client from one of my avalanche courses last winter.
Somewhat getting off topic, but every trad climber should ask themselves this question:
"If my leader pitches off, whacks himself unconscious, can I get to him safely, stabilize him, and bring him back down to the ground from 3 pitches up Cathedral/Whitehorse/Cannon, etc.”
Skills to be mastered are “Escaping the Belay”, “Ascending a loaded rope”, "Lowering/Counterbalance Rappelling”.
If you know, and practice these skills, you can meet the paramedics at the car, or drive your buddy with a broken ankle to the hospital yourself. If you don’t, you may have to sit tight for hours while rescue services scramble to come get you.
You can learn these skills from books. I couldn’t. I needed hands on instruction. To each their own.
Back on topic:
Forgot the red tri-cam!
I find 8 slings with 2 biners gives me plenty of biners since I rack cams on single biners as well.
5 lockers doesn’t weight shit. Leave the #4 cam at home unless needed. I’m abit OCD so when I have time I’m going to inventory my rack and get an ounce count. I’ll share it at some point.