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Wild Country Revo Review

An innovative device with significant safety features that don’t impede usage or require learning new belay techniques
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Wild Country Revo Review (When the emergency backup locks the rope, the silver lever on the top clicks upward, and the wire seen below it also...)
When the emergency backup locks the rope, the silver lever on the top clicks upward, and the wire seen below it also clicks into place to trap the rope. This catch can be seen on both sides of the device, so that it can be loaded either way and still function the same. To release, on simply pulls down on the brake strand of the rope, clicking the silver latches back in their normal position.
Price:  $145 List
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Manufacturer:   Wild Country
By Andy Wellman ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 5, 2024
68
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 17
  • Catch and Bite - 30% 7.0
  • Lowering and Rappelling - 30% 8.0
  • Feeding Slack - 20% 9.0
  • Weight and Bulk - 10% 4.0
  • Auto Block - 10% 1.0

Our Verdict

The Wild Country Revo is a complicated looking belay device that actually performs very simply in the hands of the belayer. While many assisted braking devices work to help you catch a fall and lock off the brake strand, the Revo works differently, with an emergency backup that locks up the device should the belay fail. This emergency backup requires no complicated or different belay techniques, but adds a significant amount of security to the belaying process, and works so well that we feel it is more than worthy of a Top Pick Award. The Revo works great in the hands of experienced climbers and beginners alike, and is a fantastic choice for single pitch climbing outside or in the gym, for those who don't mind paying a little extra for added security. See how it measures up versus competitors in our article on the best belay devices.
REASONS TO BUY
Emergency backup to belay
Cannot load backwards
Feeds slack super smooth
Same belay technique as tubes
REASONS TO AVOID
Large and heavy
Expensive
Not the best when working routes
Only good for single pitch

Compare to Similar Products

 
wild country revo
This Product
Wild Country Revo
Awards Top Pick Award
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall for Experienced Climbers
Editors' Choice Award
Best for New Climbers
Top Pick Award
Most Versatile
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $144.95 at REI
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line This device offers a super smooth belay and a great safety lock up mechanismBy far the most popular belay device in the world is also one of the very bestA versatile assisted-braking device with well-designed safety featuresA unique combination of many different belay modes in one deviceSimple, durable, and optimal value for multi pitch climbs
Rating Categories Wild Country Revo Petzl GriGri Petzl GriGri+ Edelrid Giga Jul Black Diamond ATC G...
Catch and Bite (30%)
7.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
5.0
Lowering and Rappelling (30%)
8.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Feeding Slack (20%)
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
9.0
Weight and Bulk (10%)
4.0
5.0
4.0
7.0
8.0
Auto Block (10%)
1
9.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
Specs Wild Country Revo Petzl GriGri Petzl GriGri+ Edelrid Giga Jul Black Diamond ATC G...
Style Tube-style with locking backup Active assisted braking Active assisted braking Passive assisted braking Auto-block tube
Recommended Rope Diameter (Single) 8.5 mm - 11 mm 8.5 mm - 11 mm (optimized for 8.9 mm - 10.5 mm) 8.5 mm - 11 mm (optimized for 8.9 mm - 10.5 mm) Assisted: N/A
Manual: 8.6 mm - 9.1 mm
8.9 mm - 11 mm
Recommended Rope Diameter (Half) N/A N/A N/A Assisted: 7.9 mm - 9.2 mm
Manual: 8.6 mm - 9 mm
8.1 mm - 11 mm
Recommended Rope Diameter (Twin) N/A N/A N/A Assisted: 7.1 mm - 8.9 mm
Manual: 7.1 mm - 9.2 mm
8.1 mm - 11 mm
Weight (oz) 10.1 oz 6.3 oz 7.1 oz 4.3 oz 3.2 oz
Double Rope Rappel? No No No Yes Yes
Belay Off Anchor? No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Assisted Braking? Yes, active Yes, active Yes, active Yes, passive No

