The quickdraw is one of the most commonly used climbing tools, and it’s something that every climber owns. The idea is simple: two carabiners connected by a length of lightweight cord. But there are a lot of options out there, and it can be difficult to select the right one for your needs.
For this article, we researched the best quickdraws for climbing on all disciplines, from sport and gym climbing to outdoors. We considered not only the durability of the carabiners, but also the ease of clipping and unclipping, handling, and whether the length and weight were appropriate for the different disciplines.
Read on for our list of the best quickdraw climbing carabiners.
Our Editor’s Best Quickdraw Climbing Carabiners Reviews
- A sophisticated draw for sport and mixed climbing
- Equipped with a straight gate Orbit keylocker for bolts and the updated Orbit Wire for the rope end
- 16 mm polyester dogbones feature the Karstop Evo carabiner retainer on the rope end
- EXTREMELY DURABLE: The wide contact surface of the carabiner limits rope drag and increases overall durability.
- AXESS SLING: Durable polyester construction and a STRING sling protector that stabilizes the carabiner orientation when clipping.
- KEYLOCK SYSTEM: Reduces snags while clipping and unclipping gear loops, bolt hangers, and climbing ropes.
- EXCELLENT HANDLING: Flat carabiner spine offers superb stability for easy clipping while lead climbing.
- SIX-PACK: This pack contains 6 DJINN quickdraws with 11cm AXESS slings and rubber STRING keepers.
- Straight gate HotForge on top and bent gate HotForge on the bottom
- Colored bottom HotForge carabiner for visual target while climbing
- Dual keylocks ease clipping and cleaning
- Equipped with an 18 mm Polyester Dogbone with Straitjacket
- Hot-forged HotWire carabiners on the top and bottom
- Colored bottom HotWire carabiner for visual target while climbing
- Dual wiregates eliminate gate flutter
- Equipped with an 18 mm polyester dogbone with Straitjacket
- Major Axis: 27 kN
- Minor Axis:10 kN
- Open Gate: 8 kN
- Weight: 87 grams
- Dyneema Dog Bone
- New HotForge on top and redesigned HotWire wiregate on the bottom
- Colored bottom HotWire carabiner for visual target while climbing
- Snag-free keylock top biner for easy bolt clipping
- Equipped with an 18 mm Polyester Dogbone with Straitjacket
- A pair of hot-forged HotWire carabiners on the top and bottom
- Colored bottom HotWire carabiner for visual target while climbing
- Dual wiregates reduce the chance of gate flutter
- Equipped with an 18 mm polyester dogbone with Straitjacket
- Available in 12 or 16 cm lengths
- Improved strength and weight hold at a compact profile
- 11cm x 17mm Nylon sling rated at 5000 lbs
- Carabiners rated at 25KN and offer smooth rope glide with reduced sling wear
- Full strength protection but a fraction of the weight
- Ideal for any climbing applications
- The Fusion Replacement Quickdraw Runner is the choice of climbers who seek a reliable, durable, and adaptable solution for their climbing needs.
- Premium Length and Width: The Fusion Replacement Quickdraw Runner comes in an optimal length of 120cm, offering you versatility and adaptability in various climbing scenarios. The 16mm width of the high-quality nylon webbing provides a perfect balance between strength and manageability.
- Unmatched Maximum Breaking Strength: Climbing safety is non-negotiable, and our Replacement Quickdraw Runner takes it seriously with an extraordinary Maximum Breaking Strength (MBS) of 5000 lbs (pounds). Whether you're climbing a rock face, tackling a peak, or creating anchors, this runner is engineered to withstand the toughest conditions and keep you secure.
- Versatility Beyond Compare: From extending quick draws to reach challenging placements to crafting dependable anchors that ensure stability, this runner is your versatile solution. Its adaptability knows no bounds, making it an indispensable tool for climbers of all levels - from beginners to seasoned experts.
- Precision Stitching for Unwavering Reliability: Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Fusion Replacement Quickdraw Runner features top-of-the-line stitching that guarantees its longevity and reliability. Rely on it to endure the harshest conditions of climbing and outdoor adventures, providing you with the utmost confidence in your gear.
- EXTREMELY DURABLE: The wide contact surface of the carabiner limits rope drag and increases overall durability.
