ZÆD
Climb with weight difference.
Climb with Confidence.
ZAED is the adjustable climbing brake assistant for climbers looking for smooth and dynamic catches.
CE Certified
Designed andmade in Germany
Happy ClimbersWorldwide
Climb with weight difference.
"The brake assistant I always wished for."
Adjust for your weight difference.
Choose between 3 different support levels. Get the right amount support for your needs, belay style and partner's weight.
Experience soft catches instead of abrupt lockups.
While other devices give you harsh impacts that hurt your ancles, ZAED delivers smooth and dynamic catches. It feels like you get belayed by someone of your exact same weight.
Avoid annoying rope drag.
ZAED allows fast clipping even in shaky crux positions of your project. Compared to other devices there is no rope drag in most situations.
ZAED pro works at first bolt.
ZAED pro locks hard at the first bolt to help prevent ground falls, then automatically switches to smooth, dynamic catches from the second bolt onward.
Choose your ZÆD
ZAED mini is ultralight, affordable and perfect for gym climbing.
ZAED pro adds first bolt support - ideal for outdoor climbing.
| ZAED mini | ZAED pro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Weight | 101g | 222g |
| Material | Aluminium, Titanium, Steel | Aluminium, Titanium, Steel |
| 3 adjustable levels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soft Catch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fast rope payout | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support @ first bolt | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ideal for | gym climbing | gym + outdoor crags |
| Certified/tested after | CE | CE |
| Price excl. carabinerCountry-specific shipping/tariff surcharges may apply | €94,95 | €124,95 |
| Buy ZAED mini | Buy ZAED pro 2 |
FAQ about ZAED climbing brake assistants
Brake assistants (also called belay resistor) allow climbing partners of different weight to still enjoy their favorite sport together. It is a specialized piece of sport climbing hardware clipped into the first bolt that amplifies rope friction during a fall, reducing the impact on a lighter belayer and increasing safety for climber and belayer.
ZÆD acts as an adjustable friction amplifier within the belay chain. In the event of a lead fall, it safely absorbs a significant portion of the impact force before that force ever reaches the lighter belayer. This drastically reduces the pull on the belayer, preventing them from being aggressively launched toward the wall or the first bolt. At the same time, the climber experiences a soft, comfortable catch rather than a hard stop.
ZÆD is straightforward to integrate into your climbing routine. Before the lead climber starts, you thread the climbing rope through the device according to the diagram on the side. You then carry ZÆD up on your harness and clip it into the first bolt of the route. From that point on, you belay exactly as you normally would with your preferred standard belay device.
We designed two versions to match your specific priorities regarding weight, climbing environment, and safety needs:
- ZÆD Mini: This is the perfect choice if keeping your gear lightweight is your top priority and you are comfortable with standard safety margins below the second quickdraw (such as in modern indoor gyms).
- ZÆD Pro: This version is built for those who want maximum safety and peace of mind, especially outdoors. If a little extra budget and a hundred grams of weight are no issue for you, we highly recommend choosing the ZÆD Pro for its added first-bolt locking mechanism.
The difference lies in how early the device supports the belayer in preventing a ground fall.
ZAED Mini (No First Bolt Support): Clipped into the first quickdraw, but assistance only begins once the climber clips the second quickdraw.
ZAED Pro (With First Bolt Support): An additional locking mechanism engages immediately if the climber falls above the first quickdraw before clipping the second.
Which one do you need? In indoor gyms, the first bolt is typically low and the gap to the second is small — the ZAED Mini is sufficient. Outdoors, the first bolt is often higher and the gap larger. A fall before clipping the second draw can easily overpower a lighter belayer; the ZAED Pro locks the rope in this scenario, providing the mechanical support needed to hold the fall. Beyond the second bolt, both versions perform identically.
If budget and the extra weight aren't a concern, we recommend the ZAED Pro.
Please note: Falling between the first and second quickdraw is inherently dangerous due to the low height and short rope in the system. No device can fully eliminate the risk of a ground fall in this zone. ZAED provides critical mechanical assistance — it does not replace attentive belaying, proper slack management, and sound safety practice.
In modern, standardized indoor climbing gyms, the first quickdraw is usually placed very low (max. 3.10m in the EU), and the distance to the second one is minimal. This means that a whipper while clipping the 2nd bolt results in a certain grounder due to the rope length involved in this situation.
In this environment, the ZAED Mini provides assistance once the second draw is clipped. If keeping your gear lightweight is your top priority and you are comfortable with standard safety margins below the second quickdraw, the ZAED Mini is a good choice for indoor climbing.
However, if a little extra budget and a hundred grams of weight are no issue for you, we still highly recommend the ZAED Pro. It features an additional locking mechanism that engages immediately if the climber falls above the very first quickdraw, giving the belayer maximum mechanical support as early as possible.
