Best Belay Glasses of 2025
July 31st, 2025
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Belay glasses can literally save your neck at the crag, and while they might not be as important as your rope or harness, they’re still a piece of climbing gear you want to get right.
They feature an angled prism that helps you see high up on the wall so you don’t have to tire out your neck looking up at your climber. This might not matter for one route, but experienced belayers will be all too familiar with the neck pain you get from belaying for hours on end or on multiday trips. And if your neck hurts so much that you can’t look up anymore, it can create a safety issue. That’s why belay glasses are important to help keep your neck comfortable and your eyes on your climber. In addition to the safety aspect, they can be a crucial piece of gear for communication: for example, for Deaf climbers who use sign language to communicate.
The best pair of belay glasses should provide a wide field of view and crystal clear optics so you can keep an eye on your climber, while being comfortable enough and easy to use so you don’t want to take them off. To help you find the right pair for you, we tested eight of the most popular belay glasses on the market.
I’ve been climbing for nearly 10 years, worked at multiple climbing gyms, and have belayed neverending lines of kids at birthday parties. All that to say, I’ve woken up with a stiff neck from looking up while belaying more times than I can count. To save my neck and yours, I wore each of the eight belay glasses while belaying in a gym and outdoors in the Front Range of Colorado to test for vision clarity, comfort, and much more. Here are the best pairs we found.
You can also check out our climbing gear guides for more of our top climbing gear picks, from Best Beginner Climbing Shoes to Best Belay Devices and more.
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Comparison table
| BELAY GLASSES | TREELINE AWARD | WEIGHT | FRAME MATERIAL | OPTICS QUALITY | CARRY CASE INCLUDED | PRESCRIPTION COMPATIBLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PitchSix EyeSend Adjustable View Belay Glasses | Best overall Read why |
50 g | Polycarbonate plastic, 25% recycled | Good | Yes | Yes |
| YY Vertical Plasfun First Belay Glasses | Best affordable Read why |
36 g | Polycarbonate | Great | Yes | Yes |
| YY Vertical Clip Up Belay Glasses | 32 g | Metal | Great | Yes | Yes | |
| BG Climbing Belay Glasses | 43 g | Polycarbonate | Great | Yes | Yes | |
| Metolius Upshot Belay Glasses | 53 g | Plastic | Great | Yes | Yes |
The winners
Best overall belay glasses: PitchSix EyeSend Adjustable View Belay Glasses
Weight: 55 grams
Frame material: Polycarbonate plastic, 25% recycled
Optics quality: Good
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $95
What we liked: Adjustable lenses provide an amazing field of view, prescription-friendly, premium case
What we didn’t like: Vision isn’t as clear as some others, could be more comfortable, high price
The PitchSix EyeSend Adjustable View Belay Glasses stood out above all the other pairs we tested for one revolutionary feature: adjustability. With the ability to change the angle of your glasses on the fly, the EyeSends provided the best field of view by far. We think they could get even better with a few small tweaks, but if you want to minimize neck pain while belaying, there’s no better pair of glasses to buy than the PitchSix EyeSend.
PitchSix EyeSend Adjustable View Belay Glasses
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What makes the PitchSix EyeSend glasses special is their field of view. These were the only pair we tested that have adjustable lenses, and it was a feature so helpful that it immediately shot these specs to the top of our list.
While normal belay glasses help you see your climber on the wall, if the route is particularly long or overhanging, you might find yourself having to move around, push the glasses higher on your nose, or even tilt your head to keep your climber in view. Not with the EyeSends. A simple lever on the left side of the glasses (so you can keep your right hand on the brake side of the rope) lets you easily change the angle of the glasses so you can see your climber, no matter how long the route. The glasses can be adjusted to such a wide angle, that I (the belayer) was even able to see the top of my hair while wearing the EyeSends.
The only minor downside to this adjustability is that when you adjust the angle, the picture you see through the glasses gets slightly warped and wider. We’re not talking fun-house mirror warping, and you probably won’t even notice if you’re adjusting them slightly, but if you change the angle back and forth the picture does widen out. It doesn’t affect much and didn’t translate into any safety issues in our testing, but just know the picture you’re looking at, especially when your climber is high up on the wall, might not be 100% to scale.
