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We put locking carabiners from Petzl, CAMP, Black Diamond, DMM and others to the test to find you the absolute best
The best use for a light and compact locker like the DMM Phantom is building multi-pitch anchors, as we have done here at Smith Rock. A collection of these can save you a lot of rack weight and are versatile enough that you probably only need to carry one or two HMS style lockers in addition to a few light and compact ones.
By Andy Wellman ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Jan 23, 2024
The Best Locking Carabiners for 2024
Want to know what is the best locking carabiner? We've tested over 50 different lockers over the past 10 years, and this update includes 15 of the best and most popular available today. Locking carabiners come in numerous different sizes and include a variety of different locking mechanisms, such as screw gates, double action, and triple action twist locking gates. This comparative review includes all different kinds, tested by our expert climbers at climbing areas all over the world. We've used these lockers attached to our belay devices, while building multi-pitch anchors, on the end of personal anchor systems, for setting up top-ropes, and for all the myriad needs while big wall climbing on El Cap. Whether you want compact lockers or extra large HMS style, need security on your belay device or simply some solid budget choices, we have the best recommendations for you.
For over a decade now, we've tested just about every type of climbing gear you can think of, from standard carabiners and slings to climbing cams, and even big wall gear. Need a new rope or on the hunt for the best climbing shoes? Our rigorous testing and review processes, not to mention our best climbing gear review, help get to the bottom of which products are worth your hard-earned cash.
Editor's Note: Our locking carabiner review was updated on January 23, 2024, to give more advice on which carabiners we recommend for specific use cases.
Red safety stripe gives visual indicator gate is locked
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Screw gate gets stuck relatively easily
Not auto-locking
The Petzl Attache has long been a favorite locking carabiner, providing nearly unrivaled versatility for all types of climbing. Its pear shape means that it has a large basket that allows for clipping many ropes or other 'biners to it at once without overlap or pinching, and its very large gate clearance makes getting these items on or off a cinch. Made with a hot-forged, I-Beam shape, this carabiner is both surprisingly light and super strong. The Attache can do everything, from belaying and rappelling to acting as a master point or use on the end of a daisy chain. It's also quite affordable compared to the locking 'biner market. This is one of the most versatile lockers that we've ever used. Additionally, if you plan on spending any time on big walls, these locking carabiners will give you the space you need at the anchors without weighing you down.
There are minimal drawbacks to the Attache, but we find that it's easy to tighten the screw locking mechanism down too tight, making it challenging to unscrew. You can avoid this issue by recognizing that when you screw a locker closed, you are simply blocking the gate from opening, not actually joining the gate to the nose, so it doesn't need to be super tight. Also, the Attache isn't auto-locking, so it's not foolproof, but there is a visible red indicator when the gate isn't locked. Screw gates also offer other advantages; they're generally more affordable and also easy to use when wearing gloves. Simply put, the Petzl Attache is a locker we can't live without, and we recommend every multi-pitch climber has two or three of these when they leave the ground — although it's easy to find additional uses if you own a few more. Climbers who prefer an auto-locking carabiner should look at other models like the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG.
Shown here in the locked position, you will notice that the red security stripe is completely covered, allowing for a quick visual check to see that the biner is indeed locked. To unlock, one must unscrew the gate, which on this locker has smooth action.
Much less gate clearance than HMS/pear shaped lockers
Less versatile than HMS/pear shaped lockers
The CAMP USA Photon Lock has been around for a long time, but has recently been upgraded. This locker's offset-D shape is ideal for building anchors on multi-pitch climbs or for use on the end of a personal anchor system. It's also versatile enough to be used for belaying. Its hot-forged, I-beam construction helps it cut down on weight, and indeed this is one of the lightest lockers you can buy without sacrificing size. It also has a screw gate that is quick and easy to open and close with only a couple of revolutions, and there is a visual indicator icon printed on the gate bar so you can more easily see whether the gate is fully closed or not.
