What carabiners do you use?
When I went to Kentucky a few weeks ago, several of the stands were lock-on with climbing sticks to access. The retired firefighter owner had a safety rope set up with a Prusik loop to clip a safety harness to. I've never used climbing sticks and don't like heights but had my safety harness just in case.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a screw-type carabiner for the connection. But, I had a heavy duty wire-gate version rated at 22kN in my pack. The owner examined it and asked "Do you trust that?". I said "Of course, it's rated for 22kN and these are used by rock climbers". He gave me a blank look and handed it back to me saying, "Well, if you think it's ok..."
As it turned out, I was uncomfortable climbing the sticks and hunted from pop-ups and ladders instead. But it got me thinking about the carabiners I usually carry in my pack. That 22kN rated one came from the climbing gear section of an outdoors store, but it's the only one I've got. I also have some 12kN rated carabiners for general use but wouldn't trust my life to those.
So, after a search on Amazon last week, I ordered three 25kN rated carabiners with twist locks.
25kN = 5620 lbs
22kN = 4946 lbs
12kN = 2698 lbs
Here's a pic of the three different rated carabiners I use. One of the new ones at the top. Amazon link below.

Amazon.com : Favofit UIAA Certified Climbing Carabiners (Certificate No.: USA 20-5611), 3 Pack, 25KN (5620 lbs) Heavy Duty Large Locking Carabiner Clips for Rock/Ice Climbing Rappelling Rescue Swing etc, Black : Sports & Outdoors
When I went to Kentucky a few weeks ago, several of the stands were lock-on with climbing sticks to access. The retired firefighter owner had a safety rope set up with a Prusik loop to clip a safety harness to. I've never used climbing sticks and don't like heights but had my safety harness just in case.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a screw-type carabiner for the connection. But, I had a heavy duty wire-gate version rated at 22kN in my pack. The owner examined it and asked "Do you trust that?". I said "Of course, it's rated for 22kN and these are used by rock climbers". He gave me a blank look and handed it back to me saying, "Well, if you think it's ok..."
As it turned out, I was uncomfortable climbing the sticks and hunted from pop-ups and ladders instead. But it got me thinking about the carabiners I usually carry in my pack. That 22kN rated one came from the climbing gear section of an outdoors store, but it's the only one I've got. I also have some 12kN rated carabiners for general use but wouldn't trust my life to those.
So, after a search on Amazon last week, I ordered three 25kN rated carabiners with twist locks.
25kN = 5620 lbs
22kN = 4946 lbs
12kN = 2698 lbs
Here's a pic of the three different rated carabiners I use. One of the new ones at the top. Amazon link below.
Amazon.com : Favofit UIAA Certified Climbing Carabiners (Certificate No.: USA 20-5611), 3 Pack, 25KN (5620 lbs) Heavy Duty Large Locking Carabiner Clips for Rock/Ice Climbing Rappelling Rescue Swing etc, Black : Sports & Outdoors
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