The main feature of a grigri is a clutch mechanism that helps you with braking by pinching the rope when it is moving too fast, such as during a fall. The GRIGRI is a belay device with assisted braking designed for belaying both in the gym and at the crag. When the rope, tied to a climber, comes under sudden tension, usually from a fall, a cam inside the GriGri pinches the rope and stops the climber’s fall. The success of this device has led to grigri becoming a common name for devices of this type. The lowering handle quickly transitions from "not fast enough" to "too fast", leading to using brake hand friction to slow the descent, which can cause a rope burn and involuntary release of the brake. Soft and supple skinny ropes don't lock as abruptly. Can be used in 2 orientations, for rappelling with or without brake assist, and can add a carabiner for lever action, making it similar to a GriGri. I think this will be especially helpful for those new to using GRIGRIs. The GriGri, manufactured by Petzl, is a self-braking belay device that is used for belaying a lead climber, a top-rope climber, and for rappelling on a single rope. Are there easy alternatives to dumping $80+ into another grigri to use as a brake? "This isn't particularly relevant if you are squared away with modern dynamic soft catch techniques as a lead belayer, but it is extremely relevant when you are belaying directly off an anchor. It has an all metal design and is lighter than any GriGri version. (Note that the ascender is usually for your non-dominant hand; ie, right handed climbers should use a … The Lifeguard also has a massive rope expansion range, from skinny 8.9mm ropes to 11mm fatties. The ATC-XP and the ATC-Guide have one major advantage over the GriGri and the GriGri 2: their price. Lustre recommends the best products at their lowest prices – right on Amazon. Not pushing the big grades yet, wife & I are leading up to 6-ish. [2] Petzl released the GRIGRI + in 2017, adding safety features to the original design, and 2019 saw the release of an updated version of the device, simply called the GRIGRI. The assisted braking function makes belaying more convenient when holding a climber or catching a fall. The reduction handle offers exceptional descent control. The technique for belaying a leader with an assisted braking device, like the GRIGRI + and GRIGRI 2, is very similar to that of using a tubular device but with a few specific maneuvers. If the user pulls too hard on the handle, the anti-panic function brakes and stops the descent. Grigri 1 is a great device, I wish Petzl would reissue it. It still works. hard projecting at Coolum). Tell us what you’re passionate about to get your personalized feed and help others. Date published: 2020-09-19. On the strand you aren’t going to rappel on, tie a Big F’ing Knot (BFK, it’s a technical term of course) such as a Figure 8, Yosemite 8, or Figure 9. This is a great grigri alternative to have in your bag. It can be used with all single ropes (optimized for 8.9 to 10.5 mm diameter ropes) and is suited for intensive use. This makes it easier to hold the fall. Belay device with cam-assisted blocking and anti-panic handle, particularly suitable for learners and for intensive use GRIGRI + is a belay device with assisted blocking and an anti-panic handle. It may be used on all 8.9 to 11 mm dynamic single ropes (optimized for 9.4 mm to 10.3 mm ropes). You can pull rope through slowly without it catching, but if the rope moves through quickly (e.g. For a day at the gym or crags, this device is a great, auto-locking belay device alternative to the standard belay device such as the Black Diamond ATC XP, which does not lock up.It is the same weight as most manual belay devices, meaning that you hardly notice it on the side of your harness. "unlike other mechanical assisted locking models, it boasts a gradual camming action that produces a dynamic catch and can reportedly reduce impact forces by as much as 40%." The Matik's friction surfaces are all made of cast stainless steel. Hey, I just got a set of pulleys and all that, and without thinking assumed I would just use my climbing grigri as a brake. People who don’t know what they are doing use these without holding brake end of rope all the time because they falsely believe it is “auto-locking”. Half ropes in the 8-8.5 range DO NOT LOCK FULLY with the proper edelrid strike biner" https://www.reddit.com/r/climbing/comments/6aoipn/nonjerky_method_for_rapping_with_mega_jul_in/dhh1vvx/, Video demonstration with stories of it happening in the comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=385cP_FYNEs. Tell us what you’re passionate about to get your personalized feed and help others. 