The Black Diamond ATC is a well thought out and designed belay plate, it provides the user with a simple and easy to use no frills sticht plate. This is excellent for novices who would find the more complicated guide plates confusing. Therefore these are good for centre use.

The ATC is a well constructed, simple belay plate. Very at home belaying on the lead, abseiling, or in a climbing wall. It's simplicity makes it a good first belay plate for any beginners out there, and can also be a very effective belay plate to teach novices with.

I use this for day-to-day climbing where high friction isn't necessary (I use an ATC XP for other situations, see my other reviews) and also for instructing.

As a first belay plate this would be my first choice. It's easy to use and uncomplicated reducing the risk of a novice getting it wrong. It's well built like all BD products and comes at a very nice price.

It is limited in features if you are wanting to do more advanced belaying though, for what it is designed for I think it is excellent.

Good for indoors and single pitch summer routes.