Carabiners

First of all, we will look at the common parts of the different carabiners. A carabiner has a ring-shaped body, which is where the force is supported. And a finger, the spring-loaded side of the carabiner that opens and connects to your equipment. For mountaineering and ski touring, aluminium carabiners are preferred for their lightness.

Symmetrical shape: A symmetrical carabiner has been a classic for decades. It allows for easy swivels while being very stable. An excellent choice for connecting a pulley. However, it knows its limits in situations where force is important because of its symmetrical shape which transfers weight evenly between the body and the finger, thus making it more fragile.

D-shape: Designed with an asymmetrical shape, a D-shaped carabiner transfers more force to the body than the finger to increase resistance. This is the most common shape, allowing you to connect a belay point or use a lanyard. In addition, because of this design, it is lighter than the others and has a larger opening.

The pear shape or HMS: designed for belaying, it is very easy to use thanks to its wide opening. It is made from a thick bar which allows it to accommodate large knots or other devices. If you're not sure which shape to choose, a pear-shaped carabiner is a sure value that is suitable for most handling.