Best Carabiners for All Occasions

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 17, 2024
Are you a professional mountaineer? Or maybe you like hiking and active outdoor activities? If you want to keep your gear available at your disposal anytime, to put up a tent or string a hammock in your backyard, a strong carabiner is a must for you. For this review, we've selected five best carabiners for different applications. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Shape
Gate
Material
Strength
Gate Opening
Weight
Warranty
 
PROS

It is a high load carrying equipment with a very effective design that guarantees sufficient grip. That's why it is best suitable for use in extreme situations. 

CONS

The screw pitch is long. 

OUR VERDICT

The Positron Screwgate Carabiner will meet the needs of both novice travelers and professional mountaineers. Designed to be flat with the same thickness around the perimeter, it will work properly with your piton-belay.

detailed parameters
Shape

Asymmetric D Shape

Gate

Straight gate with screw-lock

Material

Aluminum

Strength
  • Closed Gate: 25 kN
  • Open Gate: 8 kN
  • Minor Axis: 8 kN
Gate Opening

0.83"

Weight

2 oz

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The ORCA lock allows you to unfasten this carabiner fast and clip it further to the rope or the hoop. Also, a special indication mark informs you when the lock is open.

CONS

You should always keep it clean. 

OUR VERDICT

The ORCA Lock model is an excellent choice for those who train on climbing a wall and/or want to participate in competitions that require fast reaction. It is also irreplaceable for industrial high rise works. 

detailed parameters
Shape

O Shape

Gate

Straight gate with auto-lock

Material

Aluminum

Strength
  • Closed Gate: 24 kN
  • Open Gate: 6 kN
  • Minor Axis: 11 kN
Gate Opening

0.93"

Weight

2.85 oz

Warranty

30 days

PROS

The long spine of the frame allows for proper belt fixation. Due to a wire gate design, the edges are smooth enough to avoid strap fraying.  

CONS

Inconvenience with tight loops may occur because of the uneven thickness of the frame.  

OUR VERDICT

If you like camping and traveling, the Wiregate Carabiners is the right choice for you. They are quite safe for hammocks with different kinds of straps and some kinds of tents. 

detailed parameters
Shape

Asymmetric D Shape

Gate

Wiregate

Material

Aluminum

Strength
  • Closed Gate: 12 kN
Gate Opening

~0.75"

Weight

0.71 oz

Warranty

30 days

PROS

Due to the light weight and small size, this carabiner is easy to carry around and keep at your fingertips. Plus, the set includes 20 items. 

CONS

They are not for a heavy load.   

OUR VERDICT

Given the affordable price and overall ease of use, this carabiner keychain can become a decent alternative to disposable plastic straps. Using this keychain, you'll be able to fixate not only small objects but also a ridgepole of the sunshade. 

detailed parameters
Shape

D Shape

Gate

Straight gate

Material

Aluminum

Strength
  • Closed Gate: ~1 kN
Gate Opening

~1"

Weight

~0.32 oz

Warranty

30 days

PROS

With the left-handed thread, you can handle this carabiner with only one hand. Also, the frame is made of stainless steel, so it is resistant to corrosion. 

CONS

The width of the gate opening is not very wide. 

OUR VERDICT

You can use this gear for your backpack or lifeline equipment when climbing. In other words, being very reliable, these carabiners are an excellent choice for many outdoor activities. 

detailed parameters
Shape

O Shape

Gate

Straight gate with screw-lock

Material

Stainless steel

Strength
  • Closed Gate: ~5 kN
Gate Opening

0.41"

Weight

2.6 oz

Warranty

30 days

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Black Diamond Positron

When You Need It to be Compact

Being high-class and simple-to-use, the Positron Screwgate Carabiner is one of the most popular accessories used by mountaineers and travelers. The locking mechanism is quite straightforward and doesn't require regular maintenance. The locking sleeve is extremely reliable and at the same time can be used almost in any conditions. All tiny components are placed close enough to prevent any gaps and not let particles of sand and dust get inside the mechanism. Taking into account the small size of the tool, the gate opening here is quite wide, which nevertheless might still not be enough for fastening thick master-point strands and safety knots but will be perfect for hooks and ropes. Due to the even thickness of the keylock nose and the frame, threading it through small holes of anchor bolts is also possible. The Positron Screwgate Carabiner will prove itself helpful in many different situations that don't require a large carabiner.

