Gear Review: Petzl GriGri 2 Belay Device
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Outdoor and indoor rock climbing
Duration of Test: 6 months
Product Name: GriGri 2
Product Brand: Petzel
Best Use: Belaying
There is also now a "GriGri+"
The Full Review:
I bought a Petzl GriGri 2 Belay Device about 6 months ago, and I’ve used it so much I thought I should review it. The GriGri 2 is an assisted belay device. Which means it adds friction and bends the rope when a fall happens. This prevents the rope from slipping and leaves less room for error on the part of the belayer. This device also has a small lever you use when lowing your partner off the wall. The GriGri 2 is very easy to use and it has diagrams on how you should place the rope inside the device. It also has a small picture of a climber and a brake hand, letting you know which end of the rope the climber should be on as well as your brake hand.
The Petzl GriGri 2 is pretty much an industry standard across the world as far as assisted belay devices go. There are many indoor rock gyms that have these attached to each rope rather than a tube belay device. As I said, the room for error is much less with one of these. To be honest I would always feel more comfortable on the wall if someone is belaying me with a GriGri 2 rather than a tube belay device.
Another reason I purchased the GriGri 2 is that you can use them to ascend the rope and perform a rescue. I recently got my "rock wall instructor certificate" where we had to practice this and using the GriGri 2 made it ten times easier.
Side note: To check if your GriGri is working correctly, pull up quickly on the climber side of your rope if it locks in place instead of sliding through, your good to go.
The Good:
Durable
Easy to use
Reliable
Offers less room for error
Safe
Bombproof reputation
The Bad:
More bulky than a tube belay device
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the GriGri 2 has an amazing reputation in the climbing scene all over the world. It is a safer option than any tube belay device and it can do things that other belay devices can't. There are other assisted belay devices out there but they are almost all just a knock-off of this device. I highly recommend the GriGri 2.
The Full Review:
I bought a Petzl GriGri 2 Belay Device about 6 months ago, and I’ve used it so much I thought I should review it. The GriGri 2 is an assisted belay device. Which means it adds friction and bends the rope when a fall happens. This prevents the rope from slipping and leaves less room for error on the part of the belayer. This device also has a small lever you use when lowing your partner off the wall. The GriGri 2 is very easy to use and it has diagrams on how you should place the rope inside the device. It also has a small picture of a climber and a brake hand, letting you know which end of the rope the climber should be on as well as your brake hand.
The Petzl GriGri 2 is pretty much an industry standard across the world as far as assisted belay devices go. There are many indoor rock gyms that have these attached to each rope rather than a tube belay device. As I said, the room for error is much less with one of these. To be honest I would always feel more comfortable on the wall if someone is belaying me with a GriGri 2 rather than a tube belay device.
Another reason I purchased the GriGri 2 is that you can use them to ascend the rope and perform a rescue. I recently got my "rock wall instructor certificate" where we had to practice this and using the GriGri 2 made it ten times easier.
Side note: To check if your GriGri is working correctly, pull up quickly on the climber side of your rope if it locks in place instead of sliding through, your good to go.
The Good:
Durable
Easy to use
Reliable
Offers less room for error
Safe
Bombproof reputation
The Bad:
More bulky than a tube belay device
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the GriGri 2 has an amazing reputation in the climbing scene all over the world. It is a safer option than any tube belay device and it can do things that other belay devices can't. There are other assisted belay devices out there but they are almost all just a knock-off of this device. I highly recommend the GriGri 2.