Finally the long awaited GRIGRI 2 from Petzl is available at the local climbing store, or was, until they run out of stock on the second day of sales. Fortunately I managed to get myself one and eager to test it.
This little bugger is nice and light, and can now take ropes as low as 8.9. Wondering how they got this gem to take such a skinny rope? Well first is the progressive descent control, which basically means as you first start to lower, instead of releasing the spring of the cam at a 1 to 1 ratio, it only releases 1 degree for every 3 degrees you pull. The thinner the rope, the longer it maintains this ratio. after the initial part of the lower, it clicks back to 1 to 1. the new design is better suited for the belay method and its faster at braking and feeding.
Unfortunately haven’t done much testing yet but will post my impressions after it passes the great trials of Kalymnos.