Best Belay and Rappel Devices for Climbing
Curated from 557 real Reddit comments and discussions across 18 products.
Refreshed on: April 24, 2025
Snoop’s Take
Belay devices are the unsung heroes of your climbing rack—winners on Reddit fuse cam-assisted braking, broad rope compatibility, anti-panic handles, and steel wear plates into feather-weight packages. Top picks nail smooth lowering, one-hand ops, and debris-resistant durability. Losers? Hefty multi-part gizmos that seize up on sandy canyon walls, jam in icy temps, and choke on ropes under 8.1 mm. If you crave a reliable catch without wrestling your gear, ignore anything bulkier than 200 g or sporting flimsy levers—those are red flags begging to bite you mid-climb.
Top Considerations Before Purchasing
All Products that we Rated
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 6.9 | Popularity 8.2 | Feautures 8.3 |
| ✅ Recommended | ||
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 10.0 | Popularity 10.0 | Feautures 6.3 |
| ✅ Recommended | ||
Other Products the Community Recommends
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 7.7 | Popularity 9.7 | Feautures 7.8 |
| ✅ Recommended | ||
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 7.5 | Popularity 9.2 | Feautures 7.4 |
| ✅ Recommended | ||
Products You Will Return...
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 0.0 | Popularity 0.1 | Feautures 2.1 |
| ❌ Not Recommended | ||
Reddit Feedback
| Sentiment 5.0 | Popularity 5.0 | Feautures 0.7 |
| ❌ Not Recommended | ||
Compare On All Talked About Dimensions
| Product Name | Image | Price | Score | Compare | See Details | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETZL GRIGRI+ Belay Device |  | $90 | 8.2 | Details | Buy | |
| S.E.PEAK Climbing Double Stop Descender |  | $43 | 8.0 | Details | Buy | |
| EDELRID GigaJul Belay Device |  | $59 | 7.7 | Details | Buy | |
| Mammut Smart 2.0 Belay Device |  | $39 | 7.5 | Details | Buy | |
| Ito Rocky Climbing Stop Descender for Rappelling |  | $43 | 7.3 | Details | Buy | |
| BLACK DIAMOND ATC-XP Belay Device |  | $24 | 7.2 | Details | Buy | |
| AOKWIT Professional 25KN Rappel ATC Belay Device |  | $15 | 7.2 | Details | Buy | |
| Black Diamond ATC-XP Belay Device |  | $24 | 7.1 | Details | Buy | |
| Petzl GRIGRI + Belay Device with Anti-Panic Handle | | $89 | 6.8 | Details | Buy | |
| Black Diamond Big Air ATC XP Belay Device and Carabiner Package |  | $39 | 6.2 | Details | Buy | |
| Black Diamond ATC-Guide Rapel/Belay Device |  | $37 | 6.1 | Details | Buy | |
| YXGOOD 50KN Rescue Figure 8 Descender |  | $16 | 6.1 | Details | Buy | |
| PETZL GRIGRI Belay Device |  | $99 | 5.5 | Details | Buy | |
| Black Diamond Super 8 Belay Rappel Device |  | $19 | 4.6 | Details | Buy | |
| SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device |  | $16 | 3.0 | Details | Buy | |
| NewDoar Climbing Abseiling Belay Device |  | $13 | 3.0 | Details | Buy | |
| WILDKEN Professional Rappel ATC Belay Device |  | $12 | 2.8 | Details | Buy | |
| PETZL Gray GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device |  | $95 | 1.0 | Details | Buy |
Products that are Best For...
From alpine ascents to gym sessions, here are Reddit’s top belay buddies for every climb. Pick your perfect match for lead belaying, top-roping, ice missions, and canyon exploits.
The PETZL GRIGRI+ is well-suited for beginner belayers due to its anti-panic handle, which engages to stop the descent if the user pulls too hard. This feature enhances safety for new climbers learnin...
The lightweight and compact design of the PETZL GRIGRI makes it ideal for sport climbing, where quick rope handling and smooth lowering on bolted routes are essential. Its compatibility with a range o...
The device's robust construction and versatility for different rope sizes make it suitable for trad and multi-pitch climbing, where durability and functionality are critical.
The PETZL GRIGRI's easy-to-use design, combined with engraved diagrams for rope installation, makes it a great choice for gym and top-rope training settings. Its automatic braking feature provides an ...
