{ TOP 5 } Best Belay Glasses – 2020 Reviews

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There is much debate around the subject of belay glasses. Some rave about how belay glasses save their neck during long belay sessions, while others insist they’re an unnecessary purchase that just makes you look like a bit of a nerd. Whatever your stance on the matter, there’s no denying the level of comfort that a quality pair of belay glasses can provide.

We’ve all been there. A friend is working on their project and you’re on belay. After a session of craning your neck to offer a good belay, it hits you. An excruciating pain at the base of your neck; a pain so sharp that you can barely move. A pair of belay glasses could make sure that never happens again.

I’ve always been a fan of products that make life easier, and belay glasses one such product. It’s surprising how few people use them! There are, of course, a few things to watch out for when deciding which pair to buy. Since belay glasses are a relatively new concept (invented in 2007 by German climber Albi Schneider), there isn’t a huge variety to choose from, yet prices vary widely. We’ve provided a handy list of features to consider when shopping for belay glasses, as well as our definitive list of the 5 best belay glasses on the market today.

Belay Glasses really are an item that will change your life. Once you slip on the specs, you can easily watch your partner send without craning your neck. You’ll be able to give them your full attention, and won’t have to glance away periodically to give your neck a break.

But you don’t want to create any new problems by using a pair of faulty belay glasses. Just like you research your cams, harness, or shoes, you should dedicate some time to figure out what to look for in a pair of belay glasses, and find the perfect pair for you. We’ve done the research for you so you can quickly find the right pair. 

How Do They Work?

Belay glasses enable the belayer to watch their climber while keeping their neck in a relaxed position. This is made possible with prismatic lenses that are fashioned on a pair of eyeglasses to reflect the light from above, which allows the belayer to watch their climber without craning their neck.

The glasses are designed in such a way as to provide a split field of vision for the belayer. This means you can effectively watch your climber above through the lenses and keep aware of your surroundings using your peripheral vision. 

Why Wear Them?

There are three main benefits to wearing belay glasses: comfort, safety, and style! Okay, maybe not style. But there are a range of color options for you to add some individual flair to your gear. Now, onto the important stuff.

• Comfort: Not just for the older crowd, belay glasses are a great option for anyone who doesn’t like to experience a stiff neck or, worse, throbbing pain while belaying. Since your neck is relaxed, you can belay for longer periods of time and aren’t at risk for serious neck injuries later down the road.
• Safety: If you’re not watching your climber the entire time they are climbing, you are putting them at risk for an unsafe fall. You should be watching them to offer an attentive belay. Belay glasses make this easier to achieve, and you can clearly see when a climber is clipping, about to fall, etc. This means fewer short clips or hard catches. Belay glasses also help you to stand closer to the wall. Without them, you might be tempted to step further away to get a better view. If your climber were to fall with you too far from the wall, they might fall further and pull you into the wall, creating a dangerous situation for both of you.

• Price: The cheapest pair of belay glasses on our list clocks in at just under $14. The most expensive will set you back $110. There is a huge gap in prices, but they all essentially do the same thing. When considering how much you’re willing to spend on a pay of glasses, think about how often you’ll be using them. If you’re planning to use them every time you climb, it may be worth it to splurge on a nice pair. If you just want them to occasionally use at the gym, you might be able to get away with purchasing the cheapest option.
• Durability: As with most climbing gear, you want your belay glasses to be rugged and able to handle wear and tear. Plastic frames are cheaper, but they are less durable. Metal frames offer stronger, thinner frames at a higher price point.
• Lens Quality: You want to make sure that the lenses on your belay glasses don’t end up scratched and distorting your view. Plastic lenses are more likely suffer this issue than glass lenses.

As with any other piece of gear in your kit, you want to make sure you know how to use your belay glasses before you head to the gym or crag with them. For the most part, it’s self-explanatory; however, there are a few tips to get the most out of your fresh pair of specs.