Our Analysis and Test Results

There are a few significant differences between the Wild Country Revo and the whole host of other assisted belay devices available on the market. The first is that the Revo uses the same belay technique as you would use with a regular, or tube-style device, at all times, and one never needs to adopt a different technique to feed out slack quicker. The emergency backup only locks up the Revo if the rope slips through the device faster than 4m/s, meaning that if you belay correctly, the Revo will not lock up at all, and will instead perform exactly like the most buttery smooth tube you have ever used. There is no handle for releasing the tension on the Revo or for lowering, and the method for unlocking the Revo is by pulling down gently on the brake strand of the rope. One lowers exactly as with a tube. The Revo also cannot be accidentally loaded backwards, as it works the same with the rope loaded in either direction.

While the central wheel feature inside the Revo causes it to look unlike any other belay device on the market, the reality is that its performance is among the very simplest to master. You would teach a new climber to use the Revo exactly the same as you would teach them to use a standard tube-style device. We tested the emergency backup feature repeatedly by taking lead falls while the belayer had their hand far down the brake rope to provide a backup but essentially allowing a slack belay line. The Revo instantly locked up every time. We also tested it by “pretending” to drop a lowering climber by once again moving our brake hand far down the rope and then letting go. The Revo once again locked immediately every time. To our knowledge, the Revo is the first belay device that encourages perfect belay technique but provides a trustworthy backup every time. It is usable with a wide range of single ropes, from 8.5mm — 11mm.

Know How To Use Your Device
The info we provide in this review is meant to help you make a purchasing decision, not as instruction in the use of the Revo.

Performance Comparison


wild country revo - the revo is a bizarre looking device that performs very simply. the...
The Revo is a bizarre looking device that performs very simply. The belayer uses it the same way that one would use a standard tube style device, and in this manner it pays out slack smoother than any other. Its centrifugal internal wheel works to lock up the device if the rope speed ever exceeds 4m/s, providing a very effective emergency backup.

Catch and Bite


Catching a falling climber with the Revo is much the same as with a standard device, one must lock off the brake strand in a downward direction. Because of the wheel on the inside, there is less friction than many tube-style devices, so a firm grip is necessary. Holding a climber who is hanging can also require effort, as the device does not lock up like an assisted braking device to hold a climber with minimal effort. Wild Country recommends holding the brake strand down low with one hand while gripping the Revo and the brake strand together with the second hand to hold the rope more easily for a longer period. This is simple enough, but still not as easy as the relaxed manner that holding a climber with an assisted device provides.


Of course, if the rope should slip through the belayers hands, the automatic backup will lock up the device. This mechanism bites the rope aggressively and holds it with no slippage. Releasing this catch is also very simple, one tugs the brake rope downward, over the metal catch, relatively gently, and the brake releases, and you are automatically back to normal belaying.

wild country revo - side view of an unloaded revo. the orange part is the off camber...
Side view of an unloaded Revo. The orange part is the off camber wheel that the rope runs around. The emergency backup latch is near the top, with the wire gate deployed in this case to trap and block the rope.

wild country revo - when the emergency backup locks the rope, the silver lever on the...
When the emergency backup locks the rope, the silver lever on the top clicks upward, and the wire seen below it also clicks into place to trap the rope. This catch can be seen on both sides of the device, so that it can be loaded either way and still function the same. To release, on simply pulls down on the brake strand of the rope, clicking the silver latches back in their normal position.

Lowering and Rappelling


Lowering a climber with the Revo is also simple, and directly mimics the technique one would use with a tube-style device. This lowering method is very smooth. Of course, since the Revo will lock up if subjected to speeds over 4m/s, you must lower the climber in a controlled and moderate speed. Here it once again provides its emergency backup, and if the belayer should lose control of the brake strand, it will immediately lock up. The way this device works for lowering seems much safer-feeling than most active assist braking devices, which can potentially be opened up all the way to quickly drop a climber. It is also much smoother than lowering a climber with a passive assist braking device, which tend to be jerkier and take more effort.


