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Petzl GriGri2 Blue
  • Petzl GriGri2 Blue
  • Petzl GriGri2 Opened
  • Petzl GriGri2 Setup
  • Petzl GriGri2 Orange (looks Gold to us)
  • Petzl GriGri2 Silver
  • Petzl GriGri2 Recall numbers

GriGri 2

Rating

My vote: None ( 4.8 avg )

Description

The GRIGRI 2 belay device with assisted braking is designed to facilitate belay maneuvers. The GRIGRI 2 works equally well for lead climbing and top roping. It may be used on all single dynamic 8.9 to 11 mm ropes on the market (ideal at 9.4 mm to 10.3 mm). Both compact and ultra-light, the GRIGRI 2 will accompany you on climbs around the world for many years. The GRIGRI 2 has a new design that allows excellent control during the descent.

-Belay technique identical to classic belay systems: both hands on the rope. A fall is stopped by tightening the hand on the free end of the rope.
-Assisted braking capability: during fall arrest, the belayer holds the free end of the rope, the cam pivots and pinches the rope, increasing the braking action until the rope stops sliding.
-The GRIGRI 2 has a new design that allows excellent control during the descent. One hand holds the rope and the other uses the handle to unlock the cam. The patented handle design allows a very gradual release of the rope. In combination with the strong braking action of the cam, it gives a great feeling of control when lowering a partner or rappelling.
-The GRIGRI 2 is compact and ultra-light at 185 g (25 % smaller and 20 % lighter than the GRIGRI)
-The construction includes a stainless steel friction plate and cam to ensure a long life for the product
-For 8.9 to 11 mm single ropes (ideal at 9.4 to 10.3 mm)
-Diagrams for rope installation engraved on belay device (interior and exterior)

 

Retail price

US$ 99.95
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Device Type

Device Type

Tube

The most commonly used belay type also called an “ATC” or “tuber.” Other than a distinction between other belay device types, “Tube” is a rarely used term, most climbers just assume you're talking about this style when they refer to your "belay device."

Tube belay device example

Figure 8

Mostly used in rescue, canyoneering, tactical, work safety, or by old school climbers and rappellers. One reason they went out of popularity with recreational climbers is because they tend to create twists in the rope.

Figure 8 belay device example

Brake Assist

These devices assist in stopping the rope when a climber falls or hangs on the rope.

Brake Assist belay device example

Often referred to as “auto-blocking” but that’s not the official terminology because no belay device should be assumed to work automatically by itself, even if it feels like it does (or does most the time).

Plate

When simplicity is a must, or you started climbing before Tubers were the norm. Bonus: They tend to be very light weight.

Plate belay device example

Descender

For rappelling, not for belaying a lead climber or top-roping.

Descender example
Brake Assist - Mechanical
Weight (g)

Weight (g)

In grams, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand.

185 g
Belay Brake Assist

Belay Brake Assist

This is when the belay device significantly reduces the amount of holding power the belayer must exert to stop a fall and hold a climber.

This is also called "assisted-braking" as the device must hold a significant amount of the climber’s weight; this term does not include friction-adding "teeth" found on some tube style belay devices.

Confusingly referred to as “auto-blocking” or “auto-locking” these terms wrongly imply the device will always, automatically, stop a fall or hold a climber even if the belayer/rappeller is hands-free. These devices are not meant to be used without a hand on the braking side of the rope; the belayers/rapppeller brake hand should always be on the brake rope.

Worth Considering

Most of the mechanical brake assist devices only hold a single strand of rope and are not capable of double-strand rappelling (the most common method of rappel).

Yes
Rope Options 1 rope only
Guide Mode

Guide Mode

This is when you belay directly off the anchor instead of your harness. Guide mode is helpful if you climb outdoors a lot because it reduces the holding power required from the belayer. When your partner falls or rests, the weight of the climber is held mostly by the anchor and the belay device.

Tubers and Plates

When belaying in "guide mode," the tubers and plates turn auto-blocking. During a fall, the climbing rope pinches the slack rope, completely stopping the movement of either rope. A common guide mode setup shown below.

