Rock Climbing: How to Belay

One of the first skills you need to master once you start climbing is how to belay. In this REI Expert Advice video, we show you how to prepare to belay, perform a safety check, belay with the proper PBUS (Pull, Brake, Under, Slide) method and lower the climber once he or she reaches the top.

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[darknesseternal]

My friend looked at me slightly strangely when I said "Gotcha Pat" but other than that, good video.

[gizmoguyar]

Instead of "Climbing" my friends and I have started using the much better "Dude on rock?" to which the proper response is "Rock on, dude"

[thotusmaximus]

"Tension Alex!" "Gotcha Pat!" So that's the technical terms.. got it, I'll make use of it

[sgt]

I've only belayed someone about 8 or 9 times. But I still get scared when I'm belaying someone. It's so much responsibility!

[azxzn]

My friends and I yell, "Gotcha, Pat!" Whenever we belay each other.
None of our names are Pat.

[KidMoeMoe]

Never have i belayed anyone who actually says "falling" as opposed to "warghhhh".

[jshllyd]

Excellent video!! Thank you! I took a class, & this is a perfect refresher.

[mattiik]

surprisingly well produced video! and informative

[YouTubKomentarKiller]

Just wanted to check and refresh my belaying. Fantastic well struktured Video. Love it.

[JonathanFisherS]

I think the PBUS method probably needs an actual safety evaluation. Watch what happens at ~2:31ish. The guy is in the middle of a bottom reach, watch his sightline. Simple and economical movements are the safest, and thats why I think the tunnel method is taught elsewhere in the world. Multiple other commenters are hinting around the same thing... PBUS just isn't the best way, and it'll almost be impossible to get it right while keeping your eyes fixed on the climber.

[brodielachlan]

Alternatively, "dude on rock." "Rock on, dude."

[EricCarlsenColorado]

This is the best video on the topic. Very slick.

[FatAlbert]

2:54 This is just wrong to show. It's unnecessarily unsafe to bring the brake hand up that much above the belay device. With an angle between the two sides of the rope that small, the brake support of the belay device is almost nonexistent (stop at 2:56). You want to pull the rope through the belay device with the brake hand in a rather FORWARD than upward motion. While that might require a little more effort, it's MUCH safer, especially if you're not using assisted belaying devices.

[Iamnikolopez]

4:15 he stepped on the rope! that's a real nono!!!

[conradbarrett]

I’ve been watching a lot of climbing fail videos and the comments section said that there were so many bad belayers so I came here to see what that means and now I’m thinking to myself how can someone be so bad at belaying I mean your friend is trusting you with their life potentially and I just feel like people who are bad at belaying should take that more seriously and pay better attention you don’t want your friend or anyone to get hurt

[robertplant]

Looks like this was filmed in the North Bend / Snoqualmie area

[xpinchx]

I called my girlfriend Pat and now I'm single D:

[uberdenwolken]

3:44 if I call „falling“ I would NEVER want my partner to bring his brake hand above the tuber!!! This is soooo wrong and could end deadly

[anx]

Remember when calling for tension always say “tension Pat” !!

[bizzarrogeorge]

Uh, how did the rope get way over their heads and back down before they climbed? Wizardry? Thanks, REI