Carbiners-I am not convinced. Why carry them?

1kimo4u said:
rappelling,spie-rigging, stabo-rigging. all military insertion-extraction techniques.
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Yes, they are needed for those activities, but mosts hikers and backpackers I see with them are not getting ready for a STABO extraction.

Except for making it easier to string up a food sack in a tree, I do not see the use of having them on my "must have" list when I go to the field.
 
naked said:
As I mentioned elsewhere. There are lots of uses when canoeing. Easily and quickly attaching things to the canoe. Also, carabiners a great help when constructing a z-drag setup for unpinning canoes.
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Yeah, when I am canoeing I can see the utility, but most hikers and backpackers are not portaging when I see them on the trail with the carabiners dangling off of their rigs.

Still not convinced...
 
runningboar said:
They are useful for tons of stuff in the woods besides climbing, setting up hammock/shelter/dining fly, dangler sheaths like my 12" ontario rides in. A small one to atttach my knife to a belt loop when I carry it over my shoulder. I could keep going but I use the 3 or 4 I carry all the time. Chris
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Neat uses, but I don't usually carry a hammock or a dining fly when I go to the field. As far as getting a shelter up, I think the zip ties and 550 might be better.

I keep a small folder clipped to a handy place and the fixed blade is usually in my pack. Neither require the use of a carabiner for carrying.
 
naked said:
I was unfortunately looking for some horrible use of a carabiner to post for some comedic value, and I came across this awesome (clarification added for Don) picture of a carabiner bow.

Carabiner%20Bow%20%20(DelBow%20aka%20Ron%20Hood).jpg


http://www.waytruthlife.com/actsfellowship/WSC2005/slides/Carabiner Bow (DelBow aka Ron Hood).html
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Hmmm, another neat idea, but I am not going to carry a carabiner and surgical tubing for the once-in-a-lifetime use as a back up weapon. I think finding a suitable arrow in the field is rather remote anyway. I'll skip commenting on all the back-and-forth about Ron Hood.

Again, neat idea, but it is not enough to cause me to start carrying a carabiner or list it as a "must have" on my list.
 
Handy hanger for cap or work gloves.
Both items are easy to lose, in my esperience.
Mine are the Ultralight keychain variety so there is no danger of poserism, real or implied.
 
misanthropist said:
I hung a nalgene bottle from my 82-pattern ruck that way for three years. I eventually lost the bottle...while moving from Montreal back West, while it was packed in a box.

I figure if it works for three years at a time, you can probably get away with it for a weekend.
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Sorry about your lost bottle. When you carry it that way with a carabiner didn't flop around too much for you? Or was the bottle packed and the carabiner was used just to be sure that the bottle did not fall out? I use a CamelBak instead of Nalgene bottles.
 
DaleW said:
Like others, I use a small one for hanging bear bags using the "PCT method" and for securing gear that might bounce out on the trail. I use light aluminum or plastic ones made by Black Diamond-- definately NOT for load bearing/climbing. I wouldn't want the weight, bulk, and cost of true climbing models.

Some people like them for the macho look I guess.
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Thanks, yeah, I can see using one to keep the food away from bears by stringing the food up a tree. Most of the stuff I have that I am concerned about losing I keep in the pack where I really don't need a carabiner to secure the stuff.

I agree with you, true carabiners are expensive and can add up in weight very quickly. I don't feel like including them with my hiking gear unless someone can really show me their usefulness. So far, using it for getting a food sack in a tree is the only thing I've seen that makes sense (besides the canoeing and military operations, but none of those are really hiking and backpacking acctivities).

(As far a trying to look macho, I sure as heck don't need a carabiner to get that effect! :D)
 
sodak said:
Locking Carabiners make an excellent substitute for brass knuckles. That's one good reason, as far as I'm concerned.
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Never thought of that. But I think that if I am in a situation where I need brass knuckles, the fixed blade is going to do a better job at defense than the carabiner and fist. :cool:
 
Don Rearic said:
:D You need to read the first page of the thread! Hahahaha!

The most I have used one for is, like some of you, to hoist food up in a tree. Is it a necessity for that? NO. But it is very handy. Thanks to Mr. Hood, I have a couple more uses for them although the emergency use for descent is hairy. I have also used them to lower a framed pack and a non-frame pack (large ALICE) down some treacherous mountainsides in Virginia instead of trying to drag them, etc.

Also, man, I'm not into all of that Alpinism trip, these things are light, if you think these things are heavy, you either need to start lifting some weights or get lighter carabiners. :)
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That is a good idea for getting equipment down safely.

I'll start lifting weights since it is healthy for me anyway! :D
 
I thread my belt through a toy 'biner every day (gate up) and clip my key ring to it. My key ring is really a utility ring: ResQMe, Arc AAA, whistle, Vic. Classic, spy capsules w/meds -- and keys. :)

When I was working, I used a convertible backpack for a briefcase. The carry loop on top had a full-size carabiner clipped to it. When I got to work, I used it to hang the pack from a file cabinet drawer handle, making the pack my personal file drawer, hanging behind me at the computer.

