When there’s a big weight gap between a lead climber and a belayer, things can go sideways fast. In a fall, a lighter belayer may get yanked off the ground and slammed into the wall. Being pulled upward also adds extra slack to the system, which increases the climber’s fall distance. If the climber is close to the deck, the two may collide—or worse, the climber could hit the ground.
There’s another hazard too: an assisted-braking device can get pushed against the first piece of protection during a fall. If that contact prevents the device from engaging, the result can again be a ground fall.
The Edelrid OHM braking-resistor device helps manage these risks by compensating for weight differences while still delivering a smooth, controlled catch.