Single Brake Or Double Brake — Which Escape Artist Is Right For You?

The original single brake design of the Escape Artist provides a hands-free edge transition and exceptional control on the descent. An important feature with this design is the ease of paying out rope if the anchor point is some distance from the edge. Squeezing the handle fully allows the rope to slide smoothly through the device. However, during a descent the user must release the handle to stop. Squeezing the device in a panic grip allows the user to continue to descend.

The Double Brake Escape Artist operates in a similar manner: the user squeezes the handle to control descent and releases the handle to stop. However, if the descent is too fast and the user panics, squeezing harder on the handle instead of letting up, the Double Brake Escape Artist will slow the descent. This is the only available escape certified descent control device with a double-braking feature. The trade-off is that when a user is letting out rope quickly to cross a room, some skill is required to find the free running spot between too little or too much pressure on the handle.

The choice of which model Escape Artist will work best for your department and personnel depends on their level of training and the protocols that have been established for emergency escape.