Take the next step in your climbing journey and earn your belay certification! Venture beyond the bouldering mats and autobelays and master a new skill that will elevate your climbing sessions and fill you with pride and accomplishment.
Learning to belay may seem daunting, but remember, you’re not alone in this journey. The climbing community is here to support you, just as they’ve supported countless others. If those camp kids can learn how to belay, so can you. You’ve got this!
This article aims to help you receive your top-rope belay certification. Lead climbing will have a similar structure, but you must first learn to top-rope belay!
How to Learn How to Belay
Although the internet is an excellent tool for learning new things, belaying is a hands-on skill requiring much practice. Use online videos for references, but don’t take your belay test if all you’ve done is watch others online do it.
Find somebody to teach you how to belay! Having a climbing partner who knows how to belay and is willing to teach you is the most accessible way to learn. Just make sure to buy them some chalk for their efforts!
Many gyms don’t allow non-staff to teach others how to belay, so know the rules beforehand. If your friend will teach you, you may have to learn outside of the gym!
Take a class at the climbing gym! Sign up for a “Learning How to Belay” class and receive expert instruction from a teacher. Even though your friend may know how to belay, instructors get paid to teach people how to do so correctly, so they likely know an extra thing.
What Gear is Required to Belay?
Belaying requires a host of new knowledge that is not used on the bouldering mats. You’ll need to learn how to tie a figure eight knot, properly load a belay device, and safely take in slack. Besides new knowledge, what gear will you need?
First things first, you’ll need a climbing harness! There are many harnesses to choose from, which can be overwhelming. Check out their retail shop and see their options if you want something to use at the gym.
You’ll also need a belay device. Many climbing gyms require you to use an assisted braking device, like a Petzl Gri Gri. These devices have a built-in function that automatically stops and
catches if too much rope runs through it too quickly. While assisted braking devices are a great way to help beginners learn how to belay, never assume that the device will always catch a climber, and never remove your brake hand from the rope.
That’s it! You already have the other gear: chalk and shoes! Although you can grab some gear to make the experience more enjoyable, such as belay gloves for your hands and glasses so you don’t need to bend your neck to look up at the wall the entire time, the last thing you need is somebody to belay!
How to Get Your Belay Certification at the Gym
Every gym is slightly different, but you must take a belay ‘test’ to receive your belay certification. Once you’ve learned to belay, ask a gym employee to take the test!
Some gyms require you to have a partner to take the test, so be ready with one, just in case! Others will have a rope and pully system to mimic belaying. The pully system belay test takes less time, but it can seem strange if you’re used to belaying.
Be wary of potential climbing partners if a gym doesn’t require you to take a belay test. Try to observe them with others before you allow them to catch you, and ask plenty of questions to confirm that they know what they’re doing!
What You Can Expect with Your Belay Certification
With your belay certification, you’ll unlock new climbing areas and routes in the gym that you may not have explored before. The thrill of discovering these new challenges will keep your climbing sessions exciting and adventurous.
Or, if you’ve been getting catches from your friends, you can finally return the favor! Proudly present your belay badge of honor so everyone knows you can also give anyone a catch on top rope!