SBG |
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SBG II, Version A |
SBG II, Version B |
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I acquired my Omega Pacific SBG from Omega Pacific in 2001.
The Omega Pacific SBG is a notched belay tube. It is forged from aluminum alloy and then hard anodized. Mine is 50 mm. long, 44 mm. wide, 63 mm. high, and weighs 56 g. The slots are 39 mm. long and 18 mm. wide. The top of the Omega oval carabiner that I use for comparing belay tubes sits 6 mm. below the ends of the slots.
One side of my SBG is screened with the Omega Pacific logo and "AA." The other side is screened with a climber hanging from an overhang labeled "GET INSTRUCTION," and "CLIMB SAFELY."
The
Omega Pacific SBG has some unique features to distinguish it from
the normal ATC-type tube belayer.
The big difference is the shank, which keeps the carabiner from
riding up against the bottom of the tube. This tends to decrease
the friction, as do the long slots (39 mm). The SBG compensates
for this by including V-grooves similar to those on the Trango
Jaws, the Salewa Tubus, the
Singing Rock, or the Simond
Cubik. On the other end there are shallower U-grooves that
can be used in the same way, but providing less friction. Neither
of these options provide the higher friction that I prefer, but
the SBG is also designed so that the rope can be wrapped around
the shank, at least when belaying with a single rope.
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I acquired my Omega Pacific SBG II, Version A from Mountain Tools in 2002.
The Omega Pacific SBG II, Version A is a notched belay tube. It is forged from aluminum alloy. Mine is 53 mm. long, 46 mm. wide, 82 mm. high, and weighs 78 g. The slots are 39 mm. long and 17 mm. wide. The top of the Omega oval carabiner that I use for comparing belay tubes sits 8 mm. below the ends of the slots.
One side of my SBG II, Version A is etched with the Omega Pacific logo and "AB." The other side is etched with "SBG" over top of "II."
The SBG II is a long-shank version of the SBG, The slot dimensions are essentially the same as on the SBG. The longer shank provides slightly less friction, although I don't notice a large difference; in fact, I'd prefer more friction, especially when rappelling on a haul line.
[ Top | SBG | SBG II, Ver. A | Return to Tube Belayers ]
I acquired my Omega Pacific SBG II, Version B from Omega Pacific in 2007.
The Omega Pacific SBG II, Version B is a notched belay tube. It is forged from aluminum alloy and polished. Mine is 53 mm. long, 46 mm. wide, 82 mm. high, and weighs 78 g. The slots are 39 mm. long and 18 mm. wide. The top of the Omega oval carabiner that I use for comparing belay tubes sits 5 mm. below the ends of the slots.
One side of my SBG II, Version B has a raised, forged Omega Pacific logo and is etched with"AB." The other side has a raised, forged "SBG" over top of "II."
Version B is functionally identical to Version A, but I like the the raised logo and letters for purely aesthetic reasons.
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©2008, Gary D. Storrick