| Read 47 Reviews | Add a Review | Login to add comments. 
Cred: 4909 | Review by marks
Good Features
Good for sport climbers. A must have if your partners like to hang dog all day long.
Bad Features
Way to heavy and does not permit (easy) dual rope rappels so I do not recommend it for multipitch or trad use.
Recommended Alternatives
Trango Cinch is lighter but the handle is a little more difficult. |
Was this useful? Yes | No Read 47 Reviews | Add a Review | Read 5 Retailer DescriptionsFrom US Outdoor Store:Device for belaying a leader or a second and for single rope descents. Features: - Self-braking system: if the rope suddenly comes under tension (e.g. in a fall), the cam pivots to pinch the rope, thus helping the belayer stop the climber's fall.
- Usage is similar to that of conventional belay devices:
- Giving/taking slack is done by using both hands to slide the rope through the device,
- Falls are held by holding the free end of the rope,
- For lowering and rappelling, the rate of descent is controlled by the hand holding the free end of the rope (the rope is released with the handle).
- For ropes of diameters from 10 to 11 mm.
- 225 g.
Was this useful? Yes | No |
Competitive Products| Image |  |  |  |  | | Name | Gri Gri | Cinch | Sum Belay Device | Eddy | | Brand | Petzl | Trango | Faders | Edelrid | | Lowest Price | 67.51 | 54.9 | 63.96 | 111.96 | | Type | Auto Locking | Auto Locking | Auto Locking | Auto Locking | | Weight (g) | 225 | 182⇓ | 260⇑ | 351⇑ | | Rope Size Min (mm) | 10 | 8.8⇓ | 9.1⇓ | 9⇓ | | Rope Size Max (mm) | 11 | 11 | 10.5⇓ | 11 | | Dual Rope Rappels | No | No | No | No | | Dual Friction | No | No | No | No |
Add ReviewAverage Review: 4.6
Cred: 4909 | Review by marks
Good Features
Good for sport climbers. A must have if your partners like to hang dog all day long.
Bad Features
Way to heavy and does not permit (easy) dual rope rappels so I do not recommend it for multipitch or trad use.
Recommended Alternatives
Trango Cinch is lighter but the handle is a little more difficult. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 853 | Review by barubin
Good Features
This is pretty much the original self-locking belay device. It's extremely easy to use and a nice tool to have on your rack.
Bad Features
It is a little heavier than other devices on the market. Also, people who use this may experience a feeling of cockiness. Don't get cocky while using this. Self-locking should mean carelessness on the belayer's part. You should use this with just as much care as when using an ATC or a non-self-locking device.
Recommended Alternatives
There are other self-locking devices that are more light-weight but this one got the ergonomic design down first. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 706 | Review by NeeDlzdos
Good Features
Excellent for aid climbing belays when your belayer falls asleep on that 4 hour lead. Great for top rope soloing, solo aid leading, solo climbing (note solo climbing not acknowledged or encouraged by Petzl). Use it as an alpine soft knot (adjustable). Good learner belay device (extra backup in the system).
Bad Features
Only suitable for sinlge ropes 9.7 - 11mm. No good way to make it auto feed when soloing (without modification).
Recommended Alternatives
IMO best auto belay device, but the Trango Cinch is out there as well |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 90 | Review by fb_119400471
Good Features
Auto Locking ability makes me feel a little more comfortable when being belayed by novice belayers
Bad Features
Can be loaded incorrectly... haven't done it or seen it happen, but apperently its caused some pretty serious issues |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 361 | Review by eddiemack
Good Features
SAFE for the kids to use. When it's my arse on the rope I want to be able to climb without worries of my kids getting distracted by bright shinny objects. It's a great relief and easy to use.
Bad Features
I find using this device to belay a lead isn't as easy as a ATC. I personally like using a ATC better for belays and rappelling.
Recommended Alternatives
ATC devices. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 135 | Review by nrg9390
Good Features
Literally one of the most idiot-proof devices on the market (there are some clever idiots though). If something is wrong, just let go. it will do the rest. Makes gym climbing/route setting a breeze.
Bad Features
The fact that it has the idiot proof label. It makes the belayer lazy and careless, just because they have this device.
