Tube style and cam-assisted belay devices
Discover all our belay devices for climbing
This page features our selection of belay devices and descenders for climber safety. Whether you're climbing single-pitch or multi-pitch routes, whether you're looking for a tube belay device, a figure eight, or a belay device with an assisted braking system, we offer a wide range of models from leading brands such as Petzl, Beal, Camp, Black Diamond, Edelrid, Mammut and many more. Whether you're planning a rappel descent or need to belay your climbing partners, choose from the models available here. With such a wide selection, climbers are sure to find the right gear for their needs. Tube devices are lighter than assisted-braking systems, which have the advantage of requiring less hand force to stop the rope. For beginner climbers, cam-assisted devices offer a high level of safety, though they tend to be heavier. For example, the Grigri and the Neox from Petzl are must-haves—these assisted-braking models are very user-friendly and provide excellent belaying comfort. Discover all our climbing hardware on Glisshop.
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£27.19
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£16.63
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£17.51
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£8.71
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£16.63
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£27.19
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£83.51
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£61.51
The Petzl Grigri Vert is the most well-known and widespread assisted braking belay device, praised for its comfort and the safety it provides to the belayer.
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£83.51
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£61.51
The Petzl Grigri Gris is the simplest belay device in existence, offering comfort and safety for sports climbing.
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£114.31
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£87.03
The Petzl Neox Orange is a smooth, safe belay device offering dynamic rope movement and easy descent, combining safety and efficiency for climbers.
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£30.80
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£24.55
The Petzl Reverso Gris belay device is very easy to use and suits perfectly any style of climber. It is compatible with all rope types, making it a versatile model.
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£105.51
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£74.71
The Grigri + Orange is a climbing belay device from Petzl offering a great deal of assistance to facilitate the activity to beginner climbers and improve their safety.
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£83.51
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£61.51
The Grigri from Petzl, presented here in a red colourway, is the most well-known and popular assisted braking belay device, offering comfort and safety for belaying.
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£114.31
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£87.03
The Petzl Neox Black is a smooth, safe belay device, offering dynamic rope movement and easy descent, combining safety and efficiency for climbers.
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£30.71
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£24.55
The Petzl Reverso Rouge is an essential piece of equipment no matter your skill level. It enables a smooth descent and is compatible with most ropes.
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£74.71
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£55.35
The Beal Birdie is a compact, stainless steel belay device offering braking assistance, precise descent control, and compatibility with all single ropes from 8.5 to 10.5 mm.
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£114.31
-23%
£87.03
The Petzl Neox Light Grey is a smooth, safe belay device with an integrated wheel for easy descent and dynamic belaying, combining safety and efficiency for climbers.
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Climbing requires specific technical gear. Beyond the climbing rope, harness, helmet and shoes, it’s important to carefully choose your belay device. This small mechanical device is essential for belaying a lead or top-rope climber during their ascent. It’s also the tool that allows for easy rappelling. Here’s a quick overview of the different belay devices available on the market:
The Figure 8 Descender
This figure 8-shaped descender is probably the most iconic device in climbing history. Very simple in design, it played a major role in the rise of modern climbing. The figure 8 descender does tend to twist ropes and doesn’t allow you to belay two seconds at once. Belaying a second climber must be done with a redirect at a high anchor or with an additional device: the plaquette.
The Simple Belay Device / Tube
More modern in design, the simple belay device, also called a tube or “basket,” helps reduce rope twisting. Like the figure 8, this device lets you belay a single second with a high redirect or a plaquette.
The Plaquette Belay Device
To address the lack of auto-blocking on the figure 8 or simple tube, manufacturers developed the plaquette: a metal device with two slots for the ropes and two holes for anchor attachment. Properly positioned at the anchor, the plaquette provides auto-blocking belay for one or two seconds.
The Double Belay Device (Reverso-style) – Ideal for Half Ropes
This model was a real game-changer, as it allows you to belay a leader or a second with a single rope or half ropes. Most importantly, it can belay two seconds at once with half ropes, and it can be attached directly to the anchor via its reinforced upper point, acting as an auto-blocking device. The double belay device with assisted locking, like the Reverso, merges the basic tube and the plaquette into one piece of gear, weighing only 80-100g depending on the alloy used.
The Assisted-Braking Belay Device (Grigri-style)
Another revolution in belaying: the Petzl Grigri, an assisted-braking belay device with cam that locks automatically in case of a fall. This device is mainly designed for sport climbing or gym climbing on single-pitch routes. It features a side handle that allows you to release the rope with varying degrees of control. However, while the Grigri ensures automatic locking in a fall, it does require a learning period to safely belay a lead climber. It’s strongly recommended to read the Grigri manual and watch Petzl’s instructional videos to master its use. Petzl has also released a new, smoother assisted-braking device for lead belaying: the Neox. Again, a learning period is necessary for safe use.
Assisted-Braking Belay Devices
Since the Grigri’s launch, many brands have developed assisted-braking belay devices. In this category you’ll find the Mammut Smart, Black Diamond ATC-Pilot, and Edelrid Jul and Giga Jul. These devices almost automatically lock the rope. However, it’s crucial to always keep the brake strand in hand to prevent accidental slippage, especially with thinner ropes. These systems are a very interesting compromise between a manual tube and the Grigri. This type of assisted-braking belay device helps prevent potential handling errors, like mishandling the Grigri’s lever.
Complete Belay Device and Carabiner Packs
At Glisshop, we also offer all-in-one belay device and carabiner packs. In addition to matching colors, these packs ensure you have a carabiner of the right size and shape for practical and efficient belaying.