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Climbing carabiners
Climbing is an activity that combines passion, technique and specific equipment. Among the essential equipment for any climber, the carabiner stands out as a fundamental component. Used to secure the passage of ropes, attach equipment, or assemble belay systems, the choice of a carabiner must be made with care and knowledge. This buying guide is designed to provide you with the information you need to choose the right carabiner for your climbing needs, whether you're an experienced climber or just starting out. Discover our best carabiners for climbing and other climbing equipment.
Understanding carabiner types
Locking carabiners are designed to provide extra security. Their locking system can be manual (screw or twistlock) or automatic (autolock or trilock). Each offers specific advantages:
- Screw: Requires the user to manually screw in the lock to secure the carabiner. Reliable and controllable, it's preferred for situations where it's crucial to check that the carabiner is properly closed.
- Twistlock: locks automatically once the door is closed and requires two actions to open (turn and push), offering fast, effective security, ideal for situations requiring frequent clipping and unclipping.
- Autolock and trilock: These systems offer an even higher level of security, and are often used in professional environments. They require several movements to open, minimizing the risk of accidental opening.
Non-locking carabiners: light and fast
Lighter and generally less expensive, non-locking carabiners are often used for progression on sport climbing routes or for attaching equipment to a harness. Despite their lack of a locking system, they remain a popular choice for many configurations where speed of carabiner attachment is a priority.
Essential criteria when choosing a carabiner
Most carabiners are made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum offers a good balance between lightness and strength, while steel is preferred for its durability and superior strength, often used in more demanding environments such as rescue or industry.
A carabiner's strength is indicated by three numbers:
- Longitudinal strength: measures the force the carabiner can withstand along its long axis.
- Transverse strength: Indicates the strength when loaded perpendicular to the long axis.
- Open-finger strength: Important in the event of the finger accidentally opening.
Additional details on the Mousketon shape
To optimize your climbing experience, it's also worth taking a close look at the shape of the carabiner:
- Symmetrical carabiners: ideal both as belayers and belayers;
- Asymmetrical carabiners: offering a better strength-to-weight ratio;
- D or HMS shapes: particularly suited to rope work;
Your choice will therefore depend mainly on the specifics of your personal climbing style.
Don't forget that climbing safety depends largely on the quality of the equipment you use! Explore our selection of Black Diamond, Blue Ice, Edelrid. To complete your equipment, don't hesitate to consult our adjacent categories such as Climbing belays, Climbing ropes, Climbing straps. Choose your accessories wisely to guarantee your performance and safety!