Please keep in mind that falling between the first and second quickdraw is always inherently dangerous due to the low altitude and rope length in the system, whether indoors or outdoors, and no device can completely eliminate the risk of a ground fall in this zone.
Made in Germany
Ultralight
German ultralight engineering saves your energy for the crux
Durable
Long life materials protect your wallet and the planet
ZAED in action
Let customers speak for us
Love this product! It makes belaying my husband (40kg difference) much easier and safer. It also makes me feel better belaying people other than him because three different settings opens up possibilities with other climbing partners so much! I highly recommend this product to anyone climbing with varied people :)
Richtig gut,während des Kletterns merkt man garnicht das es überhaupt da ist, beim Stürzen jedoch ermöglicht es einen butterweichen Fall.
Awesome, rope flows through the mini very smooth and helped fix any shortropeing that happened with other devices grabbing while the climber is pulling for rope. The mini is awesome for the gym, as a lighter belayer I love using this while delaying helps me feel safe and truly helps catch any climbing partner I have.
I weigh 100 lbs more than my partner. This device is simple and intuitive, and it has absolutely transformed our climbing experience.
I love it.
Müsste klar der Platzhirsch sein unter den Seilbremsen! In der Halle sowie am Fels. Lässt Ohm, Ohmega und Bauer um mehrere Seillängen hinter sich ;-)
This newer version (Pro 2) is a significant improvement on all previous versions. Thanks to the fact that it is slightly heavier (the compromise), it no longer engages unexpectedly when the climber pulls on the rope to clip.
Its geometry allows dynamic belaying, similar to deflecting the rope into a Z(or L)-shape.
Having tested all the braking assistant devices on the market, including the Ohm 1 & 2, the Omerga, the Bauer Zorro and the Mammut Assist, I can say with confidence that this is the best.
Nach dem ich jetzt das Zaed mini in der Kletterhalle ausgiebig testen konnte bin ich mehr als zufrieden mit dem Gerät.
The Zead Pro is the perfect fit for us. It's light weight, works above the first bolt and there is no rope drag while clipping. The device couldn't be any better.
I am 83 kg and my wife is 53. Before we used "Ohm", and now it is an absolutely another experience! No rope hard stuck, no hard catches at falls and it is so easy to take a rope back from the end of the route.
I also recomend to use screw-gate carabiner, because it is as easy to clip at fist bolt as a quickdrow. Otherwise you need to keep the gate with your hand.
Awesome
Performs very well at a 34kg weight difference on max setting. We did multiple tests of falling from and above the first bolt to fine tune position and stance and test safety. Really good. Enables me to lead climb with my daughter when otherwise it just wasn’t possible or safe. Highly recommended!
Even Better than the Previous Version
The new version is lighter and has now even the ability to assist with falls at the first bolt: a big advantage! Everything else is as good as it gets with such advices: no rope drag and soft catches are possible. My partner and i, who have a weightdifference of almost 20 kg use it often and are perfectly happy.
Bester Vorschaltwiderstand
Habe viel verglichen, gefällt mir persönlich bis jetzt am besten am aktuellen Markt. Fein justierbar, leicht und gut dynamisch.
Superior product
My wife is 43kg and I am 74kg. This devise levels that difference and lets us climb as if we are the same weight.
Zaed Mini VS Ohm
We were debating between the Zaed and the Ohm/Ohmega, in the end we went with the Zaed since it was lighter and has no moving parts. The zaed works wonderfully, me weighing 85kg can easily be belayed by someone of 55kg and up now. Making very big falls could still pull the belayer up, but it makes it much more comfortable for both climbers.
Just what I wanted
Light, easy, works just like what you want. A little bit (or more) of smooth resistance that doesn't get in the way of climbing. No short roping or difficultly getting it to let go so that you can go back to climbing after a fall.
What Reddit users say about ZAED
Comment
byu/trublopa from discussion
inClimbingGear
byu/trublopa from discussion
inClimbingGear
Made in the German Alps
raed is based in Kempten, at the foot of the Bavarian Alps in Germany. We gather our inspiration from the time at the rock and on the summits of the Allgäu. Our products are proudly engineered and made in Germany.
CE certified
There's no EN / UIAA standard for belay resistors yet. That's why we decided to have ZÆD tested and certified by TÜV Austria according to the strictest standards. ZAED pro & ZAED mini are CE certified.
10 years of history
Born in highlining, raed brings over 10 years of experience to creating safe alpine gear. Climbing is our passion, not just a business. Whether in the gym or out on the steep rocks of the Alps, we value a good climb as much as you do. We design and build high-quality gear for our own passion, because we use it ourselves every single day.