It worked so well, I began using it in the woods, clipping the pack to a small branch when I'd stop for a break.

* ****** **** ****** *

What I don't understand about this discussion is the negativity. None of us do the same things, have the same interests, enjoy the same activities, or find the same equipment useful. All together, we know many different ways of accomplishing the same tasks, and may consider our own ways best -- for us. But why denigrate or insult other people's solutions to their own problems?
 
kgd said:
Okay - I admit I have a ton of carbiners and I am not a climber nor would I easily give the impression that I was one. Here are some of my uses:

1) keychain - they are awesome for this. You can put relevent keys together on rings and slip on/off bunches of keys suitable to your purpose - e.g. lend out the truck - just slip the truck keys off while leaving my work keys together with everything else. Also great for holding a small SAK and mag-light with the keys. Need to use that light to get your key in the lock - it works much better when you can slip the light off and light the way.

2) I put them on the guard rails of my truck. My guard rails have these sliding/adjustable rings for tie downs. However, the dweeb who designed them made the hole way too small. Unless you want to thread your cord through them with a needle it can't be done. It just so happens that the carbiners fit through the holes well and make an enlarged opening. Workes great for chain too where you can link directly into it. Also it is so much easier being able to slip rope through the carbiner and then tighten rather than a fully closed hole.

3) As mentioned before - anything where you will be hoisting something up. Food is the most common think to be hoisted when bears and racoons are about.

4) On boats - you are always using rope and these things always come in handy.
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Good uses, but I am not lending out my truck that often! :D

If I have a truck that has rails like that, I will try to remember your idea.

Still, as far as carrying carabiners on my pack, I am not all that convinced yet...
 
ironraven said:
If you can't find a use, you aren't trying hard enough. I usually use one in my pack to hold all the little things (spare flashlight, krill lamp, car keys, ets) that I keep on dummy cords or split rings. The webbing I use for hanging my hammock has loops sewn into the ends- wrap them around a tree trunk, clip together with biners. And if you have to do the infamous "poncho raft" or something similiar to get your pack across moving water that you can't wade, put a tow line on the raft, hang the over to your belt/waist band, without letting the gate close- easier to unclip this if something goes wrong than it is to try to cut the line.

Also, if others in your group can't really tie knots, put a biner on the end of the bear bag line and clip it to a loop you've attached to a tent stake- that way, they can go get the food and not screw it up.
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Yeah, if I am going to cross a river, I can see not wanting to have my raft attached to me without a quick way to release it. Most hiking and backpacking I see people doing does not include raft building (I've done and it is fun, but I don't feel like crossing rivers like that any more. Too much hassle. :barf:)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
What I don't understand about this discussion is the negativity. None of us do the same things, have the same interests, enjoy the same activities, or find the same equipment useful. All together, we know many different ways of accomplishing the same tasks, and may consider our own ways best -- for us. But why denigrate or insult other people's solutions to their own problems?
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Amen big guy :D
 
Ebbtide said:
Handy hanger for cap or work gloves.
Both items are easy to lose, in my esperience.
Mine are the Ultralight keychain variety so there is no danger of poserism, real or implied.
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Yeah, I used to keep work gloves on my belt with a carabiner now that you mention it. I forgot about that.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I thread my belt through a toy 'biner every day (gate up) and clip my key ring to it. My key ring is really a utility ring: ResQMe, Arc AAA, whistle, Vic. Classic, spy capsules w/meds -- and keys. :)

When I was working, I used a convertible backpack for a briefcase. The carry loop on top had a full-size carabiner clipped to it. When I got to work, I used it to hang the pack from a file cabinet drawer handle, making the pack my personal file drawer, hanging behind me at the computer.

It worked so well, I began using it in the woods, clipping the pack to a small branch when I'd stop for a break.

* ****** **** ****** *

What I don't understand about this discussion is the negativity. None of us do the same things, have the same interests, enjoy the same activities, or find the same equipment useful. All together, we know many different ways of accomplishing the same tasks, and may consider our own ways best -- for us. But why denigrate or insult other people's solutions to their own problems?
Click to expand...


Hey, now THAT's an idea. I could use a carabiner for the handle loop on the top of my pack so I can keep the pack off of the ground when I take a rest or otherwise stop. I could see me getting a small one just for that purpose. Thanks for the idea.

I agree with you about the negativity. What works for me does not mean it is the way for someone else. I like posting here and seeing the ideas of others. I may disagree, but I don't need to insult (and if anyone is/was insulted, no insult was intended). :)
 
When you go to the courthouse, you go through a metal detector. Not even a nailfile, back when I lived in the City.

When you spend the whole day there, you hit the men's room once or twice. How about finding yourself blocked in by a few friends of someone on trial? Fists are deadly weapons when there are enough of them against you. Once you're back out in the hallway, making noise might bring help.
 
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