Review of Black Diamond Positron Screwgate Carabiner
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B003Y5BGAQ

 

Rock Exotica ORCA

Manual and Automatic Control

The C3 O is a popular biner that unites several techniques and is appreciated by customers for its ORCA blocking gate system which work is based on two operation principles - 3-stage automatic block system and a manual Twist-lock. You may wonder why to use manual control if it is usually more complicated and less safe than an automatic one. Well, in the case of this keychain, it is as safe as of the C3 A model, yet it is much simpler to use. For instance, if you unblock the carabiner without opening the gate completely, the rivet pin won't lean back. This function comes in especially useful for speleologists and climbers, who usually use a lot of carabiners, and need to remove them pretty quickly. When if you fling the gate wide open (like, for example, when taking the biner off your belt), the automatic mode activates. In addition, this ORCA Lock is made of anodized aluminum that is considered to be the most appropriate material for carrying pretty heavy loads.

Review of Rock Exotica ORCA Lock Carabiner

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $25.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B007RFI1NY

 

Favofit Wiregate

If You Like Camping

Despite their small weight of 0.7 oz only, these carabiners can carry quite a heavy load (~12kN). That's why they are well suitable for hammocks, tents, and other camping gear. These biners are available in a set of 2 or 4 items in two colors: orange and black. Also, being made of aluminum, they are resistant to corrosion and will serve you faithfully for many years to come. The wire gate allows for fast fixation and quick removal, depending on what is needed. The length of the spine frame enables you to use it with belt slings that are often employed for stringing hammocks. At the same time, asymmetric D-shape doesn't let the carabiner move while it's been fixed on a rope sling. Moreover, being quite small in size (3.18" х 1.86"), it can be neatly stored in your backpack or clipped on a hammock case. Plus, considering that the width of the gate opening is about 0.75", you can use it with wide slings too.

Review of Favofit Wiregate Carabiners
Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B01FSNU2JW

 

Gold Lion Gear Carabiner Keychain

Good Alternative for Plastic Straps

Whether you'd like to hang a temporary decoration above your swimming pool, create a sunshade in your backyard, or just clip your keys on the belt, the carabiners from Gold Lion Gear will assist in these duties, allowing you to keep the desired gear at your disposal within easy reach. The set consists of 10 or 20 items and comes shipped with 10 more keylocks totally for free. With so many keychains at hand, most of your domestic chores won't be an issue anymore. All of the carabiners from a set are easy-to-use due to a spring loaded jewel that doesn't require fixation. And all of them are appropriate for use not only with ropes and wires but also with small branches and pipes, thanks to the width of the gate opening of about 1 inch. The carabiners are made of aluminum with a protective coating so as to withstand harsh weather conditions and prevent corrosion. 

Review of Gold Lion Gear Carabiner Keychain
Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B016CMFEJQ

 

Yasorn Stainless Steel D Shape

Reliable Fixation

The Yasorn D-shape Carabiner is made of 304 stainless steel, which not only allows for its use in high corrosion environment but also contributes to its useful life and resistance to extremely high temperatures (up to 1650°F). For this very reason, you can be confident that these carabiners will serve you for years and won't let you down. Given its small size and thin structure (0.32" in diameter), it will fit narrow chains and ropes very well. The maximum weight capacity, however, is much more impressive seeing such small dimensions and makes stunning 1100 pounds. The thread opens clockwise and closes counterclockwise, allowing you to handle the tool conveniently with one hand. Besides, this type of thread is commonly considered the most reliable as it almost excludes the risk of accidental opening of the keychain. It is fair to say, with the Yasorn D-shape Carabiner, you can go just anywhere and use it for just about any task during camping, hiking, fishing and other indoor/outdoor activities. 

Review of Yasorn Stainless Steel D Shape Locking Carabiner
Last updated price $9.29
Stock In stock
ASIN B01IR2C7NU

 

What is a Carabiner?

Undoubtedly, every professional climber knows, what a carabiner is and how it works. However, if you have just started training or are looking for a durable fixation for your new hammock, we recommend you to read about a few factors that you should take into your account when choosing a suitable carabiner. Basically, a biner is a metal hoop with a spring loaded jewel. However, despite such a simple appearance, their purpose is not only to hold the bottle of water on your backpack or keys on your belt. For a mountaineer, it is one of two essential things that can save their life. Everyone, who has ever tightened the slings of the camping tent between trees, knows how difficult it can be without a reliable mounting hardware. In this review, we define five carabiners and their spheres of use, to make it simpler for you to select the best one for your activity.

Sources:

1. Cam McKenzie How to Choose the Best Carabiner, OutdoorGearLab. January 19, 2015.

2. Charlie Townsend How to Choose a Carabiner, Eastern Mountain Sports.

3. Carabiners: How to Choose, REI. August 25, 2016.

4. Andrew Bisharat A Climber’s Guide to Carabiners, Backcountry. April 23, 2014.

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Publish Date: 2017-06-26 15:34:45