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A brief comparison between Belay Specs and CU Belay Glasses

Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

The best thing about belay glasses is that they keep the belayer's focus on the climber. Go to any climbing gym or crag where they're in use and look at the belayers. The ones wearing belay glasses are focused on the climber and the others, well, they may be focused on just about anything.

Belay glasses could be the best belay safety device ever.

Climb safe,
Mal

Belay Specs · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0

I hear comments about the about peripheral vision often when talking with climbers and customers about their experience with Belay Specs and other brands of belay glasses. Personally, I think the more peripheral vision you have the better but obviously some people are able to make do with slightly less.

brucy brings up a good point about the durability of prismatic belay glasses. With enough use and abuse, the prisms can get damaged to the point where they loose functionality. As brucy alludes to, some damage to the prism can be tolerated and the glasses still function well. We recognized the vulnerability of the prisms early on and designed our frames to try to prevent the prisms from being the first thing to hit if they were dropped. I think other designs attempt to do the same as the risk is pretty obvious. Unlike other brands however, we do have a prism replacement program. For $20, we'll replace the prisms, reform the frame if necessary, replace worn out temple and nose padding and ship them back to you. We would rather repair a product than have it thrown into a landfill and replaced with a new pair. We've done less than half a dozen repairs since we started selling Belay Specs which gives you an idea of the durability.

Malcom - I was talking with a local gear shop owner and he made a related comment. He used to have lots of people talking to him while he belayed at the gym being a well known person in the community. Since he stared wearing Belay Specs, people don't talk to him nearly as often because they can't see his eyes and don't feel engaged in the conversation. I do agree that belay glasses can greatly increase the attention payed by the belayer to the climber.

topher donahue · · Nederland, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 210

These are a good addition to climbing equipment, and I agree with Malcolm that they make climbing, especially in distracting environments, safer. Someone needs to make these with a shaded, or flip down shade on the upper part of the prism to cut the sunlight from the bright sky above a shaded cliff.

Everyone should have a pair - even if you think you're a master belayer who doesn't need to watch the leader's every move to give a good belay, they're also great to wear upside down while makin' love...

chuffnugget · · Bolder, CO · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 0

Kinky!

Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

Topher, awesome!

Belay Specs · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0
topher donahue wrote:These are a good addition to climbing equipment, and I agree with Malcolm that they make climbing, especially in distracting environments, safer. Someone needs to make these with a shaded, or flip down shade on the upper part of the prism to cut the sunlight from the bright sky above a shaded cliff. Everyone should have a pair - even if you think you're a master belayer who doesn't need to watch the leader's every move to give a good belay, they're also great to wear upside down while makin' love...
Topher - A movable shade would add complication, cost and weight to a design plus moving parts are often a point of failure, one of the reason we went with a single piece frame. Why not just wear a visor/hat/brimmed helmet with your belay glasses? We designed Belay Specs to be worn with prescription or sun glasses, so that gives you another option. We've got some pictures on the front page of our website. It looks a bit weird but it works well. Not sure I'd want to wear them while making love, too much moving around
coop Best · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Jan 2005 · Points: 485

Anyone try the Y&Y ones yet?

Kent Richards · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 81
coop wrote:Anyone try the Y&Y ones yet?
http://www.amazon.com/Y-Belay-Glasses-V1-2/dp/B00REK3X5I

I liked these. Returned them for a prompt & easy refund when one prism fell off, and will be replacing them.

Pros:

  • They worked fine. I've worn the CU specs, but it was a while ago, so I can't compare optical quality.
  • One thing I really like about them is that they fold, and the case is low-profile. It's shaped more like a standard eyeglass case and has a zipper with velcro backup. They come with a toy biner for clipping the case to your harness.

Cons:

  • I'd guess they're slightly less durable because of the hinges.
  • The neck strap attaches with simple rubber o-ring-like attachment, so it probably needs reinforcement to match the security of the Belay Spec neck strap.


I didn't try them on top of other glasses. Two reviewers said they work with glasses...
Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 270

I really like my Mikes. The plastic feels super durable, and they still work great after I took a little chunk out of the lens (which would have happened with any brand's glasses). Plus I don't have to be pissed about it cause they were $40. I do not find them uncomfortable, and I have trouble with most glasses.

Klimbingeek · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 15

Hello.

There are more options each day for belay glasses. See this comparative of the cheapest ones. Less than 19$

http://climbingeeks.blogspot.es/1433009666/

LePirate Glasses

frank bonnevie · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 87
amazon.com/gp/product/B0006…

just flip the ears over!
shadetee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

After almost 2.5 years, a prism popped off my belay specs. Surprisingly, it wasn't from any impact; it just slipped off sometime when I had it in it's case.

I contacted them and Phil was quick to respond. Apparently they had a few issues with the production from that time period but have since modified their production to reduce the incidents.

I shipped them my broken belay specs and quickly received a new pair at no cost. Very satisfied with the support, and still so with the product.

I have tried on many other new brands since this post began, and quite a few of them are generally great. But I continue to find the field of vision of belay specs best for me over my corrective lenses; as well as the arms most comfortable.

Kyle Edmondson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 250

I'll throw my opinion in. I have used multiple different styles of belay glasses, and they all seem more or less the same. I own a pair of Mike's, and they seem equivalent to me, so I'm happy to have saved the money.

Paul Hutton · · Nephi, UT · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 740

I've used the CUs and loved 'em! I was so jealous of the owner of 'em! They definitely pay for themselves when you have to look down more and more as the climbing session creeps into the later minutes cuz your neck is killin' ya! Just putting these things on your nose is a pleasure! They're not a bother to my face at all, and I can still see around them to be aware of my surroundings and ensure I have good ground control while I'm lead belaying. I finally said f*** it and put in a request to buy a set!

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974

Customer service update-

A couple of recent coincidences allow another comparison.

My wife had an issue with a prism on her CU at the Wall glasses. I emailed the american distributor over a month ago, and again recently. No reply whatsoever. I'm ok if he tells me "tough luck" but disappointed with complete silence.
powernplayusa.com

I had an issue with one of the prisms on my Belay Specs. I emailed them and got a reply the same night along the lines of, "send them in and we'll help you out." Way beyond the call of duty and much appreciated.
belayspecs.com

Final coincidence- if you've listened to the latest Enormocast with Emily Harrington you'll know that Belay Specs are now sponsors. Listen to the podcast and get a discount code!
enormocast.com/episode-89-e…

johnnymuir · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 20

I went with belay specs because I wanted to buy American and to use them on Double Cross while belaying in a chair.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
johnnymuir wrote:I went with belay specs because I wanted to buy American and to use them on Double Cross while belaying in a chair.
I hear the first pitch now goes by standing on all the chopped bolt studs.
Matt Stroebel · · Philadelphia, PA · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 115

Shameless self promotion... But, this is how you get them for $8.

semitrad.wordpress.com/2014…

Also, you get major dirt bag points and when your partner is cruxing out you get to reassuringly say "Talk to me Goose".

Paul P · · RSA · Joined May 2012 · Points: 5
Mark E Dixon wrote:I had an issue with one of the prisms on my Belay Specs. I emailed them and got a reply the same night along the lines of, "send them in and we'll help you out." Way beyond the call of duty and much appreciated.
I wanted to add to this thread as I've just experienced the same. Phil repaired my pair free of charge even though I'd had them for three years. That's standing by your product!
marcin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 140

Belay Specs customer service is awesome. I cracked a prism and had some of the shrink tubing fall of. Sent mine in and got them back very quickly for $20. Super solid company, I highly recommend.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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