We found very few shortcomings to this affordable locker. That said, the main disadvantage is inherent in the offset-D shape — it's simply not as versatile for rappelling as an HMS/pear-shaped locker. It also has a little less gate clearance than larger models, although we didn't struggle to add clove hitches or clip it into anchor points when necessary. Lastly, the gate spring squeaks a little when opening and closing the gate, but this is more of an annoyance than a safety or quality concern. Everyone who used this locker commented on how light it is for a full-sized locker; there is no need to sacrifice size and versatility to shed weight on the harness. This is its principal advantage, but we also appreciate its super low price. If you're on a tight budget and don't want to make many compromises in performance, this is the first locker we recommend purchasing. And yet, for about the same price, you can get the Petzl Attache, which offers large gate clearance.
Shape facilitates all types of uses despite not being pear-shaped
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as light as similar screw gate lockers
Not the most inexpensive
Whether full-sized or compact, offset D-shaped lockers make up the bulk of the lockers we take on multi-pitch routes. The best one we've tested is the Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock, which is a lightweight, full-sized offset-D with the added security and easy handling of a twist-locking gate. While pear-shaped lockers are usually considered more versatile for belaying and rappeling, the Sm'D has a basket that is wider and flatter than most of the others we tested, ensuring there is plenty of room for two ropes to sit smoothly side-by-side when rappeling. It also works great to pair with a belay device, for building anchors, and on the end of a personal anchor system.
Honestly, we can't find anything negative to say about this excellent locker. Sure, it is a little heavier than the CAMP Photon Lock, but the few extra grams equate to an incredible double-action twist-lock mechanism, which we think is worth the weight. Climbers who want to shed a little bit of weight can also purchase the Sm'D in a screw gate version. It is somewhat more expensive than the Photon Lock, but Petzl's quality is legendary, and we once again think the added expense is worth it and in no way out of line. This is an instance where you get what you pay for. After you've purchased a dedicated locker for your Gri-Gri or other assisted belay device and a solid pear-shaped locker for use with an ATC on multi-pitch routes, we think you should fill out the rest of your locker selection with lightweight and versatile offset-Ds, of which the Sm'D is easily the best choice. If you prefer to shed some ounces and save some bucks, the CAMP USA Photon Lock is also a great pick.
We measured the gate clearance at 2.2 cm, which is pretty spacious for an offset-D design. A gate opening this wide simply makes it easier to get multiple items like ropes, knots, or devices on and off the carabiner without hassle.
Stand at the bottom of any multi-pitch climb, clip the rack onto your harness, and notice the significant amount of extra weight, not to mention clutter, that you will have to carry up the route with you. If your intended climb is close or at your limit, cutting the weight of your rack can be the difference in whether you send or whip. Locking carabiners are an easy place to cut weight and bulk, which is why we love compact, lightweight locking carabiners. How many lockers you need on a climb is up to you, but only one or two of these at most needs to be larger pear or HMS-style lockers. The rest can (and probably should) be lighter-weight lockers. The DMM Phantom Screwgate is the lightest climbing-rated locker we have ever used with no-fuss handling.
As long as you aren't trying to belay or rappel with these as your main locker, we found virtually no downside to using them. With their small size, don't expect to clip a bunch of other 'biners to them or count on them to hold multiple ropes or knots. However, they can do everything else you would need a locker for, all while weighing less and taking up far less harness space than a typical locker. Anyone who loves multi-pitch climbing and won't settle for anything less than the best should be in the market for three or four of the DMM Phantom Screwgates. On the other hand, those seeking a model better suited for belaying and rappelling should check out the auto-locking Black Diamond RockLock TwistLock.
The small and light DMM Phantom works best attaching slings to anchor points on multi-pitch anchors, but can hold a clove hitch as well if you want to use it as the master tie-in point to the anchor.
