REASONS TO BUY
Works on a big range of edges
Stable
REASONS TO AVOID
Gets hooked on your rack easily (but that's not its fault… it's a hook!
Black Diamond Grappling Hook Review
Black Diamond Grappling Hook
Credit: BlackDiamondEquipment.com
Price: $16 List
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief ⋅ Apr 17, 2010
Our Verdict
The Black Diamond Grappling Hook is great hook that is probably the one on my rack most often used. It has great stability and works on a big range of edges from big to small.
It is probably the first hook I would buy. Second I would get the Black Diamond Talon and finally the Black Diamond Cliffhanger. That three-hook combo is really all you need to get up 99 percent of wall routes. Bring one set for easy aid routes, two sets for hard aid and maybe some other specialty hooks for really hard aid.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Likes
This Black Diamond hook has a big range. It excels on big edges, but also works on smaller ones. It is probably the hook I use most and almost makes the Black Diamond Cliffhanger obsolete (but not quite). The big fins on the base give it great stability and you worry less about it twisting off an edge. These things last forever. I have never worn one down.
Dislikes
There are no major dislikes with this hook. Because it is big, it gets hung up on your rack a little more than other hooks but there is no way around that. Hooks are meant to get hooked!
Best Application
This is great for any wall with a few hook moves or a ton of them.
Value
At $14 this is money well spent. I am not aware of any hooks that are much cheaper.
—Chris McNamara