Locking carabiners for climbers and mountaineers

In addition to a climbing harness, climbing shoes and a climbing rope, locking carabiners are another vital part of your climbing equipment. Carabiners for climbing, mountaineering, expeditions, canyoning, big walls, via ferrata and ice climbing are used for belaying and self-belaying, abseiling and ensuring safe anchoring.

In contrast to a snapgate carabiner, locking carabiners are secured at the gate with a locking system that prevents it from opening unintentionally. The classic screwgate carabiner is the most common type. Other systems, such as those found in twist-lock carabiners, Tri-Lock carabiners or Ball-Lock carabiners, rely on combined movements of pushing and turning to open the locking carabiner. This makes climbing carabiners even safer and makes it virtually impossible to open them unintentionally.

Carabiners with keylock closures and special carabiners

Manufacturers of climbing hardware, such as AustriAlpin or DMM, produce carabiners with nose or keylock closures. The keylock system eliminates the need for a notch which prevents the carabiner from snagging. The notchless keylock is often found on quickdraws with snapgate carabiners. Lightweight wiregate carabiners rely on a notch on the closure due to their design.

Steel carabiners have a very high tensile strength. Compared to aluminium carabiners, steel carabiners are very heavy, which is why they're only used in special cases. If you want to set up a slackline, carry a haul bag, build a portaledge or to construct a pulley system, durable steel carabiners with a high tensile strength and a twist lock are the way to go. When it comes to via ferratas, you'll need special via ferrata carabiners to secure yourself.

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