SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device

Curated from 85 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 25, 2025

SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device

Brand: SOB
Price: $16
Snoop Score:
3.0
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
5.0
Technical
1.5

Snoop's Take

The SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device is designed to enhance safety during high-altitude operations, such as rock climbing, mountaineering, and rescue missions. Made from high-quality aluminum-magnesium alloy, it features an anti-rust and anti-corrosion coating, ensuring durability and a longer service life for outdoor enthusiasts. While specific positive and negative feedback themes are not provided, the product is generally recognized for its robust construction and safety features. Users appreciate how it aids in fall protection, with one user noting its reliability during challenging climbs. This sentiment reflects a trust in the device’s ability to prevent accidents, ensuring a safer climbing experience. Based on its features and the implied consumer sentiment, the SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device is recommended for those seeking a reliable and durable safety solution in climbing and high-altitude operations.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Belay & Rappel Equipment

Would it be a bad idea to use this instead of buying caving-specific gear I'd likely not use again?

Insightful Chatter

This product is "#3 in climbing ropes". I would not trust my life on it, but it is being advertised as a climbing gear.

Insightful Chatter
Product
3.0
SOB Climbing Fall Protection Belay Device
Beginner Belaying
2 / 10
Sport Climbing
2 / 10
Trad & Multi-Pitch Climbing
2 / 10
Gym & Top-Rope Training
2 / 10
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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion about belay device preferences
I've been doing more multi pitch leading and while using the standard setup with guide mode is fine it's been giving my arms a real workout.
Check out the Kong GiGi. It's popular with guides for exactly this purpose, but it only works for belaying a second.
Yup, way smoother for belaying from above and also for rappelling.
+1 on the Gigi. I climb as a party of 3 semi-regularly and this is my preferred device for pulling 2 ropes at a time.
Discussion about different belay devices and their uses
which category to you fall into?
I use a grigri for all belaying - if I get incapacitated I want the device to still work.
I don't bring a backup, I can theoretically rap with just a single carabiner but I have never needed to in the moment.
I bring an ATC or megajul as backup. I don't want to fuck with a munter or other biner systems and these devices are small and light.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Discussion about alternatives to auto-belay devices
Are there any cheaper alternatives to an auto-belay which would let me practice climb when I'm by myself? Those things cost thousands.
It may be better to just build a bouldering wall. Then you just have to invest in padding for safety which is way cheaper than an auto-belay (most of the time).
Yeah, a circuit board is almost definitely going to be better value in terms of endurance and climbing time than a rope solo set up.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Discussion about belay device safety and recommendations
While I trust myself with an ATC for top rope, I know there are safety benefits of using devices with braking assist for lead.
Grigri is considered pretty standard these days, and for good reason— they’re very safe and it doesn’t take too much practice to use it smoothly.
It’s pretty awful. ESPECIALLY if you’re in the gym mostly. I don’t recommended it.
The brand new Neox also by maker of Grigri. It is much smoother than grigri.
Discussion about proper belay technique and its effectiveness
PSA: Proper Belay Technique
Wait what are people complaining about? Zero extra slack in the system the whole time, extremely quick to take it a boat load of freed up rope as buddy fell. Kept him off the ground by belaying skills alone to my eye.
Strong opinions about belay device preferences
Fuck your belay devices.
Discussion about the importance of taking a belay course for safety and confidence
I really are not feeling that confident and are just so scared I’m going to hurt someone.
It will build confidence and you may learn some tricks or tips.
Once your hands feel comfy your mind can be at ease because you know that you'll be able to keep up with the process and you know you'll be able to catch at a moments notice.
I know I’m doing my part to participate in the act of climbing for someone else. And it builds trust.
Discussion about dry treatment necessity for ropes
Buying first rope I'm looking at buying my first rope and the information on if dry treated is important or not is all over the place with regards to trad climbing so I thought I'd ask y'all.
Unless you plan on pursuing ice or alpine objectives you don't need a dry treated rope.
Unless you plan on pursuing ice or alpine objectives you don't need a dry treated rope. However, dry
Discussion about rope length considerations for specific climbing areas
Son of Easy O is a pretty popular route that goes well with a 70m.
Discussion about proper positioning of autoblocks for safety
Put the autoblock on the belay loop, not the leg loop.
General chatter about climbing and rappelling techniques
I'm a little jealous that your 5 year old already knows this.
one of the first responses is always "YGD: You're Gonna Die!"
Reference to external authoritative resources for climbing safety
When in doubt, Petzl always has good technical manuals that you can reference, which are a more authoritative resource than some random guy on the internet.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about caving gear suitability
Would it be a bad idea to use this instead of buying caving-specific gear I'd likely not use again?
Check with them if that's the case, and maybe reassess if there is, you should definitely do a horizontal cave first!
my friend is saying my current gear is fine, but I wanted to hear a second point of view .... stuff like the meteors not being a great choice :)
most of the head protection you need in caves is from regularly bumping and scraping your head as you walk and crawl.
Concerns about Amazon gear suitability for climbing
This product is "#3 in climbing ropes". I would not trust my life on it, but it is being advertised as a climbing gear.
If we find things like the rope you mentioned we should report the seller.
People doing SRT aren't belayed, you are entirely in control of your assent or descent up & down the rope.
This thread will be posted again every Friday so there should always be an opportunity to ask your question and have it answered.
Discussion about belay and climber lines twisting
The more experienced person I was climbing with didn’t think I had done anything wrong belaying.
The only way for this to happen is for the climber to cross the rope or for the ropes to have been crossed from the start.
Always make sure that the ropes are not twisted before starting and I would also recommend making sure that the climber always goes between the rope and the wall if they are switching which side of the rope they are on.
It’s no big deal, just annoying. The trick is, when you pass the rope one way round, next time you need to pass it the other way round.
Discussion about safety configurations for rappelling with children
For those curious, he's got a fireman belay at the bottom and a brake line tied to his leg loop, so triple redundancy on the speed.
Well the fireman's belay makes it safe but if you're going to use an autoblock there is a "most safe" configuration. Especially as the rappel is already extended.
the kid is 100% safe no matter where the autoblock is, so don't jump on the OP about what he should do about what is "most safe"
The kid is wearing a universal adult harness, not a child harness. Regardless, rigging with an extended rappel and a belay loop autoblock would still be safe on a children's harness.

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