Carabiner
These devices are a gated connecting device used in rock climbing to attach a rope to a fixed anchor, tie in to protection points and the Belay Device. They are which are either non-locking or locking, and hinged with a spring to snap shut when released. They are lightweight, most commonly made with aluminum, and specifically designed to be operated with one hand. They are built to withstand a high shock force, and yet are light enough for climbers to carry between 6 to 30 without being hindered by the weight or bulk. The sizes range from big 3.7 ounce--to the mini 1.2 ounce aluminum carabiner. There are three basic types:
Snap Gate Aluminum Carabiner:
Oval. The semi-circle at each end distributes the load while allowing the rope or another carabiner to shift with movement. Typically these are the least expensive, lightest in weight to include the mini size. The tradeoff is they are not as strong and a little more difficult to clip than other styles, but are is ideal for clipping gear and rack items to the climbing harness.
 "D" - Symmetrical. The "D-shape" causes the connecting runners or rope to shift toward the spine side (away from the gate). The spine side of the aluminum carabiner is stronger than the gate. This type will take more shock and weight force than the standard oval. They are easier to clip into runners and anchors points than the oval. This type works well for lead and top rope clipping.
 "D" - Asymmetrical. The asymmetrical function provides space for a larger gate opening. This facilitates clipping and reduces weight a little. The asymmetrical has a larger gate opening than the symmetrical, but has less space inside the carabiner. It is also a good choice for lead and top rope clipping for experienced climbers.
Type of Gate. The "D" type has three basic gate options.
- Straight Gate. These are straight as the name implies. This is a little less expensive than the bent gate, more common and offers good functionality.
- Bent Gate. This type of gate has a slight concave curve. The purpose is to provide more room for the rope, runner or anchor point which allows faster clipping. Some climbers believe this type of gate is slightly more prone to unintentional unclipping. This could happen if another carabiner or protection point is twisted against the gate. For this reason, the bent gate type should be used with a runner or quickdraw. When used properly these provide added advantage of easy, smooth and quick clipping.
- Wire Gate. The thinner gate of the wire is an advantage in two ways: It provides more room, and is not as susceptible to "gate lash". Gate lash is the momentary opening of the gate caused from jarring or impact during a fall. This momentary opening weakens the carabiner at the instant of impact stress--when the full strength is needed most. When the gate is closed the gate contributes to the overall strength. When the gate is open, the spine carries the full strength. This is called open gate loading. Open gate loading is the leading cause of failure of aluminum carabiners. Since the wire gate has less momentum than the other gates it is less prone to pop open on impact.
Also see locking carabiners.
Standard Carabiners:
 Metolius F.S. Mini CarabinerPrice: $7.45 Backcountry.com More... Lower rack weight and volume without sacrificing strength or utility with the Metolius FS Mini Biner. Metolius maintained carabiner strength while reducing the size in the FS Mini, so ounce-oriented climbers can enjoy a lighter load on those multi-pitch pushes. At a mere 23g, these rigs are also easy to clip and can help you color coordinate your cams and nuts.  Wild Country Wild Wire CarabinerPrice: $5.90 Backcountry.com More... When you reach back for your Wild Country Wild Wire Carabiner you'll first appreciate how the bow shape feels so comfortable in your hand. And when you pull back on the Techwire gate, the smooth action will remind you it was a good choice to stock up on the Wild Wire.  Black Diamond Nitron CarabinerPrice: $8.95 Backcountry.com More... So you want more carabiners, but your significant other is telling you to cut back' Since when does a climber need to rationalize adding more carabiners to his or her kit' If you think we're going to sit here and brag about the Black Diamond Nitron Carabiner's lethal combo of light weight, strength, and value, then you're mistaken. And if you expect us to regale you with tales of the Nitron's gaping 22 mm of gate clearance and slim profile, then we're sorry to disappoint. It's just not going to happen.  Black Diamond HoodWire CarabinerPrice: $8.95 Backcountry.com More... Before you start frantically slapping at your freakishly light harness and wondering where your hardware is, give a quick twist and listen for the telltale jangle of your trusty Black Diamond Carabiner bumping into your ATC. At a slim 37 grams each, these tiny wiregates boast the strength ratings of typical burly 'biners but won't pull your harness and pants off with the extra weight. In fact, you may not even notice them at all.  