2 - Clip an ascender to the rope above the Grigri. "This isn't particularly relevant if you are squared away with modern dynamic soft catch techniques as a lead belayer, but it is extremely relevant when you are belaying directly off an anchor. Half ropes in the 8-8.5 range DO NOT LOCK FULLY with the proper edelrid strike biner" https://www.reddit.com/r/climbing/comments/6aoipn/nonjerky_method_for_rapping_with_mega_jul_in/dhh1vvx/, Video demonstration with stories of it happening in the comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=385cP_FYNEs. It allows the user to position himself and then easily stop where needed by using the handle to block the rope. What is the best alternative to Petzl GriGri+? Have used a Gri-Gri down the wall & although it worked well, I'm still a little undecided. Make it less than 1cm (0.4inch) deep. Lustre recommends the best products at their lowest prices – right on Amazon. Likes. Impossible to hold large falls even with correct technique if this occurs, as there is little to no friction when the cam is open. GriGris have a friction plate and a cam that will lock when the clutch … ... Locking cam can be defeated if the grigri is pushed against a bolt/rock/obstruction. Anyone who has an older model of the GRIGRI can surely notice wear in that area. Petzl USA. The belay and rappel device is ingenious and stylish. If you don’t want to use the Safelock carabiner Freino recommended by Petzl for the GriGri, you have to know equivalent or better alternatives. With its innovative design and compact size, the Rig is a simple and effective alternative to more traditional descenders like the Grigri and Stop. Edelrid makes the Eddy which basically works like the Grigri but is way heavier and more expensive. The Matik's friction surfaces are all made of cast stainless steel. The camming system of the Matik is designed to allow a small amount of rope to slip. the grigri is the best for ease of use and subjective "feel" by a pretty good margin. It also requires much less … 1. It's superior to the Grigri 2 for tree climbing use for a variety of reasons. 3. Soft and supple skinny ropes don't lock as abruptly. The general gist of reviews of the Grigri+ seems to be: If you currently own an older Grigri, there rarely is a need to switch to the new one. The cam-assisted blocking function makes belaying more convenient when … It is the basis for a relationship of absolute trust between climber and belayer, because the belayer, literally, holds the climber’s life in their hands. Easier to pay out slack left-handed than a GriGri, "It doesn't like stiff ropes or fat ropes for this application, nor was it designed as such. It's only a little bit lighter but a lot more compact. It works very simply. Run your rope through the anchor like you normally would. You can see the GriGri here on Amazon. Impossible >9.8mm and disappointing below. Some tension in the rope through the device is actually required to ensure it locks- this means never letting go of the brake strand. i use the giga jul for multipitch because it's really good and super versatile. Mad Rock's Lifeguard is a game changer when it comes to the climbing world. The Petzl ID has this feature and it completely sucks. The GRIGRI + is an assisted braking device designed for all climbers, for both indoor and outdoor climbing. See More. Instead of having the Grigri oriented normally, with the brake side on the right, flip is … The anti-panic feature in the Plus is the major difference in the Plus versus the GRIGRI 2. It even has some design advantages over the GriGri. Ad. ". How to belay properly is the most essential skill in climbing, because catching a fall well hinges entirely on the belayer. Among the active assist braking devices, the Mad Rock Lifeguard is a decent alternative for those that like to multi-pitch climb with a GriGri. Gear and tech tips for mountaineering: rock climbing, caving, canyon, via ferrata, trail running Looking at an alternative belay device. Drill a hole on the O or N of the word "ONLY" on the device. Remember – to the man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Christopher Gibson wrote: as well as re-engaging the brake if the belayer cranks the lever back to far.That's a tricky technology to get right. Never used it though. Take your Grigri and put it in a vice or clamp it firmly. "unlike other mechanical assisted locking models, it boasts a gradual camming action that produces a dynamic catch and can reportedly reduce impact forces by as much as 40%." The Grigri excels in top-roping scenarios, as well on steep and difficult terrain where falls are clean and frequent (e.g. "stiff ropes feed very poorly. I have two so I'm all set. The lowering mechanism includes an anti-panic system that automatically stops the rope if the belayer pulls the handle too hard or loses control. Can be used in 2 orientations, for rappelling with or without brake assist, and can add a carabiner for lever action, making it similar to a GriGri. 