Carabiners & Quickdraws

Carabiners are a vital piece of kit for any climber. Cotswold Outdoor is a leading stockist of climbing accessories and equipment including climbing clips, carabiners and quickdraws. These come in a range of sizes and materials with various closing mechanisms suitable for any type of climbing. They are available as a single carabiner or in packs of up to five. Browse from our range below for the right product for you.

 

Climbing clips and carabiners are essential for climbing but are also handy for a wide range of sporting, outdoor and everyday uses. These incredibly useful and versatile tools come in a variety of materials, from plastic to aluminium. Locking and closure mechanisms include screwgate and 3-way locking systems. We stock small karabiners, large karabiners and karabiner keyrings from top brands like DMM, Grivel, Petzl and Black Diamond. Climbing clips and carabiners are available in many shapes, sizes and colours, so you are sure to find the right ones to match your type of climbing and to work with the rest of your equipment.
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Carabiners are essential for connecting ropes, harnesses, and belay devices in climbing. They provide secure and quick attachment points, with locking carabiners used for safety-critical tasks like belaying and non-locking ones for carrying gear or connecting quickdraws.

Carabiners come in three main types: screwgate (manual locking), auto-locking (self-locking), and snapgate (non-locking). Screwgate and auto-locking carabiners are used for safety-critical tasks, while snapgates are ideal for quickdraws or attaching gear.

A quickdraw consists of two carabiners connected by a semi-rigid sling (dogbone). One carabiner attaches to protection on the wall, while the other clips the rope. Quickdraws reduce rope drag during lead climbing and ensure smooth rope movement.

For sport climbing, you typically need 10–12 quickdraws for most routes. Longer routes may require additional quickdraws or those with extended slings to reduce rope drag on wandering climbs.

Lightweight quickdraws are best for alpine or trad climbing due to their reduced weight. For sport climbing, opt for wider slings with durable carabiners to handle frequent falls and easier clipping.

No, non-climbing carabiners lack the strength and safety standards required for climbing. Always use certified climbing carabiners rated to at least 20 kN along the major axis.

An alpine draw uses a longer sling instead of a dogbone, allowing it to extend further. It’s ideal for trad or alpine climbing to reduce rope drag on wandering routes or uneven terrain.

 

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