Metolius Inferno Wiregate CarabinerPrice: $7.45 Backcountry.com More... If being light and fast is your game, you'll love the clip-and-go attitude behind the Metolius Inferno Wiregate Carabiner. The mad Metolius scientists gave the inferno a gaping gate opening for those clips that ride on a prayer and a thumb, and a generous strength rating of 28kN ensures this 'biner withstands the forces you put on it. At just 35 grams, you may barely notice the Inferno until you really, really need it.  Mammut Classic CarabinerPrice: $5.90 Backcountry.com More... The Classic Carabiner from Mammut could be used to attach your water bottle to your backpack while you walk across campus, or you could use it to attach your sleeping bag one of the compression straps on your expedition bag. No matter what you choose to do with this wiregate 'biner, you're going to be getting an excellent value for your money.  DMM Alpha CarabinerPrice: $9.90 Backcountry.com More... DMM hears your cries of 'lighter! Faster!' loud and clear, which is why they designed the Alpha Carabiner. Short and simple, the Alpha provides the burly strength ratings that DMM prides itself on yet also maintains a slim, sub-50-gram profile. For you gram-watchers out there, make sure rack up as many of these bad boys as you need so you don't weigh down your harness on your next sport project. Metolius F.S. Mini CarabinerPrice: $7.45 Backcountry.com More... Lower rack weight and volume without sacrificing strength or utility with the Metolius FS Mini Biner. Metolius maintained carabiner strength while reducing the size in the FS Mini, so ounce-oriented climbers can enjoy a lighter load on those multi-pitch pushes. At a mere 23g, these rigs are also easy to clip and can help you color coordinate your cams and nuts. Wild Country Wild Wire CarabinerPrice: $5.90 Backcountry.com More... When you reach back for your Wild Country Wild Wire Carabiner you'll first appreciate how the bow shape feels so comfortable in your hand. And when you pull back on the Techwire gate, the smooth action will remind you it was a good choice to stock up on the Wild Wire. Black Diamond Nitron CarabinerPrice: $8.95 Backcountry.com More... So you want more carabiners, but your significant other is telling you to cut back' Since when does a climber need to rationalize adding more carabiners to his or her kit' If you think we're going to sit here and brag about the Black Diamond Nitron Carabiner's lethal combo of light weight, strength, and value, then you're mistaken. And if you expect us to regale you with tales of the Nitron's gaping 22 mm of gate clearance and slim profile, then we're sorry to disappoint. It's just not going to happen. Black Diamond HoodWire CarabinerPrice: $8.95 Backcountry.com More... Before you start frantically slapping at your freakishly light harness and wondering where your hardware is, give a quick twist and listen for the telltale jangle of your trusty Black Diamond Carabiner bumping into your ATC. At a slim 37 grams each, these tiny wiregates boast the strength ratings of typical burly 'biners but won't pull your harness and pants off with the extra weight. In fact, you may not even notice them at all. Metolius Inferno Wiregate CarabinerPrice: $7.45 Backcountry.com More... If being light and fast is your game, you'll love the clip-and-go attitude behind the Metolius Inferno Wiregate Carabiner. The mad Metolius scientists gave the inferno a gaping gate opening for those clips that ride on a prayer and a thumb, and a generous strength rating of 28kN ensures this 'biner withstands the forces you put on it. At just 35 grams, you may barely notice the Inferno until you really, really need it. Mammut Classic CarabinerPrice: $5.90 Backcountry.com More... The Classic Carabiner from Mammut could be used to attach your water bottle to your backpack while you walk across campus, or you could use it to attach your sleeping bag one of the compression straps on your expedition bag. No matter what you choose to do with this wiregate 'biner, you're going to be getting an excellent value for your money. DMM Alpha CarabinerPrice: $9.90 Backcountry.com More... DMM hears your cries of 'lighter! Faster!' loud and clear, which is why they designed the Alpha Carabiner. Short and simple, the Alpha provides the burly strength ratings that DMM prides itself on yet also maintains a slim, sub-50-gram profile. For you gram-watchers out there, make sure rack up as many of these bad boys as you need so you don't weigh down your harness on your next sport project.  Wild Country Astro Techwire CarabinerPrice: $7.50 CampSaver.com More... Wild Country's Astro weighs in at only 29 grams making it their lightest biner ever. Like a miniature of the original, amazing Helium, the Astro's technology combines plenty of strength with a definitive design that keeps up the downward momentum of weight loss. Small, but built to sit perfectly in the hand its size belies the ease of use. Built with Wild Country's easy clip Techwire wiregate and skinny, safe, hooded nose that makes it perfect for super slick clipping, it's not hard to see why it handles so well.  