Like most climbing equipment, a carabiner is also a safety equipment that is used to connect other gear, like harnesses and ropes to each other. They also help carry other gear in situations where backpacks prove to be too bulky. Made from aluminium alloy, carabiners are designed to hold more than 2000 kilograms of weight, so you don’t ever have to worry if they will be able to hold you or not!
In this article, we simplify the technicalities of carabiners, all the different types they come in, their usage and weight capacities. If you are looking to buy carabiners, the following information could be useful in deciding the kind of carabiners you want to invest in!
Different Types of Carabiners and Their Usage
There are various carabiners available in the market primarily depending on their shape and gate type.
Based on Shape
Oval Shape: These are the original style carabiners and are versatile and affordable. However, they are not as strong as the other variants and are also heavier. In order to limit load shifting, they have smooth and uniform top/bottom curves. This type is ideal and commonly used for aid climbing as they centre the loads at their curve. They also have higher gear holding capacity and offer increased symmetry which allows them to be used for carabiner-brake rappels.
D Shape: These carabiners are best suited for most kinds of climbing. They hold loads towards the stronger, non-gated side and off the centre. They are the strongest amongst all shape variants and also have a larger gate opening compared to the oval carabiner. They are primarily used for connecting devices and as an attachment to the anchor.
Pear Shape: These are designed to suit belaying and rappelling. They have a large gate opening and are also more heavy and expensive compared to other shapes. However, they are not the strongest variant available. The large opening allows easy clipping of gear, knots and ropes. They are suitable for connecting multiple items.
Asymmetric D: Also known as offset D carabiners, these are the most popular carabiners out in the climbing industry. They are similar to D shaped carabiner but are slightly smaller on one end to further decrease the weight. Their gate openings are bigger than regular D carabiners which makes clipping easier but do not have as much inside space as the others. These are more expensive than the other shaped variants.




























