How to Use Carabiners

Carabiners are simple, ingenious inventions that, when used properly, can help secure a human being, dangling from a fully exposed rock face or a job site on a building. Palm-sized or smaller, carabiners are nothing but oblong loops where part of a long side opens inward as a gate, to allow the entry of climbing gear. Here’s how to make sure your trust in the handy carabiner is justified.

Instructions

    • 1

      Wear a climbing harness and be certain that its front loop is inside the carabiner that will connect it to the rope. Most climbers rely on partners to double-check their assembly.

    • 2

      Insert the rope's pulley into the same carabiner.

    • 3

      After both components are inside the carabiner, the gate is allowed to close outward so that it is in line with the remainder of the loop.

    • 4

      Nonlocking carabiners require no further action. The gate moves only in an inward direction.

    • 5

      In locking carabiners, the gate also moves in an inward direction only. As an additional safety measure, however, a metal sleeve is screwed over the gate opening. This is a simple action, requiring a few quick twists with one’s fingers.