The 6 Best brake ASSIST Belay devices (2023 reviews)

brake assist belay devices
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Are you looking for collection of best brake assist belay devices ? This page is just for you.

Our review process:

Our Top Picks:

Best overall:
Buy: Petzl Belay Device
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Best For Mountaineering:
Buy: Petzl brake ASSIST Belay Device
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Best For rappelling:
Buy: Edelrid brake ASSIST Belay Device
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Best For lead:
Buy: Edelrid One Device
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Best Belay Device:
Buy: Petzӏ brake ASSIST Belay Device
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Best For lead Climbing:
Buy: Wild country brake ASSIST Belay Device
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Best overall: Petzl Belay Device

Petzl Belay Device
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Petzl line of device come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. It takes more energy when belaying a lead climber to get the rope out fast enough. It can be used with single ropes from 8.5 to 11 mm. It functions perfectly but the "red" color is definitely more orange than red. It allows the belayer to easily unblock the rope and lower someone. It's a way lighter hue. As the climber, it is a much nicer feel on falls and a more controlled descent. It's the safest option and very easy to use. It comes with cam-assisted blocking and also it is perfect for working your project.

Why We Like This:
  • Works great for both lead and top rope belay
  • Rope, belay device and locking carabiner with isolation feature to prevent shifting or cross-loading
  • Will hold any human weight plus dynamic forces when lead climbing

Best For Mountaineering: Petzl brake ASSIST Belay Device

Petzl brake ASSIST Belay Device
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The petzl brake assist belay device is capable of outshining several other device featured in this list in overall features in its price range. It is essentially an upgraded version of gerigri 2, with some stainless steel parts for improved durability, added safety feature (panic mode) and a switch for top rope / lead climbing belaying. 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.

It has a special mode for comfortable top-rope belay and an anti-panic handle. 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. It is useful mostly for climbing outdoors or for "bring your own belay device" gyms. It allows the user to choose between two belay modes.

Why We Like This:
  • Adjustable locking force, anti-panic release, steel edge for wear
  • Easy to use and is very safe
  • Fantastic belay device when weight is behind it

Best For rappelling: Edelrid brake ASSIST Belay Device

Edelrid brake ASSIST Belay Device
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If you are currently in the market looking for a reliable device for your daily usage, you cannot go wrong with the edelrid brake assist belay device. It's a bare bones, tubular belay device made out of actual steel. It can be quite a challenge to lower the climber smoothly. It's designed to look and operate pretty much like any other tubular belay device, so for anyone familiar with the usual tubes, it's not much of an issue to transition over. It has no moving parts plus has zero signs of wear.

The steel makes the Jul2 feel so much more bomber. The simple auto-lock feature without the added complication of many auto-locking devices is an added safety feature that will help new lead belayer's.

Why We Like This:
  • Extra safety features not present with tubes
  • Lightweight, simple to set up, and the rope runs smoothly along the slot
  • Catches very well, little jerky on the lowering
  • Easy to use for lead and top rope

Best For lead: Edelrid One Device

Edelrid One Device
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Edelrid line of device come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. A grigri is great all around and so is any tubular style device (atc or similar) this device will get you through just about any situation. 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's nice to have the extra margin of safety on double rope belays when there is loose rock/ice that could strike the belayer.

It has more functionality than those and it’s way lighter than many other assisted braking devices like a grigri grigri. The bigger and straighter the carabiner, the easier it feeds rope. It's also quicker and easier to "unlock" after a fall than the grigri or virgo. 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
  • Paying out rope is so smooth and seamless especially in brake mode

Best Belay Device: Petzӏ brake ASSIST Belay Device

Petzӏ brake ASSIST Belay Device
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The petzӏ brake assist belay device is the best desirable device on the market today. Compact and lightweight, it can be used with single ropes from 8.5 to 11 mm in diameter) and optimized for 8.9 to 10.5 mm diameters. It improves comfort while belaying, holding a climber or catching a fall.

The design of the handled camming mechanism enables exceptional descent control. 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.

Why We Like This:
  • Great durability for intensive use, thanks to the stainless steel wear plate
  • Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For lead Climbing: Wild country brake ASSIST Belay Device

Wild country brake ASSIST Belay Device
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The wild country brake assist belay device's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. It feels like a really smooth tubular belay device like a grigri. It has no method of over-riding the locking mechanism, during belaying, or when lowering a climber. It can play out miles of slack in an instant with no notice. The Revo requires a lot more concentration to rappel with, so that category goes to the GriGri.

It comes with the revo, it gives rope so easily, it’s very easy to pull up any extra rope you need. The GriGri might be funner to use, but with 20 percent real world situations where it does not self catch, the Revo would be a great backup. The Revo is pretty idiot proof, so a dehydrated, distracted average Joe won't easily be able to screw up using it, unlike the GriGri.

Why We Like This:
  • You can catch falls and lower using your normal good brake hand movements
  • Takes a bit of practice to lower heavy people
  • You throw rope as fast as you need to with no resistance
  • Incredibly smooth paying out slack for lead climbing