Stainless steel insert eliminates quick wearing and improves durability
Internal spring bar maintains orientation at all times
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Pricey
The friction of a weighted rope running over the inside of a locking carabiner can wear grooves into the aluminum in a surprisingly short amount of time. Exacerbating this effect is the fact that our ropes are often filled with abrasive dirt from playing outside all the time, and the fact that carabiners are now usually built with a narrower I-Beam shape to save weight while still offering the necessary strength. To combat the effects of premature wear and the need for an early retirement, the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG employs a stainless steel insert covering the basket of the carabiner where the rope typically runs. This feature is worthy enough to make it our recommendation for durability — use it for any high-wear situations, such as belaying with an ATC, rappelling, or for setting up top-rope anchors. It also has the notable perk of including a wire-gate keeper in the crotch that ensures that it always stays oriented correctly without becoming cross-loaded. Add to that the triple-action auto-locking gate mechanism, and you have one secure locking carabiner on your hands.
One of the few drawbacks to this locker is its weight, but the added security features are worth it. Still, we would likely choose a lighter HMS-style locker for belaying on multi-pitch routes, like the Petzl Attache. We also found that the triple-action gate is challenging to open single-handed. This is a locker intended for specific purposes rather than an all-arounder. With its tough metal insert, this locker is ideal for use while rappelling or as a master-point top-roping anchor, in addition to regular belaying. For a lighter, less expensive alternative, check out the Petzl Attache.
Whether using a gri-gri, as we are here while top-rope belaying at Smith Rock on a sunny fall day, or with an ATC, the HMS Bulletproof Triple is a fantastic locker for belaying.
A simple solution to keeping braking-assist belay devices oriented correctly
No awkward gate in the crotch of the biner to fiddle with
Versatile for any climbing application
Super smooth gate and locking mechanism action
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Slightly heavy compared to other HMS or pear style lockers
Doesn't prevent ATC or tube-style belay devices from cross-loading
Belay devices should always be attached to the belay loop of a harness with a locking carabiner for security, but have the annoying tendency to flip sideways before catching a fall, occasionally cross-loading them along the wrong axis. In order to address this problem, many companies have engineered anti-cross-loading carabiners specifically for belaying, and our favorite one that offers the simplest solution is the DMM Rhino Screwgate. This beefy yet slick locker has a small “horn” on the outside of the spine that blocks braking assist devices, such as the Petzl GriGri or Trango Vergo from sliding off of the basket, where they are intended to stay to properly orient the forces of a potential fall. It also works great to keep pulley devices such as the Petzl Micro Traxion, or ascenders such as the Camp Lift, both commonly used while top-rope soloing, oriented along the proper weight-bearing axis as well. While we tested the buttery smooth and very easy to use screw gate, this locker also comes with either double-action or triple-action auto-locking gates as well.
We love the Rhino for its incredible simplicity and affordability. The downside is that it doesn't prevent carabiner rotation when paired with tube-style belay devices, whose keeper loop is plenty big enough to slide over the horn. We also point out that for being a simple HMS/pear shaped locker with a small horn added on, it is a bit heavy compared to the Petzl Attache, which is nearly the same shape. That said, the Rhino is as versatile as the Attache, with the added benefit of keeping rope-catching devices oriented correctly. If we are belaying with a braking assisted device, or top-rope soloing, this is the locker we'll have on our belay loop. Still, you can save some weight with the Petzl Attache.
Our testing revealed that the Rhino works just like any other locker when belaying or rapelling with an ATC-style device, and due to the flat crotch where the belay loop rests, does not frequently rotate out of position. However, the horn that blocks GriGris and other similar devices from rotating out of position does not stop this from happening with a standard belay device.
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Why Trust GearLab
We closely monitor changes to rock climbing gear as they happen, and we also spent nearly 10 hours researching over 40 different locking carabiners before choosing the 15 for inclusion in this comparative review. We then tested them by using them on adventures and climbing road trips, including jaunts to Greece, Red Rocks, Squamish, Index, and the Bugaboos, and a whole lot of climbing at Smith Rock. We also conduct side-by-side tests, comparing different lockers one after the other for things such as the ability to tie knots to them easily (where gate clearance is often an issue), the ability to use them for multi-pitch anchors, as well as belaying with many different types of belay devices. We pushed these locking 'biners on our friends and climbing partners too, gathering a variety of opinions on what folks like and don't like. The end result is recommendations for all types of lockers, designed for all different purposes, provided by a diverse crew with an expert lead tester.
