If you’ve ever been on a climbing course and heard the instructor describe carabiners as “the most important piece of climbing gear,” you’re not alone. But many climbers have never thought to question why carabiners are such an integral part of the sport — after all, they’re the piece of gear that connects our rope to our belay device, so they must be necessary, right? It’s true that carabiners are a fundamental part of climbing, but the reason why is a lot more nuanced than the idea that they’re the most important piece of gear.
To help you select the best nonlocking carabiners for your needs, we’ve researched dozens of products and tested our top picks on real climbing gear.
Read on to find the best nonlocking carabiners for climbing.
Our Editor’s Best Nonlocking Climbing Carabiners Reviews
- Utah based Black Diamond has been producing premium quality rock climbing equipment since 1957. All Black Diamond carabiners come with a 2 Year Warranty.
- Lightest fully-functional Black Diamond carabiner
- Hot-Forged construction
- Nose geometry allows for efficient clipping/unclipping
- Color-coded for easy identification
- STRONG AND DURABLE---– Made from 7075 aircraft grade aluminum, this rust-free wiregate carabiner set is durable enough to be used in just about any application.
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT – These oval wiregate carabiners measure 3.18" x 1.86" x 0.24" and weigh just 21 grams. Carry them in your travel backpacks with ease!!!
- SNAG FREE FEATURE--– Snagging is common in hammocks, small straps, tarps and clothes. Protect your investment with these smooth and dependable aluminum alloy carabiners.
- NO SHARP EDGES – These large wiregate carabiners are extremely smooth. Wire gates help open and close karabiners using one hand while the absence of sharp edges prevents ripping and snagging.
- MULTI-PURPOSE USE – Whether hiking,water bottle hook, fishing, camping, backpack accessories or just lazing in your hammock, these locking carabiners are a must-have. You can also use them to secure the grip of your hiking poles and EDC tools.
- Lightweight Aluminum Construction: The SUPREME STRAIGHT GATE CARABINER is made from aluminum, providing significant weight savings for outdoor and climbing activities where weight is crucial.
- Non-Locking Gate for Quick Clipping: Designed for general use and quick clipping, this carabiner features a non-locking gate. Its spring-loaded mechanism ensures immediate gate closure upon release, offering convenience and efficiency.
- Strong and Reliable Straight Gate: The straight gate is the most commonly used gate type in carabiners. Known for its strength, it provides added durability compared to bent gate carabiners, ensuring reliability during your outdoor adventures.
- Key Nose Design for Easy Clipping/Unclipping: With a key nose carabiner, you won't have to worry about snagging onto anything. Its notch-free design allows for simple and hassle-free clipping and unclipping, making your climbing experience smoother.
- MAJOR AXIS STRENGTH: 23KN,MINOR AXIS STRENGTH: 9 KN,OPEN GATE STRENGTH: 7 KN,SIZE: GATE OPENING 0.9",WEIGHT : 0.19 LB / 3 OZ,MEETS AND EXCEED STANDARD : CE EN 362
- Utah based Black Diamond has been producing premium quality rock climbing equipment since 1957. All Black Diamond carabiners include a 2 Year Warranty.
- Color-coded for easy identification
- Durable workhorse ideal for trad climbing
- Hot-Forged for lighter-weight construction
- Larger rope-bearing surface for added durability
- ●Feature: Aluminum is significantly lighter than steel and is therefore far more popular in the outdoor and climbing industries where weight is a major factor.
- ●Feature: Non-Locking Gate for general use and when clipping quickly is important. All non-locking carabiners are spring-loaded to ensure immediate gate closure upon release
- ●Feature: Straight gate is the most common gate used. Tends to be a bit stronger than bent gate carabiners.
- ●Feature: Key nose carabiner does not have a notch to snag onto anything. Making clipping/unclipping simple.
- ●Feature: Modified “D” shape. This shape helps to push the load to the back of the “spine”. Allows weight to be carried primarily by the spine and less by the gate—making for a stronger and lighter use.
- Perfect for backpack, key ring, chains, ropes, camping, hiking, fishing, pet, indoor outdoor equipment gear, DIY accessories
- Capacity:264lb. Versatile binding, rigging & anchoring hardware - quick connect/dis-connect of ropes, chains, straps
- Opens and closes smoothly as the spring- loaded gate makes it easy to attach important items to it
- Product include: 2.25 inch 304 Stainless snap hook 6 pcs
- MADE TO LAST: The premium spring snap hook is made with 304 stainless steel that protects against corrosion
- Version: curved lever
- Greater Axis Resistance: 23kN Minor Axis Resistance: 8kN Open lever resistance: 9kN
- Opening: 27 mm
- Capacity: 24mm
- Weight: 45g
- Carabiner Clip Key Ring: Two (2) nonlocking Carabiner Clips+2pcs keyrings . Smooth shiny polished finished, with no sharp edge on them. Strong and practical.
- Small and Compact: 3" inch carabiner clip Compact Functional Design. With palm sized design, you can take these small carabiners with you anywhere you go , fit all your needs for outdoor and home .
- Heavy Duty Carabiners: Maximum static load: 855lbs / 388kg(fully off mode).Opens and closes smoothly as the spring- loaded gate makes it easy to attach important items to it.The non-locking, spring action wiregate design allows for a quick and smooth, single handed opening that's necessary when securing or accessing precious gear.
- Improved High Quality Spring for Clip Closure: Improved carabiner springs allow them to be quickly and safely fixed to various fixing points.Caribeaner clip helps reduce gate lash, and D shaped design provides the strongest carabiner with largest gate opening size.
