The 6 Best guide Belay devices (2023 reviews)

Petzl has been making feature-packed device for years, thanks to a combination of clever design and high-end materials. The Petzl Rig doesn't have the anti-panic feature. It is a compact self-braking descender for rope access, designed for experienced users. It has a safety gate on the moving side plate that allows the rope to be installed easily while the device remains connected to the harness. The automatic return system on the handle limits the risk of the device getting accidentally snagged.

It is great for descending, ascending, lowering, and belay, and many applications. It is made for 10 to 11.5mm ropes as well. The rope can be taken up without having to manipulate the handle, allowing for easy short ascents, for example.

Why We Like This:

You can move extremely quickly if you want
Holds a nfpa t rating decent control and belay
Works perfect and super easy for descending

Best For catching lead: Edelrid abseil Device

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The edelrid abseil device's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. 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. It's magnificently light and flat. It is used for rappelling as well.

This is counter-balanced by how much safer it is since it's auto-blocking even on rappel, unless you switch it to the ATC side. The auto lock feature is excellent and fast, so it may result in hard catches for some. It is lighter and less sticky than a grigri.

Why We Like This:

Very safe if you stay within a certain rope size range
Excellent for belaying lead climbers because feeding out line involves little resistance
Simpler, lighter, and cheaper than a grigri

Best For saddle hunting: Black Diamond guide Belay Device

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Best part: black diamond guide belay device costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The solo tree climber/trimmer can appreciate this device. It is good friction for belaying someone heavier than you. It grips hard when you need it to and lets out rope very smoothly as it's designed to send across the full spectrum of climbing pursuits.

This device is optimized for ropes between 8.1 and 8.5 millimeters in diameter, yet works with ropes from 6.9 to 9 mm. Multiple friction modes provide the optimal amount of stopping power when lowering or rappelling, and the device's guide mode lets you belay one or two second climbers off an anchor. It comes with an oval-ized anchor-hole, and the device now feeds rope and allows you to pull rope more easily. There’s less potential for self-error with the ATC and you are lower risk of loosing/breaking a finger. It's light and easy to use.

Why We Like This:

Works great as a guide when belaying from above
Delivers what they promise

Best For climber: Edelrid guide Belay Device

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Agrigri 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 is made of ultra-light aluminum, areas susceptible to abrasion made of robust stainless steel. It provides solid assisted braking and feeds smoothly in manual mode. It is 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 is particularly light and simultaneously robust and abrasion resistant.

This device has normal tube mode ( m ) and assisted ( a), can take two ropes of a wide range, be used in guide mode atop, and used for normal or assisted rappels / abseils. It's a great choice for double rope systems. It should wear out slower than those lightweight aluminum devices since the wear parts are reinforced with steel.

Why We Like This:

Compact, but a bit heavy, and a design that's so-so
Would love an extra millimeter of room where the rope slides are
Can be used in guide mode
Paying out rope is so smooth and seamless especially in brake mode

Best For Mountaineering: Triwonder guide Belay Device

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The triwonder guide belay device's high-end materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The ATC belay device is easy to store and easy to operate. Design with 0.4cm rubber wire rope, the guide belay device is easy to store and easy to operate. Double-rope holes can be used with one rope or two rope, and the two ropes will not entangle each other when descending. It can be easily used with ropes.

The rappel device is smooth and lightweight, useful for your outdoor sports but not increase any burden, portable enough to carry anywhere. It is showing excessive wear plus it is easy to install anywhere on the rope. It is ideal for outdoor, camping, hiking, setting hammock and tarps or other outdoor activities.

Why We Like This:

Easy to install anywhere on the rope
Very easy to use, hefty carabiner
One of the new comers and featured product

Best Belay Device: DMM guide Belay Device

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention dmm guide belay device for daily usage. The pivot belay device delivers confident belaying and effective stopping power whether used in guide mode, or belaying from the waist. This is the whole point of the pivot feature and it works very well. The pivot's shackle reduces the force needed to initiate lowering, increasing control of the speed at which you lower your second. It's also another way to see the direction it should be in when you're rappelling.

The ropes run upward a bit easier than any of the devices except the Kong GiGi, but it doesn't have the worry about the rope twisting around and releasing itself that requires a special effort when the GiGi is used with a single second. This is the best of several devices when it comes to belaying two seconds simultaneously off an anchor.

Why We Like This:

Works great for belaying from the top
Excellent, light-weight, guide mode functions well
Makes for easy lowering of second if need be in guide mode