A double rope tubular device guide mode example

Mechanical Brake Assist Devices

There is no difference in the functionality of the device. A brake-hand should always be on the rope to ensure the climber is caught in the case of a fall. A common guide mode setup shown below.

A single rope mechanical brake assist guide mode example

Where guide mode is used

  • multi-pitch sport or trad climbs
  • single-pitch where you need to bring up a follower (say for a walk-off)

Learn More

http://www.climbing.com/skill/essential-skills-auto-blocking-belay-devices/

1 follower only
Teeth

Teeth

Teeth are only seen on tube devices. They add friction that helps grip the rope for more belaying control.

This is helpful for belaying heavier climbers. Teeth are becoming standard on new tube devices.

The belay device teeth are shown in the red circle

Worth Considering

Teeth do wear out. You can limit wear by rappelling on the side without teeth (if you don’t need the extra friction). Once they’re worn, you’ll still have a usable belay device, just less friction.

No
Rope Range (mm)

Rope Range (mm)

The range of rope diameters, in millimeters, that the manufacturer/brand specifies can safely be used.

This is the best case scenario and does not necessarily take into consideration that certified ropes have a tolerance of +/- .3 mm.

Recently, manufacturers have started to add an "optimized" rope range -- this is the range that will result in the nicest handling of the belay device.

8.9 mm  - 11.0 mm ­­­
Certification

Certifications

The main climbing gear certifications are CE and UIAA--and normally the UIAA creates the rules that the CE body also supports. When possible, we try to list all the certifications the product carries.

To sell a climbing product in Europe, the device must be CE certified. There are no official requirements to sell climbing gear in the US. The UIAA certification is a voluntary process.

Learn More

Rock and Ice Certifications Guide
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AVG RATING
5.16
( 5.2 avg )
Rating
5.16
( 5.2 avg )

Like a regular ATC for lazy people!

I looked around when I was buying an auto locking ATC. I liked the grigri but struggled to get it to lower well with the thicker gym ropes. I guess I was just spoiled because everything else I tried was worse than the grigri.

This little guy is great for everything, and I recommend it to most newer climbers. More experienced climbers will probably be just fine with a regular ATC, but most experienced climbers probably know that already. Don't let the ease of use spoil your good ATC form, but this guy makes everything else seem like much more hard work.

DPM Climbing Gear Review no rating given just a review

My co-tester, Eddie, made a simple comment about the device: “It feels more like you’re belaying.” It’s true, for whatever reason it feels more like you’re belaying. I think what Eddie was alluding to is that it gives you more control. More control when feeding rope, catching falls, and lowering. Those are the three tasks that the device is designed to accomplish and it accomplishes them better than the old one. Success on Petzl’s part.

The only thing I’d like to add is my impressions on the recommended range of rope diameters for the device. I think that the star rating that Petzl has adopted is a bit misleading for the average user. If stars were awarded for ‘ease of use’ I would bump the recommended range down a bit. My personal opinion is that the device performed flawlessly on the skinny ropes. I would say 9.1 to about 9.8 is going to give the user the greatest ease of use. Even the 10.1 felt just a little tight in the device but perfectly fine. The 10.5 felt outright stiff and jerky though this could also be attributed to the stiffened nylon of a 12-year-old rope. But that is saying something. I haven’t bought a fat rope in 10+ years and had to dig through my closet to find one! With most climbers using a rope in the 9.8 to 10.1mm range this device is going to be flying off the shelves. I would definitely hesitate before buying one if you still climb on an 11mm rope. Overall, a job well done by Petzl and I’ll be buying one as soon as they hit shelves in the U.S. Slated for release, springtime 2011.

Splitter Choss Gear Review no rating given just a review

We topped out the route with an hour of daylight left, which was just enough to get us down the descent and back to our packs before the perpetual twilight of night time in Vegas set in. The rest of the week was filled with long climbs in the beautiful canyons of Red Rocks, and the GRIGRI2 was a trusty companion on every route.

Zion Adventures Logo

As we move towards lighter and faster climbing equipment, it is good to see Petzl has not compromised on quality, and has clearly put a lot of research and development into the GriGri 2. After 20 years, ol’ GriGri has manged to up the game, and deliver a belay job that will make your toes curl.

