gri·​gri. less common spelling of gris-gris. : a talisman, amulet, voodoo charm, spell, or incantation believed capable of warding off evil and bringing good luck to oneself or of bringing misfortune to another.

The Grigri's primary advantage lies in its ability to catch a falling climber more effectively than the ATC. It reduces the risk of belayer error, making it a reliable choice for climbers of varying experience levels.

GriGri & GriGri+ Differences One small addition is a steel plate on the right side where the rope runs while lowering. This will reduce the amount of wear over time and extend the life of the Grigri+ compared to the standard model. It also has an integrated "anti-panic" mode.

Daughter is using a Grigri as a self-belay device. This is expressly discouraged by Petzl, the manufacturer, on this page titled Self Belaying is Prohibited. That's pretty damning. As the page admits, some people do use a Grigri for self-belays, but it's not ideal and potentially dangerous.