Belay devices and descenders - Petzl USA | Sport
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Verticality Belay devices and descenders

Belay devices and descenders

Petzl offers a wide selection of descenders and innovative belay devices designed for all vertical activities. Caving, mountaineering, multi-pitch, cragging, canyoning, each activity has its device.

How to choose?

© Petzl Distribution Sam Bié Climb Up

Belay devices and descenders (15)
Belay devices with assisted braking (2)
Belay/rappel devices (2)
Descenders (2)
Caving descenders (8)
Canyoning descender (1)
New items (4)

Belay devices with assisted braking

Suitable for all climbers, Petzl belay devices with assisted braking are designed to function on single ropes and improve comfort on belays.

Belay/rappel devices

Designed for single ropes or half ropes, Petzl belay devices combine safety and great simplicity of use.

Descenders

Petzl descenders are adapted for descents in different environments: climbing, caving, canyoning...

Caving descenders

Designed for caving, these devices are made for rope descents and are perfectly adapted to the particular conditions of underground terrain.

How to choose?

Canyoning descender

New items

GRIGRI® + Belay device with assisted braking and anti-panic handle, for a broad range of single rope diameters (8.5 to 11 mm)
GRIGRI® Belay device with assisted braking for a broad range of single rope diameters (8.5 to 11 mm)
REVERSO® Lightweight, multipurpose belay/rappel device; can be used to belay a second in Reverso mode
VERSO Lightweight belay/rappel device for a broad range of single, half and twin ropes
HUIT Figure 8 descender
HUIT ANTIBRULURE Figure 8 descender with anti-burn grip
STOP Assisted-braking descender for caving
SIMPLE Simple, lightweight descender for caving
RACK Brake bar descender for long descents
FREINO Z Automatic locking carabiner with friction spur for STOP and SIMPLE descenders
Pulley for SIMPLE Pulley for SIMPLE caving descender
Barrette mobile avec crochet du RACK Swinging brake bar with hook for RACK
Barrette sans crochet du RACK Brake bar w/o hook for RACK
Barrette fixe coudée anodisée du RACK Anodized, fixed brake bar for RACK
PIRANA Descender for canyoning

Choosing your belay devices

Selection table, belay devices.

Types of belay devices

Assisted-braking belay devices

  • Concept: when the climber falls, the device pivots on the carabiner, the rope tightens and the cam pinches and blocks the rope. Holding the brake side of the rope helps engage the cam; therefore, it is important to always hold the brake side of the rope. To lower the climber on a top-rope, the belayer gradually pulls the release handle, without letting go of the brake-side rope. The handle helps adjust the friction, but the descent is controlled by the hand gripping the brake-side rope
    Assisted braking.

    Assisted braking

    Progressive friction control.

    Progressive friction control

  • Benefits:

    - assisted braking in the event the climber falls

    - especially useful for working a route: trying a move over and over, holding the climber...

    - easily controlled, progressive rope feed provides a smooth and comfortable descent
  • Petzl assisted-braking belay devices
    GRIGRI® +

    GRIGRI® +

    Belay device with assisted braking and anti-panic handle, for a broad range of single rope diameters (8.5 to 11 mm)

    GRIGRI®

    GRIGRI®

    Belay device with assisted braking for a broad range of single rope diameters (8.5 to 11 mm)

Belay/rappel devices

  • Concept: if the climber falls, the brake hand grips the rope and pulls it downward, the rope gets pressed into the grooved V-shaped channels, thus increasing the friction until the rope stops. To lower, the belayer uses both hands on the brake-side rope to control the descent
    Grooved V-shaped friction channels - 1/2

    Grooved V-shaped friction channels

    Grooved V-shaped friction channels - 2/2
  • Benefits:

    - simple, compact and lightweight device

    - compatible with single, half, and twin dynamic ropes

    - comfortable rappelling, thanks to the effective friction grooves
  • Petzl belay/rappel devices
    REVERSO®

    REVERSO®

    Multipurpose belay/rappel device for lead or top-rope belaying, belaying one or two seconds in multi-pitch climbing (Reverso mode) and rappelling.

    VERSO

    VERSO

    For lead or top-rope belaying, and rappelling.

Choosing your descender for caving

Choosing your descender for caving, table

Benefits of descenders for caving

  • efficient braking on the rope, regardless of its condition: dry, -wet, muddy, sandy, stiff...
  • compatible with 8.5 to 11 mm diameter low stretch kernmantel ropes
  • do not twist the rope

Loss prevention: STOP or SIMPLE descender with FREINO Z carabiner

FREINO Z carabiner

FREINO Z is an automatic locking carabiner with friction spur designed for STOP (D009AA00) and SIMPLE (D004AA00) descenders.

FREINO Z, used with a STOP or SIMPLE descender.

When used with a STOP or SIMPLE descender, the carabiner can be turned to make the device loss-proof when transferring from the gear loop to the semi-circular carabiner.