Our locking carabiner testing is divided across five different metrics:
Overall Utility (25% of overall score weighting)
Ease of Unlocking and Locking (25% weighting)
Compactness and Weight (20% weighting)
Gate Security (20% weighting)
Gate Clearance (10% weighting)
Andy Wellman, a senior gear reviewer for the past eight years, is the expert tester who leads this review. Andy has been climbing for over 23 years and considers himself a jack of all trades. Andy has traveled the world in search of climbing adventures and continues to do so. He is a former owner and publisher of Greener Grass Publishing rock climbing guidebooks, and is the author of Stone Fort Bouldering, a guidebook to one of the finest bouldering areas the US has to offer. He has passionately spent most of his life attuning himself to the intricacies of climbing gear while tackling all disciplines, from sport to big wall, bouldering to ice. He lives in the mountains of Southern Colorado.
The Frieno is best used with a gri-gri, as it is here getting ready for some single pitch trad cragging on basalt columns.
Mike Donaldson high up on the Beckey-Chouinard on South Howser Tower in the Bugaboos. Long alpine missions like this one necessitate each climber carrying a solid collection of locking carabiners for belaying, building anchors, and securing essential pieces of equipment.
Because it is auto-locking, meaning you cannot forget to lock the gate, it makes for a great anchor attachment point, as we are using it here on the anchor of pitch 4 to secure ourselves with a clove hitch.
Analysis and Test Results
Locking carabiners, or simply “lockers” for short, are carabiners designed for climbing or rigging purposes that include a mechanism that keeps the gate locked closed. It's important to recognize that by locking the gate closed, you are not joining the gate to the nose to make the carabiner stronger; these carabiners are already extremely strong. Locking them simply prevents the gate from unwanted openings, securing whatever is inside the 'biner –– whether a rope, knot, or sling –– without allowing it to escape by accident. While lockers used to come in fairly simple designs, there are now countless varieties to choose from, each with an intended purpose and emphasizing certain traits, whether it's for belaying, rappelling, attaching the rope to a fixed piece or bolt, or countless other situations. Where, when, and what type of locker to use in any given situation is up to you, but the most common uses while climbing are on your belay and rappel device, as a master point of an anchor, as the connection point for a Personal Anchoring System (PAS), and to construct equalized multi-pitch anchors.
Climbing is Dangerous, Seek Professional Instruction
It goes without saying that climbing is dangerous, with the consequences of making one tiny mistake, even once in your life, can result in death or injury of you or your friends. While we discuss different uses and applications for locking carabiners in this review, please don't take our purchasing advice as instruction. Consult a professional guide to learn how to safely belay and climb.
You can never have too many lockers on a big wall climb. Here George is really happy he is attached with a couple of lockers for backup as he completes yet another lower-out cleaning the roof out of the black cave on the North America Wall, El Cap.
Lockers come in three types: HMS or pear style, offset-D, or compact. There are also lockers that are designed specifically for use while belaying, and include additional features to enhance this use. Lockers also come with three main styles of gate locking system: screw gates (the most common), double-action auto-locking, or triple-action auto-locking, both of which lock automatically, and require either two or three actions to unlock them before opening. We graded each locker based upon five specific metrics, described in detail below, which we weighted depending on how important that metric is for a locker's overall performance. Testing and grading are always done in comparison to the other products in the review. Rather than simply making purchases based on overall scores, we recommend analyzing your own particular needs to help you choose the right product for you.
Descending as a party of four on one rope while crossing glaciers in the Bugaboos. Tying in with multiple people in this way calls for locking carabiners, ideally used with alpine butterfly knots, and its best if each climber has an anti-crossloader for this usage.
What's the Best Value?
