Belaying

Belaying, the process of one climber managing and holding the rope for another person climbing, is an essential rock climbing skill that every climber needs to know. Learn here what belaying is and the 3 factors needed for a safe belay.

Belaying is one of the most serious climbing skills that you learn and use when you go rock climbing. Follow these two important belaying rules--Pay Attention and Don't Let Go--and keep your climbing partner safe if they fall.

The best place to learn how to belay is at an indoor climbing gym in a controlled setting. At a gym you can take a class in belaying or have one of the gym staff give you a belay lesson. Then practice belaying in the gym until you are competent and safe. After that you can venture outside and belay your partner on top-rope climbs.

The sling-shot belay is the best and safest belay system for top-rope climbing. Learn what a sling-shot belay is, how it works, and why it's the best top-rope belay system.

Belaying is one of the most important climbing skills. Here you learn the basics about belaying and using belay devices.

Natural anchors are points on a cliff or cliff-top that are used by climbers as an anchor for belaying, rappelling, and protecting a leader. These points include rock features like boulders and spikes and tree features like branches and tree trunks. Climbers use slings to tie off these points to create secure and safe climbing anchors. Learn...

Review of Black Diamond ATC-XP Climbing Belay Device

The Petzl GriGri belay device, a mechanical assist device used for belaying, is an important rock climbing tool. The GriGri, however, is not a hands-free auto-locking device. GriGri accidents happen because climbers load the device wrong or are careless belayers. Learn how to properly load and use a GriGri when you're climbing.

If you're sport climbing, follow this checklist of 6 safety tips before you start climbing and both you and your belayer will be safe and have more fun. Learn why you should check your harness, tie-in knot, verify the bolt count, check the length of the route and your rope, and how to safely bail off a hard route.