| Carabiners are an integral piece of climbing gear. They | | | | important advantage is that due to the gate having |
| are the strong links which allow almost all systems | | | | less solid mass it is less likely to seize open. A |
| within climbing to work. Most climbers know that | | | | problem which once they have been used a lot is |
| there are different types of carabiner. Most also | | | | likely to occur with solid gates. |
| understand what some of those difference mean. | | | | Screw Gate Carabiners |
| There are many differences however which most | | | | Screw-gate karabiners come in 3 main types. Firstly |
| are completely unaware of and if properly | | | | there are small screw-gate carabiners. These are light |
| understood make big differences to your climbing. | | | | and strong and are ideal for using in belays where |
| The main factor which differentiates a carabiner is | | | | they will link just 2 pieces of kit and won't need |
| whether it is a snap-gate carabiner or screw-gate | | | | much adjustment. The second type is large |
| carabiner. The difference between these is simple: a | | | | screw-gate carabiners. These are used when using |
| screw-gate carabiner is one which, when the gate is | | | | thicker ropes or if an anchor needs to accommodate |
| closed, you can screw it shut so it is locked. This | | | | 2 ropes. The third type is a HMS screw-gate |
| type is obviously much more secure than a snap | | | | carabiner. The difference between this and a large |
| gate and is mostly used for anchors in the belay or | | | | screw-gate is not very obvious to those not looking |
| to belay with. | | | | for it. For this reason large screw-gates are often |
| Snap Gate Carabiners | | | | used when a HMS would have done the job much |
| Snap gate carabiners can also be divided into two | | | | better. A HMS gate has a flat top side. For this |
| groups, solid gate and wire gate. A solid gate | | | | reason it often looks like a pear. This flat edge is |
| carabiner has a solid bar which closes the gate which | | | | designed to make belaying with an Italian (Munter) |
| is about the same thickness as the rest of the | | | | hitch much easier and cause less friction. HMS |
| carabiner. Wire gates on the other hand have gates | | | | carabiners are also very useful if you need to attach |
| which are made of wire. The differences between | | | | 2 clove hitches to a single point in a belay. |
| the two are fairly marginal. The first advantage of | | | | So long as you are using a screw gate when you |
| the wire gate is that it is lighter, a big advantage, | | | | should be, not using the ideal one will not put yourself |
| especially when sport climbing. Wire gates are also | | | | in danger. That said, knowing how to use each one |
| less susceptible to freezing in winter than the solid | | | | to your best advantage will make your climbing both |
| gate carabiners. The third and probably most | | | | smoother and easier. |