Petzl ASAP

Technical details:

I acquired my Petzl ASAP from Inner Mountain Outfitters at the 2007 NSS Convention.

The ASAP shell is stamped and bent from 3.7 mm. aluminum sheet and then anodized. The left side of the shell is bent into an 18 mm. rope channel, and the upper right side is bent to hold the axle for the wheel assembly. Two 18 mm. holes bear the top provide the main attachment point. A small hole near the base allows attaching a keeper sling. A black plastic piece extends down from the axle to the base of the ASAP, creating a cover for the wheel assembly.

The heart of the ASAP is a toothed wheel that rotates on an arm that pivots from the axle in the shell. The arm is spring-loaded. The wheel sits between two arm pieces. The rear one is stamped from 1.9 mm. stainless steel, and the front one appears to be forged from aluminum. The wheel itself has alternating rows of three down-pointing teeth each. The wheel rotates on an 8 mm. stainless steel axle. The wheel turns freely in both directions, but there is a hidden mechanism that causes it to catch in a fall.

The Petzl ASAP is 136 mm tall, 89 mm wide, and 38 mm thick. Mine weighs 339 g.

The front of the shell is tamped with an up-pointing arrow labeled "UP," a rigging icon, and the a book icon overlapping an "i" in a triangle. The rear of the shell is stamped with the Petzl logo, "MADE IN FRANCE," "PATENTED," "CE0197", "EN 353-2," a rope icon with an arrow pointing to a book icon overlapping an "i" in a triangle, and "06318LAØ251." The front of the plastic cover has the Petzl logo and "ASAP" molded into it. The wheel holder has the Petzl logo in raised relief.

Comments:

One attaches one's safety lanyard to the ASAP using a supplied carabiner clipped into the holes at the top of the ASAP. It is essential that the carabiner captures the rope as well.

The instructions sate that the ASAP is suitable for specific Beal 11 mm. and Edelweiss 13 mm. polyamide ropes. The instructions state that the ASAP will catch in 1 m. The instructions note that the ASAP must be shielded from dirt (no muddy caves, I suppose). They also warn that using a keeper cord may cause the ASAP to fail to catch. There are three warning icons in the instructions: a head with helmet icon, the don't catch arrows or else your fingers will get warm icon, and the keep your girl fiend's hair out of gears icon.

If the wheel locks, raising it on the rope will unlock it. Removing the ASAP from the rope is much like unlocking an eccentric cam ascender: after disconnecting the lanyard, just thumb the wheel downward while lifting the ASAP.

The toothed wheel is a fascinating idea. If the ASAP wasn't so expensive, I would probably buy one to try as an ascender. I would have to modify it by cutting away the plastic cover and drilling a hole in the shell (yes, voiding the warranty). It isn't that I expect great results, I'm just curious about how well the wheel would work as an ascender cam. I suppose I'd have to add a faster-acting clutch as well, or maybe a ratchet. Don't mind me, I'm just thinking...