Petzl Grigri Belay Device

The gri-gri is the standard in self-locking belay devices. It definitely takes some getting used to but once you have it dialed it is just as easy and smooth as any belay device. It definitely makes belaying your hangdog buddy trying to dial in the crux sequence a lot more enjoyable and safe for all involved. Take the time to get used to the gri-gri before you use it in a real climbing situation and you will have a life long cragging tool.

A great belay device for cragging. It is heavier for other climbing activities but can also be useful depending on your level of expertise. If you are spending some time belaying, projecting, and/or working routes, this device saves you energy & effort, and makes it very safe and easy for both you and your partner. It's important to practice the piece before usage- lowering a climber on it and belaying a lead climber requires careful technique. Good for specified climbing rope mm only.

You see this thing at every sport crag in the world for a reason. Great solid product and easy to use. A+.

It's a Grigri, the end-all be-all of autolocking belay devices. Contrary to other reviews, I have had no problem feeding rope to a leader, and contrary to Petzl, it will hold a 10.0 rope just fine. The only thing is that both climber and belayer HAVE to make sure it's threaded the right way. It's not a safety shortcoming, just do it right. I have a friend in the hospital with two shattered ankles right now from a Grigri threaded wrong. That said, it is an amazing device, easy to feed, easy to lower, easy to ascend, etc. There's a reason they haven't changed the design in 12 years.

Simple, standard, its a GriGri.
Pros: easy and safe to use once you've got the basics down.
Cons: not as smooth belaying a leader as other non-autolocking belay devices.

I am fascinated with my gri-gri, I use two to three times a week and not wear any. It's easy to make sure, it allows the person to feel more confident scale. Please note: to respect the limits of the diameter of the rope to use!

The Gri Gri is a good tool when used for the right job. Those jobs are a little limited. It is great for a top rope, it is great when you think your belayer may not be as attentive as they should be, and it is great for big wall climbing. That is where I think it is the best. While hanging in a belay for long (possibly hours) while the leader aides some thing that makes you want to puke, the gri gri is great.

Pros: great for belaying a top roped climb and can belay a leader with some practice.
Cons: can cause a hard catch when belaying a leader not as good for trad belays. Heavy.

These are really nice for top roping. They are also kind of handy for acending a rope or self belaying. I think these devices can make people a little lazy though. I really think that a new climber should learn how to use an ATC before using one of these so that they learn how to properly handle the rope. As with any piece of climbing gear knowing how to use it is the most important thing.

Although people do use these for leading I would not suggest it. When these autolock they do not provide a dynamic belay, they stop the rope. A regular ATC or similar device will allow the rope to slip a little when catching a fall. In top roping this isn't an issue because the rope will be rather snug. When taking a lead fall you want a dynamic belay to reduce the force that the climber feels and to reduce the force taken by the gear.

I took a belaying class awhile back which they taught with the grigri. While the autolocking feature is pretty much fool-proof, I found it rather difficult to control the speed of descent. After the class, I ordered the ATC and started climbing with it. I found it much easier to use than the grigri. While I'm sure the grigri has a ton of great uses, I would just advise beginners out there that a cheaper atc-type belay device is money much better spent when starting out. Once you progress, I'm sure you may someday benefit from the grigri, but it'll never replace the atc. Also, in regards to teaching new belayers...an auto-locking device should never replace another experienced belayer at their side.

I was super resistant to the grigri after learning with an ATC, but I have grown to appreciate it. It's just as easy to belay with as an ATC (when you get used to it) and adds an extra layer of safety incase someone freaks out. The best part of using it is while belaying my child and can use both hands to help him out.

I like this when I belay people on top rope. Other than that it is alright, I have used it belaying some one sport climbing but I would rather just use my atc. It is smooth though.

For single pitch sport climbing/top roping, this is a great device. I have had mine for 8 years and its starting to get warn out. I cant complain its has performed 100% every time. It deffantly worth the $ tag. I have used it for 9.5-10.5mm ropes and it has done just fine. with a 10.5 mm rope its not the smoothest feeding device out there, but its tood to bad either.

