The 6 Best Belay devices For Mountaineering (2023 reviews)

Aokwit belay device for mountaineering is the epitome of what a great device should be. It is good as a normal two man with the extra carabiner. It can increase the friction and slow down the descending speed. It is light and strong. The principle slot is large enough to double or triple your single rope to increase frictions for slow descent. It is used to descend in the same way as the standard figure and works way better with lifting materials to the rooftop from the ground. It is easy to stop descent when desired. It is an easy one hand repel with this product.

Why We Like This:

Solid device for routine or emergency belays
Good investment for long term

Best For climber: Petzl Belay Device

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention petzl belay device for daily usage. The PETZL Grigri Plus Belay Device is available in three colors. It can be used for both gym and crag climbing. It comes with an anti-panic handle that makes it particularly suited for learning, the grigri + is a cam-assisted blocking device for climbing in the gym or outside. It helps you come to a stop after falling.

The cam in the device automatically cinches down to arrest the rope. It allows the user to choose between two belay modes. It is great for newer belayers and partners with large weight differences. Unless you get your hand movement down perfectly, the locking mechanism will engage when feeding out the rope rapidly.

Why We Like This:

Compatible with 8.5 to 11 mm dynamic single ropes
Good brand reputation

Best For catching lead: Edelrid abseil Device

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate device. The edelrid abseil device is exactly that - it's a simple device that hits all the right notes. This is an AWESOME belay device. Rappelling in the auto-locking mode provides extra safety and lets you get away without an autoblock, but it's hard to do smoothly and the wire bends around a lot due to the force you're exerting. It works with one rope and it is heavy. The locking feature is great (never miss grigri) and it's light. It makes climbing marginally safer.

This device has an auto lock by clamping down on the rope and carabiner, so the rope won't slip. The slim and elegant appearance of the device is just an extra bonus. The auto lock feature is excellent and fast, so it may result in hard catches for some.

Why We Like This:

Super lightweight, easy to use, and covers all the bases
Simpler, lighter, and cheaper than a grigri
Very safe if you stay within a certain rope size range

Best For beginner: Ito rocky Belay Device For Mountaineering

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate device. The ito rocky belay device for mountaineering is exactly that - it's a simple device that hits all the right notes. It’s an absolutely solid piece of equipment. It is suitable for ropes of a diameter of 9-12mm/0.35-0.47 inch. It can be rapidly installed or removed from the rope without disconnecting it from the harness. The lever should totally control your descent. It has easy diagrams on the device so it’s easy to set up. It is used for new climbers. This is an extra barrier of safety, recommend.

Why We Like This:

Easy to carry, attach, and safe
Good safety item for climbing, solid and functional
Low cost, mechanically sound, performing well thus far
Nice quality parts and the design is good

Best For lead: Edelrid Belay Device For Mountaineering

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If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory device, edelrid belay device for mountaineering should be your first option for buying. It's great for lead or sport, indoor or outdoor. It's used to lead belay with a megajul and carry a tube style device (atc with guide mode) to belay from the top and rappel. It doesn't auto block as well as a grigri, but feeds out slack much easier and can be used for double rope rappels. It has more functionality than those and it’s way lighter than many other assisted braking devices like a gri gri. It's also quicker and easier to "unlock" after a fall than the grigri or virgo.

It can be used on trad multi pitch, sport multi pitch. It should wear out slower than those lightweight aluminum devices since the wear parts are reinforced with steel.

Why We Like This:

Cheaper and intuitive, great alternative of grigri
Easy repel, works well in guide mode
Easy to use, great for lead or sport, indoor or outdoor

Best Light Weight: Petzl Belay Device For Mountaineering

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention petzl belay device for mountaineering for daily usage. It is a belay device with assisted braking for indoors and outdoors. It has a special mode for comfortable top-rope belay and an anti-panic handle. It comes with plus, as you move the lever towards you, the rope is initially released with less and less braking, but if you pull the handle all the way towards you, you hear sort of a click and the device will lock again.

It can be used on all single ropes (8.5 to 11 mm in diameter) and optimized for 8.9 to 10.5 mm diameters. The switch has a sort of locking pin inside of the handle. It allows the user to choose between two belay modes. The two settings are great for basically just if you are starting out using it for only top roping and does a fine job at gripping the rope. This product works great but the auto locking mechanism requires you to lower a climber at an extremely slow rate which takes some getting used too.

Why We Like This: