REASONS TO BUY
Secure and easy to use auto-locking gate
Friction spur adds versatility
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Only works with single ropes
Limited applicability
Petzl Freino Review
An expensive, belay specific locker that helps control friction while lowering
Credit: Petzl
RELATED: Best Locking Carabiner of 2023
Our Verdict
The Petzl Frieno is an auto-locking carabiner designed for use while belaying. It has a metal spur that splits off the outside of the spine into a hook shape, paired with a spring loaded wire gate. This braking spur is meant to be used to add friction in certain belay scenarios in order to increase braking control, but can only be used with single rope setups, and so doesn't help when performing double rope rappels. While this two-for-one locker can be rigged in a number of different ways––as a redirect when belaying with a gri-gri at a top anchor, for adding friction when a light climber is lowering a heavier one with an ATC, or when rappelling single ropes––none of these uses is terribly common in climbing, and all have other solutions that are less expensive to enact. Combining a high price tag with limited use, the Frieno is not our top recommendation for a belay specific locker.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Petzl Freino | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $37.22 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $13.38 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $16.39 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $9.71 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $11.96 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Secure and easy to use auto-locking gate, friction spur adds versatility | Versatile, lightweight, relatively affordable, lots of gate clearance, gate security stripe | Twist-lock is easy and fast, versatile shape, lightweight, secure | Very light, affordable, visual indicator on screw gate, full-sized offset-D | Light, small, least amount of revolutions needed for screwgate to lock or unlock |
| Cons | Expensive, only works with single ropes, limited applicability | Screwgate can get stuck closed, aluminum I-beam construction wears out quicker than some | Pricey, slightly less gate clearance than HMS style | Gate spring squeeks, less versatile than HMS style | Expensive compared to alternatives, the least amount of gate clearance |
| Bottom Line | An expensive, belay specific locker that helps control friction while lowering | The best and most versatile locker at a reasonable price | A favorite due to its versatile shape and very easy to open twist-locking gate design | This lightweight offset-D is not only a perfect choice for the budget conscious, but for anyone who wants top performance | Our favorite personal locker is great for building anchors |
| Rating Categories | Petzl Freino | Petzl Attache | Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock | CAMP USA Photon Lock | DMM Phantom |
| Overall Utility (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Unlocking and Locking (25%) | |||||
| Compactness and Weight (20%) | |||||
| Gate Security (20%) | |||||
| Gate Clearance (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Petzl Freino | Petzl Attache | Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock | CAMP USA Photon Lock | DMM Phantom |
| Weight | 87 g | 57 g | 51 g | 44 g | 41 g |
| Gate Closed Strength (KN) | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| Sideways Strength (KN) | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Gate Open Strength (KN) | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Gate Clearance (cm) | 1.6 cm | 2.6 cm | 2.2 cm | 1.8 cm | 1.6 cm |
| Visual Locking Indicator? | Autolocking | Yes | Autolocking | Yes | No |
| Carabiner Shape | Offset-D | Pear/HMS | Offset-D | Offset-D | Offset-D |
| Lock Closure Type | Twistlock | Screw-lock | Twistlock, also comes in screw lock or triple action | Screwgate | Screwgate |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
We want to give Petzl credit where it is due for inventing a locker that provides a solution to a problem: inadequate braking control when using thin or new ropes with a GriGri, or for very light belayers or kids who struggle to lower heavier partners in control. By looping the brake hand rope through the friction spur, one can add significant amounts of friction, making lowering very easy to control. We should point out that this locker is designed to be used with a GriGri, and with only a single rope, and so have found its use to be unfortunately limited to the exact situations described above. We will admit that we were initially a bit confused as to how to use this braking spur feature, and so scoured the internet for ideas on how other people are using it, which we then tested ourselves. Here's how some of these uses went for us:
As a redirect on a top-belay using a GriGri: Climbers at an anchor belaying up a second sometimes clip a GriGri directly to the master point and belay the second up in this manner. If you have to lower them, however, you must redirect the brake rope upward to maintain proper braking control, and the braking spur of the Frieno can be used for this (see picture below). However, a second locking carabiner clipped to a higher anchor piece could also be used for less money, and in general we prefer to use an auto-locking ATC such as the Petzl Reverso or ATC Guide to belay up a seconding climber, as they are more secure for this use (and a lot lighter and less clunky to carry up) than a GriGri.
When belaying with a gri=gri on a top-anchor, you can use the Frieno as a brake assist and brake hand redirect while lowering the climber. While it worked ok like this, a redirect can also be achieved with another locker for less money.
Lowering a climber using an ATC: The Frieno is designed to be used with a GriGri to add friction while lowering, but also works with a single rope and an ATC. However, we found that looping the brake strand through the spur changes the orientation of the rope exiting the ATC to a direction it is not designed for, and will likely wear through the side of the ATC very quickly if repeated often. Not ideal.
To use with a tube-style belay device means that you are looping the rope over a way that the belay device was not designed. This does add a lot of friction to the system, helping to manage lowering speeds, but will quickly wear through your belay device.
Rappelling: If rappelling a single rope with a GriGri, the Frieno can add friction and braking control. However, it is rarer to rappel a single rope rather than double ropes, which the Frieno cannot help with. We also feel that ATC style belay devices offer more control for rappelling than a GriGri (and once again are a lot lighter and easier to carry up a climb). Thirdly, on any rappel it is wise to tie a brake hand backup attached to your harness, which greatly aids with brake control (even allowing you to go no hands if desired or needed), thereby eliminating the need for the expensive Frieno.
Performance Comparison
The Frieno is designed to be used in conjunction with a single rope and gri-gri belay device, and can add friction for helping manage lowering speeds if you loop the brake hand back through the hook seen here.
Overall Utility
The Petzl Frieno is an offset-D shaped locker that uses round stock, and as mentioned includes a unique braking spur on the outside of the spine. The offset-D shape limits effective function to one rope, as two would tend to pinch each other in the basket next to the spine. For using two ropes, an HMS/pear shape is ideal. However, the Frieno is designed for one rope anyway. If using it as a belay locker in conjunction with a GriGri, which is the very particular function for which it is designed, then it works great. That said, it is not a very versatile locker, as the friction spur is large and the offset-D shape precludes one from using it for building anchors or as a master point.
Although it can be used in many other situations as well, the Frieno is designed for belaying with a brake assist belay device. Here we are testing it out with a standard ATC while lead belaying.
Ease of Unlocking and Locking
The Frieno features a double-action auto-locking twist gate. To unlock it, you twist the gate 90 degrees, or one-quarter turn, and then open the gate. We found it to be one of the easiest lockers to quickly unlock. It's far easier to manipulate with one hand than a triple-action twist lock. The auto-locking gate closes itself with spring action, and automatically locks when it is closed, every time. We awarded the Frieno the highest score for this metric.
To open the gate you simply twist the locking mechanism one quarter turn, then push is open. It snaps closed and locks automatically when released.
Compactness and Weight
We weighed this locker at 87g on our independent scale, which is roughly in line with other large, belay specific carabiners in this review. However, it's bulky, and the friction spur can easily get caught in slings or cams hanging on the harness.
At 87g, this in one of the heaviest lockers we tested, and is also rather large, especially when you consider the extra space of the friction hook on the outside of the spine.
Gate Security
If gate security is a concern, then the Frieno is an excellent choice. Its auto-locking mechanism literally slams closed and locked the moment you let go of the gate, so there is no way that it could be forgotten. The twist locking gate is super secure, but is not quite as difficult to get open as a triple-action one.
This is a very secure gate because it is auto-locking, meaning one cannot forget to lock it. With the tension on the spring that keeps the gate closed and locked, it would be virtually impossible for it to come unlocked on its own.
Gate Clearance
We measured the gate clearance at a mere 1.6cm, tied for the smallest amount of any locker in this review. Of course, this opening is wide enough for pretty much any thickness of single rope, and is wide enough to thread a GriGri as well, so there shouldn't be any concern.
As you can see, the gate opening is minimal, a mere 1.6cm, which is still more than enough for loading a single rope or belay device.
Value
The Frieno retails for far and away the highest price of any locker we tested, by a healthy margin. If you are buying it as a Christmas present for a belayer who nearly dropped you once before, it could be worth it! However, with limited uses, and considering other adequate solutions to these problems can be found for less money, we don't think it is a solid value purchase.
The Frieno is best used with a gri-gri, as it is here getting ready for some single pitch trad cragging on basalt columns.
Conclusion
The Petzl Frieno is a very unique belay locker that includes a friction spur that enables one to loop the brake end of the rope over it for increased braking control. It must be used with a GriGri on a single rope to be effective, and costs a lot of money for a single locking carabiner. For these reasons, it is not our preferred, or recommended, choice for a belay-specific locker.
Phil tops out the three pitch "Thin Air" at Smith Rock, with the Oregon Cascades in the background, a great mission for testing locking carabiners.
—
Andy Wellman
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