BURSTThere seems to be no shortage of new people interested in getting into climbing right now.
Fifty-three new gyms opened in North America last year, and climbing is becoming more visible than ever: Free Solo, The Dawn Wall, The Alpinist, and, now, The Dark Wizard, have all broken into mainstream consciousness.
It’s in this backdrop that Petzl has made an update to its Grigri +, a device that will no doubt be of particular interest to parents, newer climbers and gym owners.
The changes the company made to the product have turned it into perhaps the most fail-resistant belaying device on the market for top-roping.
The biggest change to the 2026 model is the assisted mode. The prior iteration of the Grigri + had a top-rope mode that heightened the sensitivity of the camming device. This would cause it to lock up much more quickly.
However, the new Grigri + has made a significant change. The revamped assisted mode keeps the cam engaged, buttressing it against the rope, making it harder than ever to slip through.
On top of that, an anti-panic feature slows down the speed at which a climber descends when the lowering lever is yanked down.
This dramatically reduces the chance that a scared belayer will drop their partner.
These two features make the Grigri + perhaps the most bomb-proof belay device for beginner climbers.
For those who still just want a classic Grigri experience, that’s still readily available whenever the assisted mode is disengaged. Users can expect it to function just like a normal Grigri.
In terms of construction, a stainless steel friction plate enhances longevity and also reduces the amount of aluminum oxide getting on your rope. (Read: less black-rope syndrome and dirty hands.)
Perhaps the main differing factors would be weight and price.
The current market Grigri, which debuted in 2019, weighs in at 175 g and is listed at $104.95 on Petzl’s US site.
The 2026 Grigri + is 200 grams and is $134.95.
For the primary use cases of the Grigri +, the extra weight will probably be negligible for the vast majority of users. Fast and light is not going to be their first priority.
People who bring entire picnics to the crag will not complain about hauling an extra 25 grams. Those driving to the gym will likely not be grumbling about being weighed down during the approach either.
The price may be a factor, but for those who want to put a premium on safety (especially when dealing with new belayers), an extra $25 is probably worthwhile.
That being said, the assisted mode of the new Grigri + does present some interesting possibilities for an experienced climber.
On multipitch climbs where a leader is top-belaying a second from an anchor, the assisted mode will cut down on chances that slack will enter the system.
Some users may find the assisted mode can help the Grigri transform into an improvised ascender.
There is also an extensive amount of armchair theorizing in lead rope soloing forums about whether a Grigri + could be a viable device. Opinions on this are rather divided, however, and it should be noted that this is not at all a sanctioned use case for the product.
When it comes down to it, Petzl has made a belay device that’s probably as safe as it comes, at a moment when more new gyms, new climbers (and, therefore, new belayers) are arriving on the scene.
It has the potential to be a very well-timed business decision.
The post A look at Petzl’s new 2026 Grigri + appeared first on Gripped Magazine.