How ever for multi pitch or where you would have to hike in a ways, you would be better off with somthing a bit less bulky. Great device but is big and heavy. If your the kind of climber that lookig to shed OZs than ther are smaller and lighter belay devices out there.

little spendy and can be prone to kinking the rope but it's fool proof ability to catch a fall and lower is well worth it...i think its a must have for most asenals

Pros-Safe as you are going to get when belaying. For those who have no idea how this works. Basically the rope goes through this device and it acts a lot like a seat belt. Slow movement and it works its way back and forth no problem. When you add sudden and or a decent load, it locks up. Thus keeping the climbing from falling to the ground. There is also a lever on it that depending on how hard you pull will release some or all of the tension and thats how you slowly let the climber down.

Cons-I have heard that smaller ropes low 9's and smaller don't work well or at all in this device because they are too small for the gri gri to grab well. This is not something I have ever encountered because I don't use anything under 10mm. Also you want to make sure you understand and know how to use other belay devices in case of emergency and just so you know the proper and safe way to belay. You can get yourself in trouble using this thing sloppily. You get into bad habits and bam someone gets hurt. So use it because its the safest and also be smart and mature when using it because this is some ones life we are talking about.

This is a great device for belay and lowering, make sure that you get plenty of practice on the ground and in the gyms with leads, top-rope, etc., before you use it outside. Personally, I enjoy it more than the standard or guide versions of the ATC, but I am split on whether I like this or the BD super 8 for rap. Either way, this device is great, just make sure you know how to use it before you ever strap it on.

If you like it, use it. It won't fail, but there are enough drawbacks that I recommend against it, or at least recommend a competitor's item. (1) Feeding rope for leads is a pain. (2) Forget about simple rappels. (3) It tends to kink the rope where ATCs do not. I own one, but use my Trango Cinch more often. Choose for yourself, but please don't forget the basics (your ATC).

Use it on a 10.2mm rope and it feels great. The safety of the Grigri is well worth the price. Plus, the investment is in something that will last. Like the below review, it is important to get a feel for it before jumping into a lead situation.

This is a great peace of equipment! I would recommend this for anyone who is doing some belaying, top roping, repelling, ascending a rope, or hauling gear. The grigri is a very reliable, durable piece of equipment that every climber should have. I have used this now for about 2 months and I have had no problems with it. No sharp edges or anything that will compromise your rope.

Bottom Line: If you are an active climber, recreational climber, or someone who likes to have fun. I would highly recommend picking on of these bad boys up. Great buy!

works great, solid edition to gear

Not sure the need for everyone to argue the usefullness of this device. The fact is, it's for some people and not for others. I don't use it as a substitute for good belay skills, but it does work great for having a rookie belay me or for self-belay when I don't have a partner. Personal preference aside, this is a solid peice of equipment and when used properly will last for years. Except no substitutes...buy the real deal.

I use this at the climbing gym ALL THE TIME when I don't have a partner to belay me. It allows me to self-belay up the wall. In fact, trying to pull the rope through the Gri-Gri while hanging by your other appendage is a great way to build up your strength and coordination.

The Grigri saved me this weekend. Belayer wasn't experienced enough and wasn't ready for my weight, lost control of the rope but the Grigri worked as designed.

I borrowed a friends Grigri. I wanted to teach someone about climbing, but at the same time I did NOT want to take a fatal chance with a newbie belaying me. I showed him how to use the device, and how to always make sure he was watching me and what to do if I fell. I felt confident in him belaying me and ended up trying some dynos due to the fact that it was a self locking device. I fell in love with the thing when we both realized how simple it is to lower someone with it. If you want the best device out there, here it is.

I partly disagree with what many of the reviewers say about a grigri.