Climbing is an expensive sport to get started in, especially as you venture into large multi-pitch climbs that require far more gear than simply getting a workout at the gym. While we don't rate products based upon their value, we think this is an important consideration before purchasing. Different shaped lockers generally work better for different purposes, so the ones that are the most versatile for multiple purposes could be considered the most valuable. We also find lighter weight carabiners to be of higher value, as the lighter they are, the more likely we are to be willing to clip them to the back of the harness, and so they will get used more.
The Petzl Attache is not only our highest-rated overall performer, but is also very versatile and surprisingly lightweight. Not only that, but the price for these classic lockers remains low, and we think they present great value. The CAMP USA Photon Lock is even less expensive, and is also very light, and conveniently full-sized. The Petzl Sm'D Twist-lock is a high-scoring, high-value locker as well. While the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG is fairly expensive, its greatly enhanced durability means that you may have this locker for a very long time before needing to replace it, adding to its value. Beware of some of the lowest-priced lockers — while they may be cheap, the drop in performance may not be worth it when you can spend a tiny fraction more and get a far higher-performing locker.
Only a few pitches to go before the summit of the Beckey-Chouinard, belaying on a nice ledge, where a couple of lockers are used to build and equalize the all-gear belay, and one anti-crossloading belay locker is used for the safest belay.
Overall Utility
Overall Utility takes into account how well a locker performs at its intended purpose, as well as how versatile it is. In general, belay lockers, HMS-style pear lockers, and compact/lightweight D-lockers are designed for different purposes, so we first set out determining which were the best products at performing their intended purpose, compared to the competition. However, climbing is a sport where you want to carry the least amount of weight to aid in your performance, so having a locker that can do more than one thing well is a great advantage. So we also took into account the versatility of each locker, meaning its ability to be used in more than one situation without significant drawbacks.
Among all the lockers tested, the Petzl Attache does the best job at combining function and versatility. It's easy to use, is large enough to be used for nearly any purpose, has a versatile pear-shaped basket, and is light enough to not make you think twice about bringing it on long climbs. For these reasons, it is our highest-rated HMS/pear-style locker.
We sometimes even use locking biners as a secure master point at the anchors for top roping.
Among the lockers designed for belaying, we found the performance of the features on the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG to be superior to the others. Its triple-action locking mechanism is super secure for belaying, it has an internal spring bar that keeps it properly oriented, and the stainless steel insert greatly increases longevity and decreases wear. While it's pretty heavy, we felt that it was also relatively versatile for use in anchor setups or top-roping as well. The DMM Rhino is another favorite for belaying, as it is super versatile, affordable, and prevents most devices from cross-loading. The best full-sized offset-D is the Petzl Sm'D, a top scorer when accounting for both function and versatility. Among the compact/lightweight lockers, we found that the Edelrid Pure Slider and the DMM Phantom Screwgate were roughly equal in terms of overall utility. The Pure Slider didn't function as well as a locker as the DMM Phantom, but we found it to be more versatile in a number of different situations, so scored them the same. Overall Utility accounts for 25% of a product's final score.
Using a tiny and compact locker, like the black Super Tech shown here, as the second locker in an auto-block belay device, saves weight and space and works great. Using a locker with round stock in this situation will help the rope feed easier, but we prefer to carry less weight.
Ease of Unlocking and Locking
The 15 lockers tested in this review include six different styles of locking mechanism: the classic screw lock, three double-action twist auto-lockers (Petzl Sm'D, Petzl Freino, and Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock), a triple-action twist auto-locker (Edelrid HMS Bulletproof), a sliding locker (Edelrid Pure Slider), a screw gate with plastic safety bar (DMM Belay Master 2), and the double gate with single screw lock found on the Mad Rock Gemini. By repeatedly opening and closing these gates we learned that they range from very quick to relatively laborious, and super easy to requiring great dexterity. For this metric, gates that were quick and easy to open scored the highest, and ones that took longer and were more difficult scored lower. While screw gates require the same action to either lock or unlock, auto-locking 'biners snap closed and lock automatically, making them super easy to lock. However, they often require more dexterity to unlock, and can sometimes be annoying to unlock in order to simply remove them from a harness loop.