Even though the field of view was outstanding, one area where we found the EyeSends to fall a little flat was in optic quality. We experienced a little bit more glare and artifacting with these glasses than with other pairs we tried. It was never so bad that we couldn’t see our climber or tell what was going on, but the picture might not always be perfectly clear, especially in environments like gyms with bright, overhead lights. Still, after all our testing, we think the slight reduction in clarity is more than made up for by the adjustability.
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While vision is the most important feature on a set of belay glasses, they also need to be comfortable enough to wear for those long, multi-pitch days and stable enough to stay on your head.
The PitchSix EyeSends weren’t the most comfortable pair we tested, but they’re comfortable enough. They feature flexible arms with grippy rubber to ensure they stay locked on your head. The arms are also comfortable, and can be bent slightly to make them tighter or looser to better fit your head size and shape.
When it comes to the nose rest, however, the PitchSix glasses leave a little bit to be desired. It’s made of a hard plastic, which some might find uncomfortable after a long day of belaying. Plus, the plastic doesn’t grip to your nose super well, especially if it’s wet with sweat. During our testing, we didn’t mind the nose rest too much, but there’s definitely room for improvement. A pair of small rubber grips or something similar would do wonders for comfort and grip.
However, one area of our comfort tests where the EyeSends shone was when we wore them over prescription glasses. When wearing two pairs of glasses, the biggest issue while belaying is getting vision high enough for long routes. You simply can’t push the belay glasses as high up on your nose because of your other frames. However, thanks to the PitchSix’s adjustable prisms, you can easily see the entire wall without pushing them into your other glasses. This made them the most comfortable pair we tested to wear with glasses.
Note: The YY Vertical Clip Up Belay Glasses were nearly our pick for the best belay glasses for prescription wearers until some durability issues (more on that later). But since those got kicked out of the winning circle, we think the EyeSends are the best for folks who like or need to wear another pair of specs while belaying.
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You might not think the case for a pair of belay glasses would matter that much, but we found that some higher-end pairs have fantastic cases that are efficient and easy to use, even when you’re high up on the wall.
The PitchSix EyeSend glasses had the sturdiest case out of any glasses we tested, which is a huge plus since the case is often hanging from your harness. It comes with a small, lightweight carabiner for easy attachment, and has a small Velcro flap so you can quickly and easily open and close the case with just one hand. No fiddling with zippers required. We didn’t realize how great this little flap could be until we were climbing with these glasses. You wouldn’t think unzipping then zipping up a case would be that hard, but if you’re clipped into an anchor or have a hand occupied by something else (as they often are when climbing and managing ropes) dealing with your glasses case can be quite difficult and time-consuming. But with this case’s Velcro strap, you can stash your glasses in just a couple of seconds with barely a thought.
Nearly all pairs of belay glasses we tested featured a leash so you can hang the glasses around your neck. While others had attachable ones, the cord on the EyeSends are permanently threaded through the arms. I liked this better than the attachment style, since there’s absolutely no chance of the cord coming off the glasses, unless the cord gets cut. The cord itself is thinner and less padded than the others we tested, which some might find a little uncomfortable, but we don’t think it’s a big deal at all.
The PitchSix EyeSend glasses aren’t perfect. We wish the optics were a bit clearer and they had a more comfortable nose grip and leash. However, all of those small cons pale in comparison to the huge benefit you get from the adjustability of the lenses. For long routes and long days, there isn’t a pair that can spare you from neck pain better than the PitchSix EyeSend Adjustable View Belay Glasses.
Best affordable belay glasses: YY Vertical Plasfun First Belay Glasses
Weight: 43 grams
Frame material: Polycarbonate
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $22
What we liked: Comfortable fit, good visibility, great price
What we didn’t like: Simple case, not as comfortable for glasses-wearers
If you want an affordable pair of belay glasses that you can still see through, the YY Vertical Plasfun First Belay Glasses are a no-brainer. They’re simple, comfortable, and have good optics so you can see your climber clearly on most routes.
YY Vertical Plasfun First Belay Glasses
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Outside of the PitchSix EyeSend glasses, many of the other belay glasses we tested had very similar optics. Most were comfortable to look through and had just about the same field of view and clarity. The YY Vertical Plasfun First spectacles were no exception. The picture was crystal clear, the angle was useful for belaying typical routes you’d find at a gym or routes that weren’t too tall or overhanging, and there was plenty of peripheral vision.
The angle of the prisms in the Plasfun glasses aren’t as extreme as a couple of others, so you might still have to crane your neck a little bit on long and wandering routes. It has nowhere near the field of view as the overall winner, the EyeSends. The Metolius Upshot glasses ($30–40 more) also have a wider angle so you can see higher up on the wall. However, in all our time wearing the Plasfuns, we still found that we were barely looking up on most routes and the specs still helped us avoid neck pain after several routes belaying.
While you don’t get the same visibility through the prisms as the EyeSends, the Plasfun glasses—and all the other pairs we tested—are slimmer and give you more peripheral vision. Since they’re so thin, it’s easy to look below if you need to glance down at your belay device or the ground, but you can also look over the glasses as you watch your climber for the first couple of clips. The peripheral vision isn’t drastically better than the PitchSix winners, but you can see a bit more.
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Many of the cheaper belay glasses we tested had nearly identical construction, and the YY Vertical Plasfun pair were part of that group. The frame is made of a polycarbonate, which is lightweight, durable, and grippy. The nose rest has more stickiness to it than the hard plastic of the EyeSends, and the material of the arms is bendy enough that you can adjust the tightness to fit your head.
The Plasfun glasses felt stable while belaying, and didn’t feel like they would fall off by themselves while walking around the crag. But if they do, they come with a comfy, detachable leash so you can hang them around your neck once you’re done belaying. This cord was more secure than a few of the other glasses we tested, which, combined with this pair’s fantastic price (under $30 on Amazon), edged them above the competition to become our budget pick.
While these glasses feel comfortable when wearing them, folks who wear prescription glasses or sunglasses at the crag might come across a little bit of trouble. You can definitely still wear the Plasfuns at the same time as other glasses, however, you can’t push them up quite as high on your nose, which means you’ll have to crane your neck a bit on longer routes.
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What holds the YY Vertical Plasfun pair back a bit is its case. It doesn’t have the Velcro strap that makes one-handed use easy, and instead you’ll have to use the zipper. It still comes with a lightweight carabiner so you can attach it to your harness, but the case overall is a little bit harder and more time-consuming to use. This pair also comes with a microfiber cloth to keep your lenses clean, along with two spare screws (but no small screwdriver like some others).
If a more efficient case is important to you, check out the EyeSends, or YY Vertical’s Classic Belay Glasses, which have a stainless steel construction and feel more similar to prescription glasses.
Other belay glasses we tested
YY Vertical Clip Up Belay Glasses
Weight: 32 g
Frame material: Metal
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $57
These glasses were an absolute shoe-in for the best belay glasses for prescription wearers—that is until they broke. They’re fantastically easy to attach to whatever glasses you’re already wearing without damaging your precious prescription lenses, and they have crystal clear optics. Plus, since they attach to the top of your glasses, you can see higher up on the wall than others we tested, and they can flip up so you have full visibility when your climber is still low to the ground.
We loved using them, until we went to clip them to our glasses one day and a small plastic piece broke. We were shocked and disappointed that these belay glasses broke after only a few uses, but upon further examination, it wasn’t too surprising. The piece that gave out was made of plastic and smaller than a grain of rice. It helped keep the part that clips onto your glasses secure and level, and once it broke the glasses were basically unusable.
A few reviewers on Amazon had the same issue I did, and unfortunately YY Vertical only offers refunds or replacements within 30 days. The website is unclear on if something like this would be covered and I’m not sure if you could easily get a replacement, as the only way to do so is by emailing the brand, which I did multiple times for this story and never heard back.
YY Vertical Clip Up Belay Glasses
We loved this glasses-compatible attachment, until they broke.
Weight: 43 g
Frame material: Polycarbonate
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $31
The specs from BG Climbing were basically identical to the YY Vertical Plasfun First glasses, and if you told me they were made in the same factory, I wouldn’t be surprised. They look alike and feel like they’re made from the same materials, which means they have equal comfort and visibility. However, these glasses are $10 more expensive than our affordable pick, which knocked them out of the running. If the Plasfuns are ever sold out or these go on sale, they’d be another great budget option.
BG Climbing Belay Glasses
These glasses had a similar performance to the YY Vertical Plasfuns, but cost more.
Weight: 53 g
Frame material: Plastic
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $65
We really liked the Metolius Upshot glasses, as they feel like a higher-quality version of the budget YY Verticals we tested. They’re thicker and heftier, which lends to better durability, and the angle of the prisms is wider, which means you don’t have to crane your neck as much. However, at $65, we don’t think these improvements justify the jump in price over the $22 YY Vertical Plasfun pair. And if you are willing to spend more, we think splurging the extra $30 for the PitchSix EyeSend glasses is well worth it.
Metolius Upshot Belay Glasses
The Metolius glasses have a wider field of view than most other options we tested.
Weight: 40 g
Frame material: Metal
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $53
These belay glasses have a stainless steel frame, which makes them feel more premium and similar to prescription glasses. While the material might be more durable by itself, these glasses have quite a thin construction that we’re worried might not stand up as well to harsh conditions at the crag. I found myself being more careful while handling this pair than the other plastic-frame options.
Even though I’m not sure if I trust their durability, we’re a big fan of their nose rest, which is the only one we tested that’s adjustable. If you know that’s something you want, and you’re willing to pay the price for a more premium-feeling set, these are a good option. However, we think most will be happier with one of our winners.
YY Vertical Classic Belay Glasses
These look and feel like prescription glasses, but they didn’t stand out otherwise.
Weight: 43 g
Frame material: Plastic
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $16
At $16, these glasses were a top contender for our affordable pick. They have quite a similar construction the the BG Climbing and YY Vertical Plasfun, but they come with a different leash. That leash was their downfall. It’s much less secure than the others we tested, and even popped off one of the arms of the glasses during testing. What use is a neck cord if it doesn’t stay on the glasses? If you don’t care about a good cord or you’re willing to jury-rig another solution, you can save a few bucks on these over the Plasfuns.
Jinjuli Belay Glasses
A better leash would have made these glasses more competitive.
Weight: 36 g
Frame material: Plastic
Optics quality: Great
Carry case included: Yes
Prescription Compatible: Yes
MSRP: $20
This $20 pair felt identical to the many other low-cost glasses we tested, but they didn’t come with any neck lanyard. They were comfortable and had clear optics, but even if you don’t like or need the security cord, you can just opt for the Jinjuli pair which are even cheaper.
Calces365 Belay Glasses
These glasses didn’t even have a leash, so they were knocked out of contention
What to look for in belay glasses
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If you can’t see out of a pair of belay glasses, they won’t be very helpful. That’s why visibility is one of the most important factors we tested for. Luckily, all the pairs we tested passed with flying colors. You should be able to see out of basically any pair of belay glasses you buy, especially if you shop from a reputable brand. However, long-term quality might go down if you skimp out on a cheaper pair. We’ll be sure to continue testing our winning belay glasses to watch out for any decay in clarity.
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When belaying for hours on end, the fit and comfort of your glasses are critical. Most glasses we tested don’t really have much adjustability when it comes to fit though. The only pair we tested with an adjustable nose pad was the YY Vertical Classic glasses, so if you know that might be a problem for you, those specs might be good to invest in. Most pairs had semi-flexible arms, so you could bend them in or out to help fit them to your head size. When it comes to comfort, most of the glasses had decently soft nose pads that didn’t feel too rough on my face.
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If you wear prescription glasses (or sunglasses) when you climb, choosing the right belay specs can be a lot more complicated. Most brands will say their glasses are compatible with prescription glasses, but we found that your field of view is a lot more limited while wearing two pairs of lenses at once. We found the experience to be pretty uncomfortable with normal belay glasses, especially when you’re below long routes. This can be solved, however, with adjustable prisms like the ones on the PitchSix EyeSends, or with a glasses-specific attachment, like the YY Vertical Clip Ups.
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Weight doesn’t matter a whole lot when it comes to belay glasses, and all the options we tested weighed in the same range. But if you’re really counting grams for multi-pitch or alpine climbs, you might want to dig into the specs sheet to find a lightweight pair.
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Most belay glasses we tested were built with durability in mind. Hard plastics and polycarbonate seem to be the materials of choice, as they’re lightweight, durable, and comfortable enough. However, you should be on the lookout for small plastic elements that are prone to breaking, like the ones on the YY Vertical Clip Up.
The most delicate part of belay glasses are the prisms; luckily all the pairs we tested came with microfibers cloths and cases to help keep them protected.
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You won’t be moving your head too much while belaying with any pair of belay glasses, but you still want them to feel stable on your face so you don’t have to adjust them while your climber is at the crux. Sticky and comfortable nose grips and temple grips are key for this reason. Most nose grips—with the exception of the YY Vertical Classic—were basic and couldn’t be adjusted. However, they still felt stable enough that they’d stay on while belaying, even if you’re sweaty. Nearly all the glasses we tested also had flexible side arms that could be adjusted to better fit your head.
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Field of view also matters a ton when you’re looking for the right set of belay glasses. If it’s too small, you’ll have to move your head when your climber moves out of view. It’s so important, the fact that the PitchSix EyeSends had such fantastic field of view shot them to the top of our pool.
While field of view while belaying is key, you still want a good amount of peripheral vision so you can look down at your device and the ground when you need to, or look above the glasses when your climber is still near the ground. Glasses with smaller profiles tend to have more peripheral vision.
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It might sound surprising, but accessories played a big role in our rankings of the best belay glasses. A lot of the pairs had similar clarity and comfort, and what made certain specs stand out above the others were small details like neck straps, included microfiber cloths, replacement screws, and easy-to-use cases.
Basically all the pairs we tested came with a neck leash, which can be super important on multi-pitch climbs so your glasses don’t plummet to the ground. All of them came with cleaning cloths and many also included extra screws.
One of the biggest differentiators between the extras, though, were the cases. They would all do at least a decent job of keeping your glasses safe, but some of the nicer cases had a Velcro strap that allows you to open and close it with one hand. This was actually one of our favorite details, as it made storing and accessing your glasses on the go so much easier than dealing with a zipper.
Are they worth it? Belay Glasses vs. Neck Strain
Some might be skeptical if belay glasses are truly worth it, but after years of belaying, I can confidently say they are. You might not need the fanciest pair, but even a cheap set of belay glasses can help save you from a sore neck.
Belay glasses can really help prevent neck pain after a long day of belaying.
Keeping an eye on your climber, while not possible 100% of the time, makes belaying a lot easier. But if you’re looking up and craning your neck on long or overhung routes, you’re going to start feeling those knots forming in the back of your neck. Belay glasses help avoid this fate by helping you keep a more relaxed and neutral neck. Will you still have to look up sometimes? Yes. But it will be so much less than normal, which means drastically less neck pain.
Care and maintenance tips
It’s important to take good care of your belay glasses, especially the lenses, because if their visibility worsens it can turn into a safety issue while you’re belaying. Luckily, all the glasses we tested came with a microfiber cloth to ensure your prisms stay pristine. Many of the glasses we tested also came with extra screws and a small screwdriver, so if their arms fall off at the crag, you can quickly repair them.
To keep your glasses in good shape, it’s important to wipe them clean with a microfiber cloth before you store them or whenever they get dirty. Dirt and chalk can easily lead to scratches, so it’s extra important to keep your prisms crystal clear. Once you’re done using them, make sure to store your glasses in their included case. These cases have enough structure to help prevent damage if you accidentally drop your glasses. To avoid drops while using the glasses, it’s also a good idea to use the neck lanyard most pairs we tested include, so they won’t fall to the ground if they slip off your face.
How we researched and tested
To test and find the best belay glasses, we thoroughly researched the web to find the top-rated and most popular glasses on the market. We then got our hands on all eight pairs and ran them through the same exact tests.
Our tests took place at the gym where bright overhead lights and crowded walls could make keeping your eye on your climber difficult, as well as at outdoor crags in sunny and cloudy weather in the Front Range of Colorado.
We belayed both indoors and out to test the best belay glasses.
We wore them and looked up at the same climbing wall to gauge any differences in clarity and field of view. Then we wore each while belaying for multiple routes to test for general comfort and ease of use. We wore them while wearing contacts to see how they felt, as well as with prescription glasses and bulky sunglasses to see how compatible and comfortable they are. We also shook our head around while wearing each pair to see how stable they were and if they’d fall off during normal use. Lastly, we examined all extras and features of the glasses, including cases, microfiber cloths, and more.
About the author / Why you should trust us
Testing the belay glasses outside of Golden, CO.
Kai Burkhardt has been climbing for nearly 10 years, has worked at multiple climbing gyms (where he’s belayed for countless birthday parties), and often climbs outdoors near his home in Boulder, Colorado. He enjoys bouldering and sport climbing both indoors and out, and has fully been converted to a belay glasses believer after writing this story. Burkhardt has been testing and reviewing products for over five years, and for this article, he actually got and used all eight pairs of belay glasses. He wore them in the gym and outdoors to try them in various conditions, and wore them while wearing contacts and prescription glasses to judge comfort and visibility.