I am an experienced Rock Climbing Guide, High Ropes Course Facilitator and outdoor leader. From a teaching stand point, I feel that it is much better to start hard and end easy. Teach proper technique using a traditional device to new climbers first, use the P BUS method, (PULL BRAKE UNDER SLIDE) if you are not familiar you have some reading to do. I have taught well over 200 people to belay and they all start with an ATC. They learn good habits from the start. If your new climber cannot demonstrate safe belaying while on the ground, I would not climb with them, or take mre time for teaching and practice.

The catching aspect of the GriGri is awesome no doubt and it will correct newbie mistakes, however the lowering is touchy, epically if the climber is small and light, I have had to do a belay transfer while belaying small kids on this device, I thought people were going to get dropped.

I do own a grigri but feel that is is an advanced device that I use mostly for Haul systems and while guiding multi-pitch routes.

Further a new climber could sepnd money much better than a $90 belay device when a $20 will work just as well.

I really like this product. I do rescue but use it for edge protection, mayke a little z rig for personal use, ect. Very smooth, simple and fail safe. Highly recomend

Like Kleenex or a Frisbee, there's a reason people will refer to any locking-assist belay device as a Grigri. Can't go wrong with this thing, just make sure you follow the directions.

I'm a huge fan of the gri gri, I use a smaller rope (9.6) so it flows pretty easy through and the catching mechanism has no problem. I've even used it on a 9.3 and the catching mechanism works just fine. The standard 10.5 ropes aren't quite as smooth through the device but its an awesome safety.

Every climber should own one. This may be the most versatile piece of climbing equipment I own. You can use it for belaying, rappeling, self-belay, ascending a rope, hauling, and if you blow in the right spot it is an emergency whistle (jk, I have not actually tried that). It will catch skinny ropes even though not recommended. It is a small price to pay for that extra secure feeling it gives you when the you got the beginner belayer. If someone says they don't like it or trust it, it is because they don't know how to properly use it.

I like the auto locking feature for beginner climbers/belayers, it's a great safety feature. I just worry, and my personal experience confirms that, using a Grigri or other auto-locking device makes people lazy and careless: taking break hands off the rope, not watching the climber, or worse. I suggest weaning the beginner off the use of these devices very quickly.

The Grigri is the best. It is nearly impossible to screw up. Its self locking function is killer. I love it on lead belay. And if your out with some newbies and their hanging a lot you as the belayer can rest too.

Every time i get to use the grigri i am totally happy with how smooth it feeds the rope and lets the climber come back down. The cinch sucks, cheaper and its a no brainer why. This is the only one to get, also great for route setting for going up and down on the wall.

I don't think I have ever used more than the minimum rope diameter in the grigri and have not had a problem. It's all ways done the job it's supposed to do. seems to last longer than a regular atc. Nothing gets sharp or worn down.

This is a great device for taking newbies climbing. i love the picture on the grigri that illustrates which way to feed the rope. i don't personally like it as a lead climber though, when I need rope in a hurry and the thing locks up as I try to yank the rope up! But it functions as designed. i find it a little bulky for multipitch climbing since you have to have your ATC with you anyways, it becomes an extra piece.

i weigh 225 and when im out with anyone smaller than me which is all the time i feel so much better knowing that they're using a Grigri. it really warms my heart!

I bought one of these primarily for taking new climbers out climbing, that I did not fully trust on a tube device. Which I started using it for top rope soloing and occasional easy solo lead belay (Do not recommend, may not lock off in a fall past 5 feet.) But I have to say this thing is heavy, it is about the same weight of a BD #3 cam. I would rather have the cam over this on the rack, I can take two tube devices and still have less wieght on my harness, then if I took this. Also, it only has the capability of one rope, so if you plan to do a double rope rappel, bring another device for the rappel. If Petzl makes a similiar device for two ropes and a bit lighter, then it may be a better bet of being on my harness all the time. But as of now, it is in my guiding rack.

these even works for idiots! the only way to f this up is to ignore the 3 pictures and the 2 page pamphlet sold with each unit.

remember, load it backwards....it always makes for a good thanksgiving story at the 'rents house!