Variable Controller

Variable Controller

A Classic All Round Belay Device

Originally designed primarily for Trad climbing the VC's ability to deal with thin ropes well whether belaying or abseiling made it a firm favourite and a best seller round the world. It’s adaptability and multi-function design received great reviews when it was first marketed and has meant that it has earned it’s place in the Wild Country range even after all this time.

The Variable Controller was one of the first devices to move belay plates onto another level. Its wedge shaped design, which gave the VC its name, was able to be used in two performance modes to give more stopping power or less friction depending on circumstance. This combined the best attributes of ‘flat’ plates with the best of the ‘deep’ plates meaning that when belaying rope could be fed quickly, but when abseiling more friction could be applied.

Diagram to show varying friction modes of variable controller

Diagram A - Shows the high friction mode of the Variable Controller as it imitates a 'flat-plate' when the rope is forced into a tighter loop with more contact against the plate making more friction. For safest belaying on thin ropes or abseiling on thinner ropes.

Diagram B - Shows the low friction / slick belaying mode of the Variable Controller as it imitates a 'deep-plate' design when the rope is fed into the device at a steeper angle and with less contact and therefore less friction. For fast belaying on thin ropes or easier belaying/abseiling on fatter ropes.

wild country variable controller on a rope

With the introduction of the VC Pro it’s place as our premier device was overtaken so the VC has been adapted for 2006 to make its function overlap with the VC Pro and to complement it more. To do this we have slightly widened out the slots to give extra performance on single ropes, making the VC better than it was for indoor walls and single pitch as well as trad climbing.

This means that the VC is most suited for ropes from 9mm to 11mm rather than the more modern super skinny trad ropes where the new VC Pro pulls rank. The VC is better value in 2006 as well and so is a great intermediate choice for climbers maybe not heading for the most extreme challenges. Still light and in a stylish range of colours the VC remains a solid and reliable tool in any climbers armoury.

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