Belay Glasses for Rock Climbing

Product Information

Case: The temples don’t really fold; they just bend in a bit. As a result, the case is bigger than most other cases on the market. It’s made of hard plastic and isn’t as compact or carry very well on a harness. The case only snaps shut, rather than having a secure zip closure. Between the larger case size and not 100% secure opening, going up a multi-pitch route with these glasses isn’t advised. Available in a variety of colors the Y&Y belay glasses feature a design that looks to be based closely on the original CU glasses. That being said, they’ve made some small changes which has improved upon the old CU design: The thin metal frame was stiffened up and hinges added to the arms. This has really reduced the propensity for the frame to twist and misalign the prisms. The arms and bridge on the Y&Y Classic seem to come straight from a pair of drug store eyeglasses but are comfortable and functional. The arms and nose piece on the Y&Y belay glasses are very reminiscent of drug store eye glasses. A great way to get decent parts at a cheap price. Although the prisms are clear, they still narrow your field of vision dramatically. The attention needed to maintain binocular clarity while peering at the refracted images produces strain on the eyes while also focusing attention on one specific area. In some situations, such as when standing in a physically precarious location, a narrowed focus could lead to one to be oblivious to environmental dangers that could put your climber, and you, at risk. The lightweight stainless steel design allows for effortless shifting between fields of view as well as allowing for customizable adjustment to fit individual needs. Their lightweight design and durability ensure that they are as comfortable on a mountain crag or all-day climb as they are in the gym.

Our experience is that the price of belay glasses seems to match their feature set. If your climber often climbs overhangs and/or if intentional design high on your priority list, the PitchSix glasses seem worth the cost. Their prism size is either bigger than or the same as all the other competitors we looked at giving a great view. But after we surveyed a number of pro climbers, we found that although they’re not for everyone, some love belay glasses. What Are Belay Glasses? Their single-piece stainless steel construction gives durability alongside a lightweight adjustable construction. While it may seem like using belay glasses is intuitive, some basic rules should be followed to ensure the safety of both the climber and the belayer. Rodden, most commonly found climbing Yosemite’s difficult multipitches, believes the adjustable prism is a game-changer, especially for overhanging and steep pitches.

To choose belay glasses it all depends on your preferences, but the things to keep in mind are comfort, the field of vision you want, and other glasses you might be wearing with it too. How to make belay glasses If you’re planning on spending any amount of money, whether, for a cheap pair or a premium pair of belay glasses, there are a few things to take into consideration to find the ones that best fit your style of climbing. Wearing two pairs of glasses is a pain, but sunglasses or prescription glasses are sometimes necessary. We look at how well the belay glasses work over the top of another pair of glasses. The size of the prism is an important factor to note and will greatly affect the function. Bigger Prism

For some people the best belay glasses might be the cheapest ones, whereas for somebody else the best ones would be the most durable and for a third person they’d be the lightest. PitchSix has created the worlds first adjustable angle belay glasses. With a small easy-to-use lever, you can adjust the angle of the prism to follow your climber up the wall. The Y&Y Classic glasses were a top performer in all categories. They’re intuitive and easy to use, and they’re the frame that satisfied the widest range of testers.

Although the majority of the view when wearing belay glasses is taken up by the image presented by the prisms, the outer edge surrounding the glasses is still the peripheral image of one’s surroundings. The contrast in movement and imagery can lead to dizziness and vertigo in some people, although the time needed for this effect to take place varies from person to person. While this is by no means applicable to all climbers, having a moment of vertigo while belaying could be disastrous at worst and uncomfortable at best.

What one piece of gear has everyone from free-climbers in Yosemite to competitive gym climbers talking? A pair of funky-looking spectacles.Field of View: Belaggles are a fixed-prism glasses therefore have a standard 60° field of view. Peripheral vision is poor because the frames are so beefy, though it is in profile to your line of sight. VIII. Summary of the Best Belay Glasses for Climbing Our Favorites for the Best Belay Glasses for Climbing The Belay Glasses Classics also fit over most prescription glasses, have a comfortable and somewhat adjustable frame, and come in a convenient case that can be clipped to a harness.