Screwing the gate closed while testing it on a double rope rappel. We found the vertical ridges/grooves on the screw nut to provide good grip, better than the more common cross-hatch stamp pattern found on most such nuts. This is one of the easiest screwgates to repeatedly lock and unlock.
With their double-action twisting auto-lock, the Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock, Petzl Sm'D Twist-lock, and Petzl Frieno were the easiest lockers to lock, and weren't too hard to unlock either. They lock by themselves every time in a snap, and to unlock you simply turn the gate a quarter turn and open it. This can easily be accomplished with one hand almost instantly. The Edelrid Pure Slider has a tiny little sliding lock that snaps over the tip of the nose when the gate is closed, and is also very quick and easy to unlock and lock. To unlock, simply slide the lock down with the thumb as you open the gate, and it then snaps closed and locks by itself (most of the time). Among screw gate lockers, the DMM Phantom is the easiest and quickest. It needs only two full revolutions, or four half twists, of the screw gate to move from fully locked to fully unlocked, less than any other screw lock, and also features very smooth, buttery twisting action.
In contrast, we found the DMM Belay Master 2 and the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple to be the slowest and most difficult to lock and unlock. In the case of the Belay Master 2, with its plastic clip that must be snapped in place after screwing closed, this is by design. But the dexterity needed to manipulate the triple action unlocking maneuver of the Edelrid Bulletproof was one we could not master with only one hand. Lower scorers among the screw gates included the Metolius Element and the Black Diamond HotForge Screwgate, both of which took around double the number of revolutions for the gate to go from fully open to closed. Ease of Unlocking and Locking accounted for 25% of a product's final score.
With a rack this size, needed for aiding up the clean route Lunar Ecstasy is Zion National Park, saving weight on lockers (and every other piece of gear for that matter) can be a huge plus.
Compactness and Weight
Gone are the days when carabiners were made of thick, heavy steel. Today most 'biners are made of an alloy of aluminum, which is far lighter than steel but can still be engineered to meet CE testing requirements for breaking strength. Also common these days are 'biners made with an I-beam construction, rather than a fully rounded rod of metal (although round stock is still somewhat common as well). I-beam design allows engineers to remove more metal while still meeting testing certifications, thereby further lightening the load of a single 'biner. Of course, using aluminum alloys in a lighter weight construction comes with the downside that these 'biners may show wear and need to be retired sooner, but for most climbers carrying less weight per item, multiplied by all of the many trinkets we need to carry with us up the rock, makes a noticeable difference in comfort, performance, and also fun, making weight something worth paying attention to.
Compactness is another factor to consider when choosing which lockers to buy. In many cases, you simply don't need a large locker that can adequately hold a Munter-hitch (like HMS style lockers are designed to do), and having a smaller locker will not only save weight once again, but also take up less space on your harness. Why would we want our climbing gear to be smaller if possible? Well, chimney your way up into the narrows of the Steck-Salathe in Yosemite, and we think you will find your answer. To rate for compactness and lightweight, we measured each locker on our independent scale, counting grams to be more accurate, and then adjusted the scores accordingly depending on how small or large they were. Smaller and lighter meant higher scores.
Using the super light and compact Pure Slider as an anchor attachment on a multi-pitch bolted climb at Smith Rock. It clearly holds a hitch just fine, and here is shown also backed up with a personal anchor system daisy chain.
The king when it comes to compactness and lightness is the DMM Phantom Screwgate, advertised as the lightest locking carabiner in the world. At 41 grams (1.45 oz.) it is lighter even than the Edelrid Pure Slider, which came in second (43 grams, 1.52 oz.), even though the Phantom comes with a screw gate, which is bulkier and more secure than the sliding lock mechanism of the Pure Slider. Also very impressive is the CAMP Photon Lock, which now weighs only 43 grams, or 1.52 oz. and yet is a full-size offset-D, rather than a more compact version. While compact is certainly worth having, the added advantages of having a larger carabiner, which makes ropework easier and adds to versatility, at the same very low weight, cannot be overlooked. Compactness and lightweight account for 20% of a product's overall score.
