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The Snap Cyclops is a hybrid design milled from aluminum alloy.. In many ways it is like a Sticht Plate Belayers, but its depth gives it some of the features of a Tube Belayer. One end of the Cyclops is deeper than the other (much like the Variable Controller), and the instructions indicate that load end of the rope should leave the device on this side. The slot is 31.8 mm long. The underside of the Cyclops is relieved to reduce the effective depth at the carabiner. This not only limits the friction somewhat, but also tends to help keep the carabiner centered under the slot. The cable keeper helps prevent dropping the device while at a hanging belay.
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The Snap
Alien is the double-rope Version of the Cyclops. When I first
heard of this device, I wondered why they chose the name "alien",
which was already in use for CCH SLCDs. One look at the top of
the device explains the name.
Like the Cyclops, the extra depth compared to a Sticht
Plate Belayers has some benefit for heat dissipation. Like
almost all small belay devices, overheating is usually not a problem
when catching a fall, but one should pay attention when lowering
or rappelling.
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©2007, Gary D. Storrick