Karabiners

Karabiners or Carabiners (aka "krabs" or "crabs") have been around since at least Victorian times, and were used by continental alpinists prior to the First World War but only really caught on in the British climbing scene in the late 1940s when masses of ex War Department ones became available. In recent years the design of karabiners has gone through a rapid period of evolution with ever lighter and more radical models appearing.

Karabiners were originally Oval, but it was soon found that "D" shaped ones were stronger and that these could be given a greater gate opening by making them as an Offset "D". Original krabs were Straightgate, then Bentgates were developed to allow easier clipping when sport climbing. In the mid-90s, Wiregates, despite being derided initially as nappy pins, revolutionised karabiner design, enabling considerable weight savings to be made.

Screwgates are designed for use where it is especially important that the gate remains closed (eg belays) and the HMS version (Halbmastwurfsicherung) was originally designed for use with a Munter (or Italian) hitch for belaying and abseiling, but are now much used with belay devices - though specialist Belay Karabiners, which prevent dangerous cross-loading, are a better choice.

In recent years, new innovative designs have appeared such as Pulley Karabiners and Locking Karabiners that do not have a screwgate.

The strength of karabiners is rated in kiloNewtons (kN) and are usually given for gate closed (along the back), gate open (along the back) and cross-loaded (between the back and the gate). A fall can engender forces of up to ca 6kN so it is important that all aspects of a karabiner are stronger than this. In the early days of lightweight krab design (ca 1980!) gate open strengths were not very high and karabiners could break in a fall if the gates were knocked open or the krab was cross loaded. These days karabiners have very high gate open and cross loading strengths meaning that modern karabiners made by a reputable firm are most unlikely to break.

Peguet Maillon Rapide Standard Galvanised Steel
Peguet Maillon Rapide Standard Galvanised Steel
From £1.33
7 In Stock

Locking chain link with loads of uses including abandoning in an abseil. Several sizes.

DMM XSRE Red
c63_12025_A531RD-xsre-red-swatch c63_12025_A531PR-xsre-purple-swatch c63_12025_A531GR-xsre-green-swatch c63_12025_A531MG-XSRE-matt-greyswatch
DMM XSRE
£10.99
2 In Stock

Despite its miniature size, the DMM XSRE has all the features of its fully grown cousins.

DMM XSRE Wire
DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire DMM XSRE Wire
DMM XSRE Wire
From £8.99
2 In Stock

Mini wire gate accessory karabiner.

DMM XSRE Lock Blue
c63_14250_A532BL-XSRE-Lock-Blueswatch c63_12025_A531GR-xsre-green-swatch c63_14250_A532LG-XSRE-Lock-Limeswatch c63_12025_A531MG-XSRE-matt-greyswatch c63_12025_A531RD-xsre-red-swatch
DMM XSRE Lock
£13.99
4 In Stock

High quality locking accessory karabiner.

Black Diamond JiveWire
Black Diamond JiveWire Accessory Karabiner
From £2.50
10 + In Stock

Plastic mini accessory karabiners strong enough for keys or coffee mugs. Two sizes.

Edelrid Aranya Accessory Karabiner
Aranya Accessory Karabiner
£6.00
3 In Stock

Medium-sized accessory karabiner with wire gate.

Edelrid Micro 0 Accessory Karabiner
Micro 0 Accessory Karabiner
£3.50
2 In Stock

Very lightweight tiny pear-shaped wiregate accessory karabiner. 4cm long. Not for climbing!

Edelrid Gear Accessory Karabiner
Gear Karabiner Accessory
£3.99
10 + In Stock

Solid gate accessory karabiner. Not for climbing!

Edelrid Corazon Heart-Shaped Accessory Karabiner
Corazon Heart Krab Accessory
£3.70
10 + In Stock

This small heart shaped accessory krab is perfect for declaring your love for a fellow climber!

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