Best Assisted-Braking Belay Devices
Updated How we research
PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray
The Petzl GRIGRI 3 in gray, the latest version of the benchmark assisted braking belay device for gym and sport.
PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device
Petzl's GRIGRI +, an assisted braking belay device with extra features aimed at gyms and newer belayers.
Assisted-braking devices have become the default at sport crags and gyms for good reason: when a fall loads the system, the device helps clamp or pinch the rope, adding a margin your brake hand alone does not have. But the category spans very different designs, from mechanically camming devices to passive geometry-assisted tubes, and they differ in feeding smoothness, lowering control, supported rope diameters, weight, and how much technique adjustment they demand from a belayer trained on tubes. We weighed catch reliability, smooth slack delivery for lead belaying, controlled lowering, rope range, durability, and how forgiving each device is of common handling errors. Camming devices suit sport climbers, projecting sessions, and long hangdogging days; lighter geometry-assist models suit multipitch and alpine climbers who also rappel. Assisted braking is an assist, never an autopilot: keep your brake hand on at all times, use a rope within the certified diameter range, and learn each device from the manufacturer's instructions, since handling differs meaningfully between models.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 8.0 to 9.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.2/10.
- Also great value:EDELRID Mega Jul Belay Device. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Solid build:PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Feature-rich:Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device with Assisted Braking. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray9.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.EDELRID Mega Jul Belay Device8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device with Assisted Braking8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Mammut Smart 2.0 Belay Package8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.EDELRID Jul 2 Belay Device8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Mammut Smarter Belay Device - Phantom8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray | 9.2/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device | 8.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | EDELRID Mega Jul Belay Device | 8.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device with Assisted Braking | 8.6/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | Mammut Smart 2.0 Belay Package | 8.6/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 6 | EDELRID Jul 2 Belay Device | 8.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 7 | Mammut Smarter Belay Device - Phantom | 8.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
#1The Petzl GRIGRI 3 in gray, the latest version of the benchmark assisted braking belay device for gym and sport.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Assisted braking adds a margin of safety when catching falls
- + Latest GRIGRI refines rope feeding and lowering control
- + Standard device in gyms, so help and instruction are easy to find
- - Heavier and pricier than simple tube belay devices
- - Single rope only, so it is not suited to double rope rappels
#2Petzl's GRIGRI +, an assisted braking belay device with extra features aimed at gyms and newer belayers.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Anti-panic lowering helps prevent dropping a climber too fast
- + Top rope and lead modes suit gym settings with mixed users
- + Stainless wear plate is built for heavy use by many belayers
- - Heavier than the standard GRIGRI for outdoor sport climbers
- - Anti-panic feature can frustrate experienced belayers when lowering
#3EDELRID's Mega Jul, an assisted braking tube device that works on thinner ropes and supports double rope rappels.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Assisted braking on a light, simple tube-style device
- + Handles double strands for rappelling, unlike cam devices
- + Guide mode capable for bringing up seconds on multi-pitch
- - Rope feeding can feel sticky until you learn the thumb technique
- - Stainless build is heavier than aluminum tube devices
#4The Petzl GRIGRI with assisted braking, the classic cam device favored for sport projecting and gym lead belaying.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cam locks the rope during a fall, reducing fatigue on long sessions
- + Makes hang-dogging and working routes much easier on the belayer
- + Widely taught design makes partners confident on belay
- - Feeding slack quickly for clips requires practiced technique
- - Needs extra care to avoid misloading the rope backward
#5Mammut's Smart 2.0 belay package, a device and carabiner combo with assisted braking in a tube-style shape.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Package includes a matched carabiner so setup is correct from the start
- + Assisted braking gives extra security without the weight of a GRIGRI
- + Simple shape is easy to learn for new sport climbers
- - Single rope only, so it cannot handle double rope rappels
- - Lowering smoothly takes practice compared with a cam device
#6EDELRID's Jul 2, an assisted braking tube-style device that combines tube-like feel with extra catching support.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Tube-like feel makes it easy for tube device users to switch
- + Assisted braking helps hold falls with less grip strength
- + Lighter than cam devices like the GRIGRI
- - Needs a specific carabiner setup to work as intended
- - Lowering technique differs from both tube devices and GRIGRIs
#7Mammut's Smarter belay device in Phantom, an assisted braking design with a handle meant to ease lowering.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Lowering handle gives more control than the original Smart shape
- + Assisted braking adds support when catching big falls
- + Compact size clips cleanly to a harness belay loop
- - Less common than the GRIGRI, so fewer partners know how to use it
- - Specific technique needs learning before real-world use
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Heavier and pricier than simple tube belay devices (PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray)
- Heavier than the standard GRIGRI for outdoor sport climbers (PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device)
- Rope feeding can feel sticky until you learn the thumb technique (EDELRID Mega Jul Belay Device)
- Feeding slack quickly for clips requires practiced technique (Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device with Assisted Braking)
- Single rope only, so it cannot handle double rope rappels (Mammut Smart 2.0 Belay Package)
- Needs a specific carabiner setup to work as intended (EDELRID Jul 2 Belay Device)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among assisted-braking belay devices?
PETZL GRIGRI 3 Climbing Belay Device - Gray is our top overall pick. The Petzl GRIGRI 3 in gray, the latest version of the benchmark assisted braking belay device for gym and sport. It earns our score of 9.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
PETZL GRIGRI + Assisted Braking Belay Device is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Petzl's GRIGRI +, an assisted braking belay device with extra features aimed at gyms and newer belayers.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Climbing Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
Popular right now
- The Best Climbing Nuts and StoppersBuying guide
- Best Belay DevicesBuying guide
- Best Headlamps for ClimbersBuying guide
- Bouldering vs Rope ClimbingArticle
- Climbing Photography BasicsArticle
- The Best Climbing SalvesBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.