Recommended Alternatives
an ATC and proper training. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 12 | Review by FreeSailer35
Good Features
great auto locking belay device! great for begining climbers as well as seasoned veterans. small images make it very easy to tell in which direction the rope feed in/out goes.
Bad Features
the grigri is a little pricy, but i highly reccomend every climber having one.
Recommended Alternatives
excellent construction |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 101 | Review by IanW1960
Good Features
A great piece of kit, especially where you have a belayer who may or may not be up to the job. Also very useful for abseiling in situations where you have to go "hands off" perdiodically, such as reversing solo lead pitches. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 9 | Review by sunnyjamshedji
Good Features
Works well for hangdogging, even on multipitch trad. I use it when multipitching with newbies, so I can always lower them off. It is hard to do this with other devices that are better suited for the application such as the BD ATC Guide.
Bad Features
Agree - far too bulky and heavy, but it has its pros! |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 88 | Review by Kitmonster
Good Features
Just about idiot-proof. Just about.
Bad Features
bad-habit forming, especially when doing long belay sessions in the gym. And heavy |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 195 | Review by scottydo
Good Features
Very safe and very easy to use. I use these all the time in the gym but not so much outside.
Bad Features
Heavy if you're gonna use it outside.
Recommended Alternatives
Learn how to use an ATC. Much more control. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 26 | Review by fb_21804477
Good Features
works great
Bad Features
can only use with ropes greater than 10mm
Recommended Alternatives
none..nothing else compares to this established piece of hardware on the market |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 81 | Review by roytse
Good Features
Sturdy. Unbreakable. Awesome. Simple to use and self explanatory. Self-braking mechanism is smooth and reliable.
Bad Features
None |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 27 | Review by luiyo1200
Good Features
es bien bueno para top rope por que lockea automatico.
Bad Features
aveses da problemas cuando se esta lidiando porque le puede trancar en un dinamico o movimiento rapido
Recommended Alternatives
cualquier otro para liding |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 5 | Review by paulbarr
Good Features
Perfect for beginners learning to use belay devices with the added safety of being able to make a few mistakes as it automatically locks off.
Bad Features
Lowering people can be hard on the hands if they are heavy, need to controll the descent rate with the camming lever which can be tricky to master. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 42 | Review by fb_38400292
Good Features
good device for belaying someone who hang dogs alot |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 151 | Review by climbandkayak
Good Features
Nice when belaying my larger friend working a route.
Bad Features
Heavy. Can't rap on two stands. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 93 | Review by climbercam
Good Features
Easy to use
Durable
Bad Features
Unsafe for beginner belayers, Heavy, Expensive
Recommended Alternatives
Black Diamond ATC |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 54 | Review by fb_507277362
Good Features
great tool, extra safety
Bad Features
everyone who uses it must be trained extra |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 51 | Review by fb_738116829
Good Features
Super Easy. Versitle
Bad Features
Hard to "give" fast on Sport routes |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 99 | Review by fb_17114825
Good Features
great piece of equipment, easy to use, dependable
Bad Features
lots of climbing gyms do not allow them |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 91 | Review by fb_12711439
Good Features
bombproof.
Bad Features
sometimes gets caught up with larger diameter ropes. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 190 | Review by tande140
Good Features
If you are going to climb, buy one of these.
Bad Features
Only being able to load one rope |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 160 | Review by stevencook
Good Features
invaluable device for a day at teh crag |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 147 | Review by fb_829070088
Good Features
mmm... good...
Recommended Alternatives
want to try the chinch by Trango |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 46 | Review by fb_866120310
Good Features
good fpr gym climbing
Bad Features
not so good for lead climbing |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 22 | Review by fb_717530056
Good Features
Better than ATCs, auto-locking.
Bad Features
Expensive. |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 102 | Review by Delta V
Good Features
Great tool for guides |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No 
Cred: 15 | Review by glenni
Good Features
Easy to use
Bad Features
You have to know how to use this one! |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No
Cred: 5 | Review by ruda8
Good Features
works great
Bad Features
rope range
Recommended Alternatives
none |
Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. Was this useful? Yes | No Login to add comments. |
Have a Question?
Does Spadout sell gear?