The Revo can only accommodate a single strand of rope, so it is not possible to rappel double ropes. This somewhat limits its usefulness and versatility for multi-pitch climbing.

wild country revo - lowering with the revo is just like lowering with a standard tube...
Lowering with the Revo is just like lowering with a standard tube device, as Tom demonstrates here. The brake strand must be locked off in a downward position while the rope is slowly allowed to pay out through the device.

Feeding Slack


The Revo feeds slack smoother than any other device that we have ever used, bar none, and we found it nearly impossible to accidentally short rope a lead climber with this device. One feeds rope to a leader in the same way as with a tube device, but the interior flywheel minimizes friction to such a degree that smooth payout is literally guaranteed. The 4m/s tolerance of the locking mechanism is quite a bit higher than the speed at which we pull slack through a device, even for the most panicked quick clips, and we never had it lock up on us while feeding slack.


The feeding method of active assist belay devices usually requires a belayer to override the device or lock out the cam to very quickly feed lots of slack, which has the potential in the wrong moment to lead to dropped climbers. This has happened plenty of times. With the Revo, it is not possible, or necessary, to override the locking system, so this device used correctly remains safer-feeling for closer to the ground lead belaying and clipping.

wild country revo - feeding slack is super smooth and easy, and is done in the same...
Feeding slack is super smooth and easy, and is done in the same manner as a normal tube device. Since there is no need to lock out a cam or override the belay system, this device is among the safest for lead belaying while the climber is still close to the ground.

Weight and Bulk


The principal downsides to the Revo are its weight and bulk. It weighs 10.1 ounces, which is not the absolute heaviest of any device in our review, but certainly one of them. While it is about the size of a GriGri, it looks and feels a bit bigger in the hands.


Frankly, the weight, size, and other limitations, such as lacking an auto-block function or the ability to rappel two ropes, would preclude us from recommending it for multi-pitch climbing. However, its weight and size are not that big of a deal to throw in the bag for a day of cragging.

wild country revo - on our independent scale the revo weighed in at 10.1 ounces, making...
On our independent scale the Revo weighed in at 10.1 ounces, making it one of the heaviest belay devices we have tested, and limiting the places we are likely to use it to single pitch cragging.

Auto-Block


The Revo is not designed to be used in auto-block mode and does not provide any locking power if rigged to belay directly off an anchor. Wild Country, in their instruction manual, doesn't say that it can't be used directly on an anchor, but simply that it isn't its primary function. We don't see any benefit to trying to use it in this manner.

wild country revo - the principal downside of the revo is its size and weight. here...
The principal downside of the Revo is its size and weight. Here shown next to a GriGri for comparison. While they look about the same size, the Revo feels a bit larger, and is also quite a bit heavier.

Should You Buy the Wild Country Revo?


The Revo is by no means cheap, and costs about what you would expect for a highly engineered piece of innovative technology. It falls roughly in the middle of the pack when considering the prices of active assist braking devices, but is of course, far more expensive than a tube-style device, which it most closely mimics. Budget-minded climbers will surely look elsewhere, but the Revo provides excellent value, in our opinion, despite its price tag.

What Other Belay Devices Should You Consider?


The Petzl GriGri remains one of our favorites for experienced climbers. Meanwhile, the Petzl GriGri+ is a great choice for those new to climbing. For a classic tube-style device, we recommend the Black Diamond ATC XP.

wild country revo - this is not the way one is supposed to belay, but is how we tested...
This is not the way one is supposed to belay, but is how we tested the emergency backup on device numerous times, here when lowering. By grabbing lower on the brake strand as a backup, and then letting go of the tension where we should have been holding it, the device automatically locked up almost instantly, dropping the lowering climber less than three inches. This backup prevents accidentally dropping a climber either while lowering or while lead belaying, and is a fantastic safety feature.

Andy Wellman