Gear Review: Petzl Reverso

The Petzl Reverso is the shiny sports car of the belay device world. It's pricier than some other belay devices, but you've got to pay more if you want to get the best performance, and as usual, that's what Petzl offers. The Reverso is beautiful to look at, handles like a dream, and is lighter than the other belay devices in its class. Like many other finely-machined, lightweight metal devices, the Reverso wears out a little bit faster than more heavily-built devices; but when it comes to durability, ask yourself: would you rather take a drive in a Bugatti, or a Mack truck? They both perform their jobs well, but it's a different kind of performance.