Wild Country Wild Wire Techwire CarabinerPrice: $5.95 CampSaver.com More... Simple, light and elegant to use, Wild Country's Wild Wire's smooth action and Techwire gate makes clipping a joy and it's open shape and bow back sits neatly in the hand for all uses. As a hot forged biner, its strength is re-assuringly good and the Techwire gate - one the best solutions for a wiregate - means that it has a big gate open measurement for easy clipping. One of Wild Country's most identifiable and popular biners, it continues to be a great value unit and Wild Country's best seller, offering great value for trad climbing, sports and all-around use.  Wild Country Oxygen CarabinerPrice: $8.50 CampSaver.com More... Wild Country's Oxygen Carabiner has been designed with a traditional safe and solid keylock and bent or straight gates to suit those who either don't want wires or want the convenience of this 'no-hook' nose. Obviously, the advantage of the Clean-lock no-hook nose is the same as on the Helium, ropes slings and wires are much easier to unclip from one off these units, and these biners are much easier to slide off your rack. The Oxygen has also been designed to be a super strong unit and it certainly makes the grade with figures of 26 / 9 / 8 meaning you can choose it with confidence as a great all rounder with a bombproof finish.  Wild Country Helium Clean Wire CarabinerPrice: $12.50 CampSaver.com More... Designed for elite climbers everywhere, Wild Country's Helium Clean Wire Carabiner's unparalleled combination of extreme lightweight, high strength and 'Clean-wire' no hook nose make it the ultimate on-sighting biner. When the Helium concept was initially launched a major focus was to make a wire gate but with none of the traditional drawbacks a wire has; that they can hook up on bolts or wires, can unclip more easily than snap gates, and are susceptible to opening if lying against the rock. The solution was the 'Clean-wire' hooded nose and Wild Country's new flat-wire gate. With this combination of features the Helium counters to a huge degree all these traditional problems by covering the gate within the nose not allowing it to get hooked up.  DMM Shadow Keylock CarabinerPrice: $12.50 CampSaver.com More... DMM manufactured the Shadow series of carabiners from a new alloy which, when combined with their I-Beam hot forging technology, gives even greater strength than traditional carabiners - the Shadow features a massive 10kN gate open strength. The Shadow also incorporates a keylock nose to avoid snagging on bolts, ropes and racked gear.  Kong Tango CarabinerPrice: $26.95 CampSaver.com More... The Tango carabiner is designed to give you quick and easy security. The unique locking device is opened by depressing the lever with your thumb while griping the biner. When released it locks the gate shut for security. Great for rope courses. Key Lock. Captive Eye  Black Diamond Hoodwire CarabinerPrice: $8.95 CampSaver.com More... Thanks to its innovative stainless steel wire hood, the hot-forged Black Diamond HoodWire carabiner fuses keylock functionality with wiregate performance. This lightweight, unique design makes for hassle-free, snag-free clipping and cleaning, plus it won't freeze up in alpine conditions or suffer from gate whiplash. Thanks to its hot forged construction, no detail on the HoodWire has been overlooked, including an optimized nose angle and a wide, rope-bearing basket radius.  Black Diamond Nitron CarabinerPrice: $8.95 CampSaver.com More... A multi-purpose, 100% hot-forged biner (including the ergonomic gate), the Black Diamond Nitron Straight carabiner provides smooth-clipping keylock functionality for everything from racking Stoppers to clipping bolts and the Nitron Bent carabiner provides snag-free keylock functionality and smooth, fast clipping when it matters most.  Mammut Oval CarabinerPrice: $6.50 CampSaver.com More... Mammut's Oval carabiner is a standard in any climber's gear cornucopia. The Oval offers increase safety when using safety devices or climbing aids. Its symmetrical shape means that it does not matter which end of the carabiner the safety device is used on. The Oval is also ideal as a gear carabiner on major ventures.  Edelrid Mission Wire Gate CarabinerPrice: $8.95 CampSaver.com More... Weighing in at just 25 g, the Mission is one of the lightest carabiners in its class. Despite its minimal weight, the Mission is very robust with breaking strength values of 23-8-7 kN. This has been made possible by combining shape and functionality and removing any excesses. The large gate opening of 20 mm exceeds that of many larger carabiners and provides excellent clipping comfort. The ideal carabiner for alpine tours where material weight reduction and maximum safety reserves are essential. Selected Carabiners On Sale
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