Brand: Petzl
Category: Belay & Rappel Devices
Recommended by Ben Lim, AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Assistant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide — Pacific Northwest, USA
Highlights: durable, assisted braking, multipitch
The Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device in striking red offers enhanced belaying comfort with its assisted braking feature, making it an essential tool for climbers in both gym and outdoor settings. Its lightweight and compact design accommodate a wide range of dynamic single rope diameters, ensuring safety and ease of use. 1. Assisted braking mechanism for improved control and comfort during belaying. 2. Compatible with dynamic single ropes ranging from 8.5mm to 11mm in diameter. 3. Lightweight and compact design, ideal for portability and ease of handling. 4. Durable construction, ensuring reliability and longevity in various climbing environments. 5. Ergonomic design for a comfortable grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. 6. Versatile use in both indoor climbing gyms and outdoor crags. 7. Easy to use for climbers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. The Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device is designed primarily for rock climbing, providing safety and ease of use for belayers. It performs best in both indoor climbing gyms and outdoor crag settings, making it suitable for various climbing scenarios. Ideal for climbers of all skill levels, this device excels in situations requiring precise control and comfort, whether tackling challenging routes or enjoying leisurely climbs. Its versatility makes it a year-round essential for climbing enthusiasts.
Price: $104.95
- Who it's for
- Climbers who top-rope, lead climb, or do multi-pitch and want a reliable assisted braking device. Also suits those who rappel single-strand or belay in guide mode.
- What people are saying
- All six hosts call it their go-to or primary belay device, consistently citing its assisted braking and longevity as reasons they keep returning to it over alternatives. No criticism or dissent appears in the notes.
- Worth noting
- Notes are uniformly positive with no caveats, sizing flags, or durability concerns mentioned. One host notes having tried essentially every ABD on the market and still preferring this one.
Ben Lim's review
We love a standard GRIGRI. I've tried basically every ABD on the market and continue to come back to old faithful here. I often bring this multi-pitch climbing too.
Recommended by Ben Lim, AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Assistant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device for?
Climbers who top-rope, lead climb, or do multi-pitch and want a reliable assisted braking device. Also suits those who rappel single-strand or belay in guide mode.
What do experts say about the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device?
All six hosts call it their go-to or primary belay device, consistently citing its assisted braking and longevity as reasons they keep returning to it over alternatives. No criticism or dissent appears in the notes.
What should you know before buying the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device?
Notes are uniformly positive with no caveats, sizing flags, or durability concerns mentioned. One host notes having tried essentially every ABD on the market and still preferring this one.
What does Ben Lim say about the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device?
We love a standard GRIGRI. I've tried basically every ABD on the market and continue to come back to old faithful here. I often bring this multi-pitch climbing too.
Why does Ben Lim recommend Petzl?
Ben Lim recommends the Petzl Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device for belay & rappel devices. We love a standard GRIGRI. I've tried basically every ABD on the market and continue to come back to old faithful here. I often bring this multi-pitch climbing too.
Is the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device a good belay & rappel device?
Yes — Ben Lim recommends the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device by Petzl as their belay & rappel devices pick. We love a standard GRIGRI. I've tried basically every ABD on the market and continue to come back to old faithful here. I often bring this multi-pitch climbing too.
More from Ben Lim's Rock Climbing Essentials
View Ben Lim's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
What other hosts are saying
22 experts recommend the Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device.
Laurel Walker, Mountain Athlete, Guide, Coach
My go-to for sport climbing.
Recommended in Climbing and Mountaineering
Cora Hanson, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
My go-to belay device from top roping to lead climbing. The GRIGRI is the gold standard when it comes to belaying because of its assisted braking technology and its compact, lightweight design.
Recommended in Sport Climbing
Teddy Dondanville, AMGA Assistant Rock Guide & Certified Single Pitch Instructor
The Grigri is my primary mechanical-assisted braking device. I love it for lead belaying, belaying a single rope in "guide mode," and rappelling a single strand.
Recommended in Multi Pitch Kit
Great for lead, and toprope belays, the grigri offers extra security with it's assisted braking mechanism.
Recommended in Desert Rock
Ryan Harris, Mountain Guide and Ski Patroller
my go to device for lead belaying, and multi pitch climb. saves my elbows from wear and tear when I belay from the top
Recommended in Traditional rock climbing
Dan Morley, Rock Climbing Guide
The gold standard of belay devices and my personal recommendation.
Recommended in Personal Climbing Gear
There is a reason this device has been trusted for decades. It is awesome. If you are going to buy one of this style belay device, buy this one. The Grigri+ in my opinion is more complicated and difficult to learn how to use.
Recommended in Sport Climbing
Kate Sedrowski, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
The gold standard of assisted-braking belay devices, the Petzl Grigri is my belay device of choice in most situations, from the gym to sport cragging to trad multi-pitch. If you're a beginner looking for your first belay device, you can't go wrong with the Petzl Grigi (and I recommend it over the Grigri+).
Recommended in Essential Climbing Gear
The longtime standard assisted brake device continues to be my favorite.
Recommended in Sport Climbing
The OG grigri is a super versatile and effective device for top-down belaying and beyond. Very rarely leaves my harness.
Recommended in What's in Cal's Gunks bag?
Jarrod Blundy, Founder/Guide at Onward Mountain Guides
I carry one primarily for building/accessing anchors to rappel. They're also nice for top belaying a single follower on non-icy ropes in the winter.
Recommended in Ice Climbing Kit
Owen Duda, Climber, Guide, Craftsman, Writer
The classic ABD (assisted breaking device). Multifunctional, and lives on most modern day climbers harness.
Recommended in Starter Rock Package
Michael Murphy, Rock Climbing Instructor and Business Owner
This is the most common tool I use in my guiding. I'm almost never without a GriGri.
Recommended in Guide Kit
Brad Burns, PCGI Single Pitch Instructor, La Sportiva Athlete
Standardization in climbing is safety. If you're at the crag, look around, and almost every single party will be belaying with the GRIGRI. This device is THE standard for single pitch climbing. The device is incredibly safe, feeds rope smoothly, and lowers the climber well. I have even started using the GRIGRI as my primary multipitch belay device thanks to the ease of its progress-capture and the smoothness of taking in slack. For beginner climbers, look into the GRIGRI+ device, which has a toprope mode, and features a safety lever which works to prevent lowering a climber too fast.
Recommended in Crag Gear
Chris Johnson, Apprentice Climbing Guide, Professional Ski Patroller
The default assisted braking device. The GriGri is the new standard in belay devices. I'm partial to the GriGri vs the GriGri +, but either are solid.
Recommended in First Climbing Purchases
Joe Kalis, Oncology Pharmacist / Aspiring Guide
The workhorse assisted braking device. You'll find them everywhere for good reason! Multiple applications for cragging, sport climbing, rescue situations. I prefer mine for all of the above.
Recommended in Rock Climbing
Brent Smith, AMGA Rock Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide
It's popular for good reason; this is the go to belay device for lead, top-rope, and top-belay.
Recommended in Multipitch Sport Climbing
The best assisted braking belay device. The original, the GOAT
Recommended in Rock Climbing
In my opinion this is simply the best assisted braking device out there. Once you learn how to use it to lead belay it performs so well. And I love how little friction it has for top belaying when climbing multi-pitch in a group of two.
Recommended in Rock Climbing Mentorship Program
My favorite cam-assisted belay device.
Recommended in Rock Climbing
Andy Scott, Owner/Lead Guide at Small Cliffs Guiding
The Grigri is the go to assisted belay device. Belay, rappel, self rescue, this device does it all and does it well.
Recommended in My First List