- AXESS SLING: Durable polyester construction and a STRING sling protector that stabilizes the carabiner orientation when clipping.
- KEYLOCK SYSTEM: Reduces snags while clipping and unclipping gear loops, bolt hangers, and climbing ropes.
- STRONG & LIGHT: H-shaped cross-section offers an optimized strength to weight ratio keeping the quickdraw lightweight and long-lasting.
- EXCELLENT HANDLING: Flat carabiner spine offers superb stability for easy clipping while lead climbing.
Best Quickdraw Climbing Carabiners Buying Guide
Before choosing the best quickdraw you should consider following options:
1. Strength: The first thing to consider when picking a quickdraw is the strength rating. All quickdraws must meet CEN standards, which are the European standards for climbing hardware.
However, there are also ISO standards, which is an international standard. ISO standards are slightly stricter and may cost a little bit more.
CEN-compliant quickdraws are allowed to have a maximum breaking strength of 24kN. ISO-compliant draws can have a maximum breaking strength of 22kN.
It may not seem like a lot, but the difference between 22kN and 24kN is an extra 1kN of force that the carabiner can hold before it breaks.
The difference in price between CEN and ISO carabiners is usually minimal, so choosing an ISO draw is worth it.
2. Strength Difference: You might be thinking that a difference of 1kN doesn’t seem like much, so it doesn’t really matter.
However, that’s not the case. An extra 1kN is a lot, especially when you’re at the end of your rope, and the carabiner is holding all the weight.
That extra 1kN means you can hold an extra 22 pounds before the carabiner fails.
3. Gate Strength: One thing that you may not realize is that the gate, or the part of the carabiner that opens and closes, is just as important as the rope-bearing part.
The strength rating of the gate is just as important as the strength rating of the rope-bearing part, because the gate has to support the entire weight of your climber.
The difference in strength between a good-quality carabiner and a cheap one is minimal, so many people assume the difference isn’t important. However, the strength of the gate is just as important as the strength of the rope-bearing part.
You want to make sure the gate is extra durable, because it has to hold the entire weight of your climber. This means the carabiner should have a well-designed locking mechanism, which is more expensive.
4. Strength to Weight Ratio: A carabiner is a piece of climbing gear that you’re going to be carrying with you all day, so you want to make sure it’s light.
It’s important to make sure that any quickdraw you choose has a good strength-to-weight ratio.
This can be difficult to determine, but you can get a pretty good idea by looking at the carabiners themselves.
Carabiners with a large rope-bearing part tend to be heavier. If you can, look for a quickdraw that has a smaller rope-bearing part, since that part takes up more space.
5. Gate Position: You also want to make sure you’re getting a quickdraw with a gate that’s in the right position. It’s important to make sure the carabiner’s gate is in the right place when it’s attached to the rope.
The carabiner shouldn’t be upside down, or you risk having the gate strike the rock during a route.
This can cause the carabiner to get stuck and make it harder for you to get clipped in and safely climb down.
What else you should know about quickdraw climbing carabiners
1. What are quickdraw climbing carabiners?
Quickdraw climbing carabiners are designed to be used in quickdraw systems, where the carabiner is attached to one end of a sewn runner and the other end is clipped to an anchor point. The carabiner has a smooth, rounded nose that allows it to be easily clipped and unclipped, and a large gate opening that makes it easy to attach to a runner.
2. How are quickdraw climbing carabiners used?
Climbing carabiners are quickdraws that are used to attach the rope to the anchor.
3. What are the benefits of quickdraw climbing carabiners?
Some benefits of quickdraw climbing carabiners are that they are easy to use, lightweight, and durable. They can also be used with a variety of different types of climbing gear.
4. What are the features of quickdraw climbing carabiners?
Some features of quickdraw climbing carabiners are that they are designed for easy clipping and unclipping, they have a smooth, rounded shape to help prevent snagging, and they have a keylock nose to help prevent accidental unclipping.
5. How do quickdraw climbing carabiners work?
Quickdraw carabiners are two carabiners that are connected by a quickdraw. The quickdraw has a loop of webbing or cord that goes around the gate of one carabiner and then through the gate of the other carabiner. The webbing or cord is then sewn or tied so that the two carabiners are connected.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best quickdraw climbing carabiners. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best quickdraw climbing carabiners will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.