Zion Adventures Logo

Petzl has discovered that exerting excessive force on the fully extended handle of the GRIGRI 2 can cause internal damage, such that the GRIGRI 2 handle may become stuck in the open position.

GearFlogger Logo

If you liked the original Grigri you'll love the new version. Aside from being lighter and smaller and handling thinner ropes, the Grigri 2 just works smoother, like buttah. For a truly seamless belay experience pair it with Petzl's Freino carabiner, harder to find but worth it with a little horn that allows full control for lowering a heavier partner. The good folks at Petzl deserve credit for taking a great product and making it signficantly better, and extra credit for clear instructions that include detailed drawings of usage in various scenarios.

Climberism Gear Review

The Petzl Grigri 2 features a list of upgrades, including a smaller body making it about 20% lighter than the original Grigri, and it will now accept ropes as small as 8.9mm. Keep an eye out in your local gear shop, they will likely go quickly!

Rock and Ice Gear Review rating 5/5

Trad, multi-pitch and big-wall climbers will find the Grigri 2 fits on a rack better than its predecessor. My only critique of the device is that when you rappel and the cam is rotated out of the housing, you can inadvertently get the rope caught in a notch between the device's frame and cam.

Rock and Ice Gear Review

[Review written for the original GriGri]
There are nearly 50 different belay devices on the market, and fewer than five qualify as “auto-locking.” It says quite a bit about a Petzl Grigi that today, 18 years after its introduction to the market, it is still the gold standard for auto-locking devices. The combination of its ease of use, and effectiveness for catching falls and holding hangdogging partners, makes the Grigri the preferred device for single-pitch cragging.

Climbing Gear Review

How do you improve a product that has been a powerhouse in the climbing industry for almost two decades? Petzl went back to basics by making the original Grigri lighter and smaller, replacing it with the Grigri 2 (petzl.com). Used for everything from extended sport belays to jumar back-ups, the Grigri is now 2 ounces lighter and only about 75 percent of the original’s size. It also handles smaller-diameter ropes (down to 8.9mm) than the original, so skinny-rope redpointers and fat-cord topropers alike will be satisfied. From sport climbing in Colorado to a fourpitch sandstone tower in Utah, the Grigri 2 had all our testers singing its praises. Users found that feeding slack and lowering were smoother than with the original, and they ranked it as one of the most “automatic” belay devices—averaging a 9 out of 10 for braking power. We tested everything from 9.2mm to 10.5mm ropes, with the best results coming in the 9.4mm to 9.8mm range. Ropes in the 10.5mm range proved a bit balkier, but were still relatively smooth, and all rope sizes had “minimum unwanted locking.” Because the Grigri 2 is smaller than the old device, it’s also easier for those of us with childishly small hands to use the correct belay technique. One tester claimed the worst
feature of the Grigri 2 was “sending it back.”

Climbing Gear Review

Not to beat a dead horse (see Climbing 293), but damn, the Grigri 2 sure is nice. Everything is better than the original Grigri, which was good enough that it dominated the assisted-braking market for nearly two decades. The new Grigri is 25 percent lighter and smaller than the original, a boon for small-handed belayers especially. One tester claimed it “doesn’t get jerky like the original Grigri can.” The Grigri 2 also can handle a larger range of ropes, from 8.9mm to 11mm, which makes a big difference in an era of single lead ropes down to 8.9mm. (From our tests, the Grigri 2 handled ropes in the 9.4mm to 9.8mm range best.) Smaller, lighter, and easier to use—Version 2.0 is a great device for beginning sport climbers and seasoned pros alike. Be sure to watch the how-to-use-it video at Petzl’s website. Click here to see many more in-depth belay device reviews.

Introducing GriGri 2 Belay Device
Details of GriGri 2 belay device

This video is really long but very informative, first three minutes it shows Petzl athlete's opinion about GriGri 2 and rest shows instruction for using it. A well worth watching video.

Watch a tour of Petzl's facilities as they explain all the testing involved

Warning: This video is dubbed in English. If you're getting antsy, skip to section 7:40-8:15 for one of the most interesting parts, where they show a hardware specific camera inspection.

A checklist helping you monitor your GRIGRI 2 Belay Device health, helping to know when to retire your personal protection equipment.