- Multi-Purpose Carabiner: The carabiner keychain is perfect for different sports activities and daily use. Such as camping, hiking, backpacking, trekking, cycling, fishing, hunting and travel etc.. Or simply use it as carabiners key ring or for leashes & harness for your lovely dog or cat.Note: It is not recommended to be used in mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing and high-altitude games for your safety.
- Feature: This carabiner is designed with an aluminum body. Aluminum is significantly lighter than steel and is therefore far more popular in the outdoor and climbing industries where weight is a major factor.
- Feature: Non-Locking Gate for general use and when clipping quickly is important. All non-locking carabiners are spring-loaded to ensure immediate gate closure upon release
- Feature: Straight gate is the most common gate used for general use and when clipping quickly is important. Tends to be a bit stronger than bent gate carabiners.
- Feature: Key nose carabiner features a notchless design for smooth clipping/unclipping.
- Feature: This carabiner is ergonomically designed with a symmetrical oval body shape to keep loads from shifting to allow for more stability. This shape prevents cross loading, because the oval shape makes the pull forces fall along the major axis. Indentation on the gate for a comfortable use.
- Heavy Duty Carabiner Clips : The lateral load is 7kN, and the longitudinal strength is 28KN. Equivalent to 6172lbs.
- Auto Locking Carabiner Clips : The carabiner is made of aviation-grade aluminum, which is light and strong. the surface oxide layer and baking varnish are non-toxic and harmless, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.
- One Hand Operation: With a simple twist to the barrel and push against the spring load, it will open. When you release your hand, the carabiner will automatically lock instantly, ensuring your safety while using it.
- Multi-purpose Carabiner: These auto locking carabiner are great for many activities like camping, hiking, backpacking. It's also perfect for everyday use like locking big adult dogs, hammocks, and swings.,etc.( Note: not recomended for climbing )
- These Carabiner Clips can assist you in using carabeaner hooks in many aspects of life that provide great convenience.If you have any questions, feel free to contact us for you. We will help you solve it as soon as possible.
Best Nonlocking Climbing Carabiners Buying Guide
Before choosing the best nonlocking climbing carabiners you should consider following options:
1. Use: Although carabiners are predominantly used in the climbing industry, they are also used in a variety of different industries, including the construction and real estate industries. Before purchasing new carabiners, you should determine the specific use of the carabiners to ensure that you purchase the proper ones for your needs.
If the carabiners will be used for climbing purposes, then you will want to make sure that they are manufactured from a durable material, such as steel. If the carabiners will be used in a non-climbing capacity, then you can purchase carabiners that are manufactured from a lighter material, such as aluminum.
2. Carabiner Type: Carabiners are typically manufactured from either a wire-gate or a snap-gate design. Wire-gate carabiners are typically stronger and more durable than snap-gate carabiners, but they do cost more.
Snap-gate carabiners are typically lighter and less expensive, but they are also less durable. If the carabiners will be used for climbing purposes, then you will probably want to purchase wire-gate carabiners, but if they will be used in a non-climbing capacity, then you can probably get away with purchasing snap-gate carabiners.
3. Carabiner Size: Carabiners are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from extra small to extra large. Carabiners are typically labeled with a letter designation, followed by a number.
For example, a carabiner that is designated as a “C” is considered to be an “alpine carabiner,” which is used for climbing purposes. Wire-gate carabiners that are designated with a “7” are typically used in rigging applications.
In general, the larger the carabiner size, the stronger and more durable it is. However, larger carabiners are also typically heavier and more expensive.
4. Carabiner Stacking: Although carabiners are typically labeled with a letter designation, they are also typically labeled with a number designation. Carabiners that are designated with a “1” means that they are “single” carabiners and carabiners that are designated with a “2” means that they are “double” carabiners.
In order to make gear easier to find and organize, climbers typically use carabiners that are labeled with both a letter and a number designation. For example, a carabiner that is designated as a “C8” is considered to be a “double” carabiner.
Carabiners that are designated with a “2” means that they can be stacked on top of another carabiner. Carabiners that are designated with a “1” means that they can’t be stacked on top of another carabiner. If the carabiners will be used for climbing purposes, then you may want to purchase carabiners that are labeled with a “1” designation, so that they can be easily attached to one another when you are climbing. However, if the carabiners will be used in a non-climbing capacity, then you can probably get away with purchasing carabiners that are labeled with a “2” designation.
What else you should know about nonlocking climbing carabiners
1. What are the benefits of using a nonlocking climbing carabiner?
Some benefits of using a nonlocking climbing carabiner are that they are typically lighter weight than locking carabiners, they are less expensive, and they are easier to open and close. Nonlocking carabiners are also less likely to freeze shut in cold weather.
2. What are some of the dangers of using a nonlocking climbing carabiner?
Some dangers of using a nonlocking climbing carabiner are that it can accidentally open while you are climbing, which could cause you to fall, and also that it could become caught on something and act as a lever, which could cause the carabiner to break.
3. How do you properly use a nonlocking climbing carabiner?
To properly use a nonlocking climbing carabiner, the user must first open the gate and pass the rope or webbing through the carabiner. The user then closes the gate, making sure that the gate is fully closed. The user then checks to make sure that the carabiner is locked by tugging on the gate.
4. What are some of the different types of nonlocking climbing carabiners?
Some of the different types of nonlocking climbing carabiners are D-shaped, asymmetrical D-shaped, pear-shaped, and oval-shaped.
5. Where can I purchase a nonlocking climbing carabiner?
There are many places to purchase a nonlocking climbing carabiner. Some places include outdoor stores, online retailers, and climbing gear shops.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best nonlocking climbing carabiners. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best nonlocking climbing carabiners will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.