Near Bobbins

Bobbins are mechanical descenders where the rope path follows the S-shaped path shown in the figure. The braking surface typically consists of two non-rotating bollards fixed to a side plate, with a second pivoting side plate provided to keep the rope from jumping off the other end of the bollards. A third (usually smaller) bollard may be provided. The seat maillon usually attaches to holes in extensions of the two side plates; these holes are aligned when the side plates pivot to the closed position.

Some bobbins have a mechanism that applies additional braking force if the rappeller releases or squeezes (depending on the design) a handle on the bobbin. Plain bobbins have no such mechanism. I divide the bobbins with such mechanisms into these groups:

1. Stop Bobbins, where the main upper bollard is fixed to the rear plate, the main lower bollard is fixed to a rotating lever that moves in one direction to stop and the other for descending,

2. Double-Stop Bobbins, where the main upper bollard is fixed to the rear plate, the main lower bollard is fixed to a rotating lever that moves in either direction to stop and to the center for descending, and

3. Near Bobbins, the subject of this page, where the two main bollards are attached to a rotating lever. These may have a double stop feature, and attachments to provide for a double stop are available for most of those that do not.

The Single Rope Technique Equipment bobbins are well made, but I find them to be tiring. If you try these and pay attention, you may notice that squeezing the handle actually lifts you. The Antec and Anthron work on a different principle, and do not have this problem. I know several lighter cavers who love them. The Single Rope Technique Equipment bobbins are also heavy, due to their steel parts. The Butkovic is an old design that may never have been commercialized, but I find it to be most interesting.

ID	Device ↓	Description	Acquired	Weight ↓	Height ↓	Width ↓	Thickness ↓	Std. volume ↓
546	Antec Double Stop	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Innner Mountain Outfitters, 1999	348	190	84	26	415
1287	Anthron DSD-25	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Jansen Cardy, 2011	350	191	78	27	399
2422	Anthron DSD-30	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	353	190	78	26	388
1152	Anthron DSD 30+25	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Bret Auernig, 2008	334	191	79	27	404
978	Butkovic Clone	Two piece, fixed lower and auxiliary bollard on frame, sliding upper bollard on handle	Gary Storrick, 2004	519	220	86	39	729
2560	DBI-SALA/Rollgliss/SRTE D1a	Al frame, steel bobbins & handle assembly, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Lance Swartwout, 2020	466	225	79	37	662
1451	DBI-SALA/Rollgliss/SRTE D1S	SS frame, steel bobbins & handle assembly, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Amazon.com, 2015	702	224	83	37	687
1455	DBI-SALA/Rollgliss/SRTE D2a	Al frame, steel bobbins & handle assembly, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Amazon.com, 2015	567	226	80	48	879
2465	Magideal I-Block	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	paska2016 (eBay, China), 2017	339	190	76	26	376
1233	Singing Rock DSD 30+25	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2009	347	191	81	28	434
1460	Singing Rock DSD Plus	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, padded handle pivots on upper rivet	Amazon.com, 2015	430	198	86	33	568
1023	Single Rope Technique Equipment D1, Version A	Steel double-rope bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, stamped gate, holes for no-stop carabiner.	Tom Vines, 2006	407	220	73	36	573
445 2424	Single Rope Technique Equipment D1, Version B	Steel bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, stamped gate, no-stop carabiner hole.	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1988 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	407	225	75	35	591
519	Single Rope Technique Equipment D1a, Version A	Steel bobbins & handle assembly, two guide bars, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1996	467	227	79	37	664
1274	Single Rope Technique Equipment D1a, Version B	Steel bobbins & handle assembly, two guide bars, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Addie Mannan, 2010	466	227	83	37	698
446 2425	Single Rope Technique Equipment D1DB	Steel bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, stamped gate, double brake, no-stop pin & hole.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 1989 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	523	245	98	41	984
447	Single Rope Technique Equipment D2, Version A	Steel double-rope bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, stamped gate, holes for no-stop carabiner.	Raven Products, 1990	498	222	73	46	745
448 2423	Single Rope Technique Equipment D2, Version B	Steel double-rope bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, stamped gate,stamped gate, no-stop pin & holes.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 1989 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	509	222	73	46	745
1111	Single Rope Technique Equipment DS1	Steel bobbin & handle assembly, steel frame, guide bar, stamped gate, no-stop pin hole.	Richard Wolfe, 2007	711	226	75	37	623
449	Single Rope Technique Equipment D2DB	Steel double-rope bobbin & handle assembly, guide bar, double brake, holes for no-stop pin.	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1989	631	245	98	52	1249
573	Single Rope Technique Equipment RS1a	Steel bobbins & handle assembly, long braking arm, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 2000	716	227	84	43	815
574	Single Rope Technique Equipment RS2a	Steel bobbins & handle assembly, short braking arm, stamped gate, hole for no-stop pin.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 2000	654	227	83	43	808
575	Single Rope Technique Equipment RS6DBS	Steel frame, steel double-rope bobbin & handle assembly, rotating lower bollard, two guide bars, oversqueeze brake, stamped gate, holes for no-stop pin.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 2000	1058	249	114	50	1431
950	Single Rope Technique Equipment Two-way Rescue Stop 2WRS	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on middle rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet, rope guide pivots on lower rivet	On Rope, 2004	553	205	73	40	602
1369	Skylotec Mark 1	Fixed frame, bobbins pivot on lower rivet, handle pivots on upper rivet	Martin Keight, 2012	345	190	81	27	416