What are two common belay device types used in sport climbing?

• A. Carabiner and rope
• B. Tubestyle devices and assisted-braking devices
• C. Ascenders and gri gri
• D. Rappel rings and figure-eight

Answer: (B)

In sport climbing, belay devices fall mainly into two categories: tube-style devices and assisted-braking devices. A tube-style device works by guiding the rope through a narrow slot to create friction, giving the belayer precise control with the brake hand to stop or reduce rope speed as the climber moves. It’s simple, versatile, lightweight, and works well with a wide range of rope diameters.

Assisted-braking devices include mechanisms that grab the rope when a load is applied, helping to catch a fall more reliably with less dependence on grip strength. This added braking assistance can be very helpful, especially for beginners or when belaying a heavier climber, but it requires using the device correctly and selecting the right rope for the device.

Other items listed aren’t belay devices themselves: a carabiner and rope are essential gear but not belay devices; ascenders are for ascending or hauling rather than belaying; rappel rings and figure-eight are primarily used for rappelling, not standard sport-climbing belays.