• Keep your belay glasses around your neck (or lower on your nose) for the first few clips. When your climber is close to the ground you can watch them directly, then slide your glasses on around the third clip or so. This prevents you from having to tuck your head down or some up with some other creative way to try to view your climber through the glasses while they are in your direct line of sight.
• Opt for a pair with a carrying case. This not only protects your belay glasses when not in use, but it also makes it easier to transport them between climbs. There are many cases available that clip right onto your gear loop so your glasses will be handy whenever you need them.
• Make sure they fit your head comfortably. The last thing you want is to create another potential problem if your glasses slip or cause any interferences with your line of sight.
• Clean the prisms before each use
• NEVER take your brake hand off the climbing rope while belaying. If you’re adjusting your glasses for any reason while on belay, remember to do it only when safe and only if your brake hand is on the rope.

Now that you know what to look for in belay glasses, let’s dive into the reviews! Here are the top 5 belay glasses on the market today.

Y&Y dominates the belay glasses market, and the Classics are their most popular product. The Classics are sleek, simple, and fully adjustable. Their metal frames offer a streamlined look, improve visibility, and make it easy to bend the glasses to perfectly fit your face. The nosepiece is made of flexible plastic that comfortably shapes to your nose.

To top it all off, the Classics come with an anti-shock case, glasses cord, microfiber cloth, and replacement pieces. These replacement pieces will extend the life of your glasses and come in handy when accidents happen.

• Durable
• Lightweight
• Wide field of vision

Designed specifically for glasses-wearers, the Clip Up can be clipped on most eyeglasses and sunglasses. The prisms are shaped like wide-angle trapezoids, which guarantees a clear and broad field of vision. These are a really cool option for glasses-wearers because you can easily flip the belay glasses up or down to switch from “on” and “off” positions while belaying, depending on where your partner is on the wall. They work for those of us that need glasses or for anyone who wears sunglasses while they climb.

Some common problems with these glasses involve the way in which they clip onto your normal glasses. Sometimes, they can cause your glasses to slip down your nose from the added weight. Others mentioned they can be difficult to clip on correctly.

• Durable
• Wide field of vision
• Nifty idea

• Expensive
• Potential issues with clipping mechanism

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These belay glasses are the most expensive on the list by far, but they made the list because of their sleek design and the fact that they’re assembled personally by belay glasses inventor Albi Schneider. These original belay glasses are made from high quality stainless steel frames and scratch resistant glass prisms. Since the frames are made of stainless steel, they are more flexible than plastic models and can be worn over regular glasses and fit a variety of head sizes.

The classic glasses are silver frames with two color options for the temples. For an extra about $15, you can choose from black, green, blue, or snow white colored frames. Regardless of which color you chose, these glasses will definitely turn heads when you wear them at the gym or crag!

• Sleek design
• High quality
• Durable

These glasses are a #1 best seller on Amazon, and for good reason. These belay glasses are similar in design and functionality as top of the line belay glasses at a fraction of the price. The slim profile of the frames increases your field of vision, so there aren’t any obstructions. They’re high-quality and come in several color options. They even come with a carrying case and rope retainer.

• Wide field of vision
• Slim profile

If you’re on a tight budget and just want to see what all the hype about belay glasses is about, these are the pair for you. The Epic Peak belay glasses design is a copy of Y&Y’s. Although they look similar, the field of vision is much narrower. They’re quite rigid and don’t allow for much flexibility to fit different head sizes. They do come with a case and neck strap for easy storage.

Do these glasses work? Yes. But do they come with the functionality, quality, and bells and whistles of more expensive options? Definitely not.

• Cheap materials
• Narrow field of vision

Belay glasses offer so much more than the credit people often give them. They enable you to be a more attentive belayer by keeping your eyes on the climber the entire time. Some people don’t like belay glasses because they require some getting used to, but once you get over the initial awkwardness it can be hard to stop using them. Now that we’ve covered the types of belay glasses and our top picks, you are ready to get out there and start shopping! Remember that even though there aren’t a ton of options out there for belay glasses, options still exist. It’s important to take the time to research and test your options when looking for the perfect pair of belay glasses. Remember that what works for one person may not work the same for you.

There’s no denying that a good pair of belay glasses can make you a safer, more competent belayer. One without neck pain! It’s definitely worth giving the best belay glasses a try to step up your game. 

Brianne is a freelance writer from Southern California. She loves spending time outdoors climbing, hiking, and cycling, or simply walking her dog Archie around town. Follow her adventures on Instagram @brianneschaer.