2. "stiff ropes feed very poorly. Then drill the bottom plastic part of the grigri, you can see on the images, I haven't drilled the second hole accurately. The Birdie is cheaper than a standard Grigri, a little smaller (though a little heavier at 210g vs 175g), and a bit more intuitive for paying out slack and lowering with. i think their time in the market has refined it to really nail the user experience. Overall, it is important that you maintain control of the brake strand throughout the … Alternative to gri-gri and the like for a brake? The GRIGRI 2 works equally well for lead climbing and top roping. Slant is powered by a community that helps you make informed decisions. Traditional belay devices do not have an assisted braking mechanism. If you are looking to buy a Grigri, the Grigri+ might be worth the additional cost if you either climb with beginners or need the additional range of supported rope diameters. 9.7 and above ropes feed poorly for lead belay. A GriGri is a belay device, manufactured by Petzl, with an assisted breaking mechanism. It is therefore essential to be familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of individual carabiner types in order to make the right choice. The Mammut Smart is very light, very compact and a real value. Anything 9.8 and above, and performance starts to suffer significantly, as it's pretty hard to get rope to feed through the device smoothly.". I had the best luck with malleable Sterling ropes such as the Nano and Helix, and it also performed extremely well on the Mammut 8.7 and 9.2 ropes. This descender is compact and intuitive to use, making for smooth descents. Grigri 2 and 3 are even more focused in design as belay devices and have diminishing value in tree climbing compared to the Grigri 1. ". Impossible to hold large falls even with correct technique if this occurs, as there is little to no friction when the cam is open. Anything 9.8 and above, and performance starts to suffer significantly, as it's pretty hard to get rope to feed through the device smoothly.". if a climber falls), a cam inside the GriGri rotates and pinches the rope. As soon as it all arrived I realized how dumb that was, and am now not sure what to do. In 2011 [1] a new version, the GRIGRI 2, was released to replace the original 1991 model. In other contexts, you should think critically about the limitations of the Grigri and decide whether it is right for you. The easiest belay device to use incorrectly. If you prefer the feel of an ATC, don't like the belay method of a GriGri, and want a self-locking belay device, this is a fantastic alternative. A grigri is a belaying device with an assisted braking mechanism that you can use for rock climbing. Slant is powered by a community that helps you make informed decisions. 1 - Feed the rope through your Grigri, and attach the Grigri to your belay loop with a large locking carabiner, just like you would for belaying. I had the best luck with malleable Sterling ropes such as the Nano and Helix, and it also performed extremely well on the Mammut 8.7 and 9.2 ropes. This is more a personal opinion, but I find it way easier to feed slack out with. It's an assisted braking belay device that boasts smoother handling that's more similar to the original tube belay devices. 9.7 and above ropes feed poorly for lead belay. The lowering mechanism includes an anti-panic system that automatically stops the rope if the belayer pulls the handle too hard or loses control. 4. The GriGri functions like a car seat belt. Rated 5 out of 5 by earnhardt from alternative to grigri Have used several time under casual usage and it behave very similar to famous grigri. One of the most common and effective solutions is to reorient the Grigri. The thing inadvertently engages all the time when I dont want it to, so much so that Petzl actually installed an override button on the handle (which also doesent work that well). It's remarkably lighter and more compact when compared to other assisted braking devices, too. The camming system of the Matik is designed to allow a small amount of rope to slip. Compact and lightweight, it can be used with single ropes from 8.5 to 11 mm. Three rappelling modes Can be used in 2 orientations, for rappelling with or without brake assist, and can add a carabiner for lever action, making it similar to a GriGri. The GRIGRI 2 belay device with assisted braking is designed to facilitate belay maneuvers. 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