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HS10 Single
HD10 Double
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The Hewbolts are an interesting pair of belay-rappel devices developed ca. 2001 by Michael Hewlett and Kristopher Boldt. They registered Hewbolt Inc. on October 26, 2001, and by February offered two models online. These were the Hewbolt HS10 (for single 10-11 mm. rope) and the Hewbolt HD10 (for double 10-11 mm. rope). Once they were available the following June, I acquired one of each. They were rather pricey at $80 and $100 respectively.
Hewbolts are larger and heavier than typical belay tubes, but are lighter than some massive belay devices like the Grigri. The single-rope version is 49 mm. long, 139 mm. wide, 36 mm. high, and weighs 171 g., while the double is wider and heavier at 49 mm. high, and 194 g. respectively. Their workmanship is excellent, probably due to CNC machining.
The Hewbolt’s unusual design may invoke some initial distrust, but if you think of it as a very deep tuber, you’ll realize that it should work - and it does. Rigging requires loosening a knurled bolt and sliding a captive rod out the side of the body, inserting a bight through the opposite end of the body so that it passes around the rod, and then closing the rod and locking it in place. It primarily functions as an autolock, quickly catching a falling climber, then allowing an easy transition to a controlled lower.
Although it handles well, the Hewbolt is a bit large for my taste. It requires an appropriately-sized HMS carabiner; i.e., one that is not so large that the Hewbolt can "swing through." It will no function with D or oval carabiners, so I have to bring a special ‘biner if I want to use it. When used for rappel, the Hewbolt tries to lock off. The rappeller needs to use one hand to release it by pressing down on the Hewbolt’s body. Most of the heat is concentrated on the rod and not dissipated through the Hewbolt’s body, so it doesn’t run as cool as one might expect, but it doesn’t get as blisteringly hot as many small belay tubes.
Hewbolt’s website said that “In the future we will be offering other models that accommodate smaller rope diameters.” I doubt that ever occurred. For several years their website remained nearly unchanged and no new models appeared for sale. Hewbolt Inc. was voluntarily dissolved on March 17, 2008. The combination of price, size/weight, and unusual form kept the Hewbolt from succeeding in the marketplace.
† http://web.archive.org/web/20020207170826/http://www.hewbolt.com/products/
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| Front View | Rear View |
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| Side View | Top View | Bottom View |
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| Top View: Open for Rigging | Bottom View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my first Hewbolt HS10 from the manufacturer in 2002, and my second from David Higdon in 2023.
The body of the Hewbolt is machined from a block of 139 mm long, 49 mm. high, and 36 mm. wide aluminum. One side is cut down, leaving a small pentagonal raised area to support the aluminum rod to be mentioned later. Most of the center is cut away. leaving a wall thickness of about 4.6 mm. throughout. One end is square, the other has a projecting lip that helps release the device under load. A 32.4 mm. by 28.8 mm. cutout in each side provides a clip-in point near the lip end of the device. At the other end, a 12.5 mm. aluminum rod passes laterally. A bolt with a knurled knob head is threaded through the rod and fits into a hole in the frame, securing the rod in place.
My Hewbolt Single weighs 171 g.
The side of the the device is marked with "Hewbolt," "Single," "10-11 mm.," "Pat Pend.," "WARNING: PROPER TRAINING REQUIRED BEFORE USE, a diagram of how to use the device, and the the "Reading is Dangerous" icon.
The Hewbolts are protected by U.S. Patent 6,561,313. The patent was issued in 2003, a year after I received my first Hewbolts.
The Hewbolt’s workmanship is excellent. Its unusual design may invoke some initial distrust, but if you think of it as a very deep tuber, you’ll realize that it should work - and it does. On the other hand, it requires an HMS carabiner, and one that is not so large that the Hewbolt can "swing through."
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Warning: Never use the Hewbolt with anything except a properly-sized HMS carabiner. |
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When used for rappel, the Hewbolt tries to lock off, so the rappeller will need to use one hand to release it by pressing down on the Hewbolt’s body.
The Hewbolt is a bit large for my taste. If the excess size provided better heat dissipation on rappel, I might accept it, but most of the heat is concentrated on the rod and not dissipated through the body. This is a device that I might use at my local drive-up crag, but I wouldn't haul it into the wilderness.
The inventors are Michael Hewlett and Kristopher Boldt, which explains the device’s name.
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[ Top | HS10 Single | Return to Misc. Belay ]
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| Front View | Rear View |
 |
 |
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| Side View | Top View | Bottom View |
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| Top View: Open for Rigging | Bottom View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Hewbolt Double HD10 from Hewbolt in 2002.
The Hewbolt Double HD10 has a hard anodized extruded aluminum body with a D-shaped carabiner slot and an aluminum guide bar with a threaded latch. Mine Double 49 mm. long, 139 mm. wide, 49 mm. high, and weighs 194 g.
The front is stamped with "100," "Ø 10 - 11 mm," "Hewbolt," Double," the "Reading is Dangerous" icon, a rigging illustration, "Pat. Pend.," and "WARNING: PROPER TRAINING REQUIRED BEFORE USE."
This is the double rope version, which I acquired from the manufacturer at the same time I acquired my HS10. The HD10’s total width is 49 mm., and it is marked "Double" instead of "Single."
The Hewbolts are protected by U.S. Patent 6,561,313. The patent was issued in 2003, a year after I received my first Hewbolts.
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[ Top | HS10 Single | HD10 Double ]
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