At the end of all our testing, we scored the glasses on three categories: functionality, comfort, and features/portability. Functionality 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.

Stylish stainless steel frames with articulating hinged arms that look modern and sci-fi instead of goofy. The silicone nose pad and memory alloy allow the belay glasses to be adjusted to most heads, ensuring comfort. Overall: A solid design but they seem a little pricy for what you get. The Tembo belay glasses are almost identical and cost 30% less. The Belaggles (pronounced BeLAYggles, as their phonetically marked logo will have you know) were every tester’s least favorite pair. They function well enough, but they were the least comfortable glasses in our test. the peripheral field around the sides of the lenses, allowing the belayer to remain aware of their surroundings.

Although a protective case is definitely worth looking for to ensure they stay safe whilst you are carrying them. Larger prisms give you a bigger field of view. Smaller prisms are lighter. We measure the prism size for each pair. Larger prisms are easier to see more terrain, but limit peripheral vision and can become heavy. Unless you need the adjustability of the metal frames, these will function just as well as the Classics for less money. They feel and look a little less premium, but they do their job well. Belay Specs We like to see glasses that are made close to where they are sold. It’s not critical, but a nice aspect.

When you are unaware that your climber is about to fall, you also may not prepare your body position.Like the other metal-framed glasses, the upside is adjustability. The nosepiece and arms can be bent to accomodate your face, although the arms only bend in the plane of the glasses (not up or down). The Belay Specs were reasonably comfortable but more noticeable on the face, especially on long belays. 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. Their single-piece stainless steel construction gives durability alongside a lightweight adjustable construction. The no-frills, lightweight design also allows for a decent field of vision around the outsides of the prism, which means you can still maintain good awareness of your surroundings and see the rope and belay device at your waist while wearing the glasses. It’s hard for us to compare the value of the price because we’ve received all of our belay glasses for free to test. In our opinion, the price seems to match the features. For PitchSix, the price difference is really in the adjustable prism, which is (surprisingly?) rad. The prism height is also more generous than some other models, which makes them easier to use. PitchSix definitely has the most intentionally engineered belay glasses.

The thin metal means that switching fields of vision is very easy. This is a plus, but it felt like the field of vision through the prisms was narrower than other glasses. Tembo utilized the same size optics as all the other glasses, with the exception of the Belaggles, so of course they offer the same field of view. The prisms are high quality though they don’t seem to be quite as good as some of the more expensive glasses. Unless you’re comparing them side-by-side you’ll never be able to tell the difference though. A more detailed review of each pair of belay glasses is provided below. If you’d like more information on a specific pair just keep scrolling.Belay glasses frames come in two types: plastic and metal. Metal is far more durable than plastic and generally weighs less. However, metal frames can feel less securely fitting and uncomfortable to some. The following chart gives a brief description of the characteristics for each pair of glasses. A more detailed description is written below. While these glasses are significantly more expensive than some of their peers, they do come with a plastic zippered case with attachment clip, microfibre cloth, and lanyard. Belay glasses are supposed to make belaying easier and more comfortable. These factors are what make them worth buying and using. For anyone wearing belay glasses for any extended amount of time such as long pitches or when belaying novices, a comfortable pair of glasses will prevent the aches that develop. Having lighter frames that fit comfortably can be the difference between a good day and an irritating clamp on your face.