With its auto-locking gate, you can always be sure that if the gate on the RockLock is closed, it is locked. While the double-action it employs may not have as many safeguards as a triple-action, the fact is there is almost no chance of it coming open on its own. It works great for top-rope anchors, as shown here.
Gate Security
Let's face it, if you didn't want the gate to stay locked closed, you would just buy a wiregate carabiner. While all of these lockers are going to stay closed once they are locked, some of us have slightly less trust in the gear, or more propensity to OCD behavior, than others, making gate security an important thing to consider. Auto-locking 'biners offer the most gate security because they lock automatically when they close. If the gate is closed, you can rest assured it is locked. Screw gate lockers, on the other hand, have a large caveat: you have to remember to screw them locked. Ask any experienced climber if they have ever forgotten to screw the gate of their locker closed and you are bound to hear some stories.
With its auto-locking closure and triple-action unlocking mechanism, the Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG is the most secure locker that we tested. The BD RockLock Twistgate, the Petzl Sm'D Twist-Lock, and the Petzl Freino are also auto-locking, and while they are a bit easier to open up than the Bulletproof, it's still virtually impossible to imagine a scenario where they would open on their own. Among the screw gate lockers, the DMM Belay Master features a plastic clip that snaps over the closed, locked gate, ensuring that it cannot unscrew or open on its own, also providing a solid visual indicator. The Petzl Attache, the CAMP Photon Lock, and the Mad Rock Gemini also come with visual indicators, a solid red stripe or caution icon painted onto the gate that you can see if it is unlocked, but which becomes covered up when locked. Gate security accounts for 20% of a product's final score.
Screw gates have the unfortunate disadvantage of occasionally coming open on their own due to the vibrations of the rope or being knocked against the rope helping the screw the loosen and slip downwards. Orienting them upside down, as shown here, prevents this from happening as gravity keeps the gate closed.
Gate Clearance
Different sizes and shapes of carabiners have different amounts of gate clearance. Gate clearance is the amount of space, at its narrowest point, between the gate and the nose when the gate is fully open. Gate clearance isn't a very important feature if you intend to simply clip one sling or rope through your locker, but when you are using a locker as a master point and have multiple ropes or knots clipped to it, then clearance can become an issue. In particular, if too many items are clipped to a single small locker, it can at times become difficult to get the gate open and slide a rope or knot out. This is why we often carry a couple of HMS-style large lockers to use as master points on multi-pitch anchors, and then top off our rack with far smaller and lighter lockers with much less carrying capacity and gate clearance.
Not surprisingly, smaller, D-shaped lockers have less gate clearance than larger, pear-shaped HMS style. We measured gate clearance with a ruler with the gate fixed open by a rubber band, and those with more clearance scored higher than those with less. We also documented the clearance of each locker in the specs table.
The limited gate clearance means that there are situations where this biner doesn't fit well over a bolt hanger. This hanger is normal sized, and the fit is tight at the widest point. Large rappel bolts or chain setups are sometimes simply too large for this locker, which is one drawback of going extra small.
The Petzl Attache, despite not being the single largest locker in our review, never-the-less has the most gate clearance at 2.6 centimeters. A very close second is the Black Diamond RockLock Twistgate, a huge but versatile locker that is easy to use as a masterpoint or for belaying, which has 2.5 centimeters of clearance. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the DMM Phantom has the least amount of clearance, only 1.6 centimeters. As the least important feature contributing to a locker's performance, we weighted this metric at only 10%.
Doesn't get much nicer than topping out just before dark, here testing lockers on a quick late afternoon jaunt up the classic three pitch Zebra Zion at Smith Rock.
Conclusion
Climbing gear companies manufacture all sorts of locking carabiners, most of which are designed with a certain purpose or function in mind. Choosing the right locking carabiner starts by assessing the particular situations where you expect to use it, and then narrowing the search based upon the attributes that will lead to the best performance for those situations. Most climbers own many lockers, so buying a few different types and using them in different situations can help to make the selection process easier. Happy climbing.
