autoblock vs. petzl shunt

[bencsu47]

i know this is a question which everyone debates about but i wanted to get some advice/opinions from several people with experience in both. is it better to use a autoblock tied off of the legloop below the belay device (with the belay device extended to keep the two from being too close) or use a petzl shunt below the belay device when rappelling into a canyon with no water or waterfalls to deal with?

[mtngoat59102]

It's best to play with both and pick the one you like the best.

[hank_moon]

What Neil said.

And, it's better IMO to have the backup on the belay loop or ventral attachment point of the harness, not on the leg loop. Try hanging from a single leg loop sometime (in a safe place, say, 1' above a crash pad). You won't like it. Sure, it's better than cratering, but hanging from the ventral point is *much* better than cratering and more comfortable/safer in suspension.

[funintheslots]

Having just experienced an autoblock getting caught in my belay device:

1) I'm going to explore using the Shunt if I use anything.

2) I'd second Hank - life's too short to spend any time hanging from a leg loop.

Your results may vary...