View Full Version : Karabiners
TrashCanMan
11-03-2009, 00:45
Can anyone recommend a suitable karabiner?
I'm not looking to go climbing with it - its to support me and my hammock.
From what I've seen, they are either really cheap as they are made of ally and therefore not strong enough or really expensive as they are designed to hold 23 men dangling off of a rope at the same time :lol:
Any suggestions for a cost-effective, suitable karabiner?
bushcraft_lad
11-03-2009, 00:51
go to any local climbing store or try online
regards, jordan
Carbuncle
11-03-2009, 00:56
I've had these and they're fine for a hammock, climbing wiregates for £3.99:
http://www.needlesports.com/acatalog/Mail_Order_Karabiners_22.html# aDMM_20PW
No connection etc. etc.
Like Jordan says, go for climbing rated krabs.
They are rated in kilo newtons but any climbing grade will be up to the task.
I use something similar to these (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/climbing/hardwear/black-diamond-quicksilver-quickdraw-18cm/CORECEJD381032), just take the webbing off and away you go.
TrashCanMan
11-03-2009, 00:59
Thanks for the advice :)
gzornenplat
11-03-2009, 03:08
I got a couple of these about a month ago
http://www.jackson-sports.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5674
£4.75 each
helixpteron
11-03-2009, 04:01
I really like the DMM Tru-Screw locking gate karabiners, and have found Field & Trek to have the best prices for them.
http://www.dmmclimbing.com/uploads/subcategories/a182.jpg
The DMM tech spec page is
here. (http://www.dmmclimbing.com/productsDetails.asp?pid=3&pid2=201)
Quarryman
11-03-2009, 08:05
I also have been looking for hammock karabiners recently. Try this link
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/climbing/hardwear/karabiners/
gregorach
11-03-2009, 10:40
I favour the wiregates, as recommended by Carbuncle. A screwgate is really a bit OTT for hanging a hammock off - even climbers only use them on belays.
tenderfoot
11-03-2009, 12:12
not really a carabiner but if your not using it for climbing... b and q do connectors for chain link that would do the job or find an ex climber who has a couple of second hand crabs as there is no market for second hand climbing kit for safety reasons that wouldnt apply to your usage.
I favour the wiregates, as recommended by Carbuncle. A screwgate is really a bit OTT for hanging a hammock off - even climbers only use them on belays.
I'll second that, screwgates are a bit unneccesary for hammocks, once you`re in it's not as though the cordage is likely to fallout again.
I have snapgates rather than wiregates for no particular reason.
gregorach
11-03-2009, 12:42
Wiregates shave a couple of grammes off the weight... ;)
cant see the point of using a carabiner, you dont reely need to open the gate at all once youv attached it to your hamock. why not use a cuple of maillons? their alot cheeper and more compact.
probably not the cheepest but heres what i meen
http://www.honeybros.com/gbu0-prodshow/HB15CA.html
pete
gzornenplat
11-03-2009, 15:20
cant see the point of using a carabiner, you dont reely need to open the gate at all once youv attached it to your hamock. why not use a cuple of maillons? their alot cheeper and more compact.
probably not the cheepest but heres what i meen
http://www.honeybros.com/gbu0-prodshow/HB15CA.html
pete
If you're not going to open the carabiner, then you might as well just stick with the tapes
that the hammock comes with.
The point of a carabiner is that you can leave the tapes in place and remove the hammock
during the day and just clip it back in place at night.
If you're not going to open the carabiner, then you might as well just stick with the tapes
that the hammock comes with.
The point of a carabiner is that you can leave the tapes in place and remove the hammock
during the day and just clip it back in place at night.
I find the point of carabiner is that they make it easy to set up your hammock, they allow you to use tapes, and they stop the rain from running down the tapes and soaking into the ends of the hammock.
I bought six from ebay for under a tenner posted. 3 at 12kn and 3 at 25kn, have a look on there there are lots of lots where you get can get 6 or more for £15 posted
gregorach
11-03-2009, 15:40
Yeah, mine are there mainly because they make excellent attachments for drip-lines, and are a little easier during pitching and striking camp. They also provide handy hanging points for other gear.
sorry i was under the impretion that they were just to stop rain soaking down your ropes/tapes. why do you need to take them off? it doesnt take that long to tie your hammock does it?
pete
gregorach
11-03-2009, 17:34
You don't need to take them off, but it can be easier to tie and untie your tapes if you use crabs. Rather than have to feed the working end of the tape through a fixed ring, you just clip them in and tie off.
I use krabs because I have o-rings sewn into my webbing straps, I can then snap the krabs into those and the hammock cord.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00850.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00851.jpg
Shewie
Get another 2 of those O rings(2 for each end). Lay them one on to of another - Larks foot them through the Hammock loop to form an old fashoin belt buckle type thing.
Them all you have to do is tye the webbing to the trees thread it through the buckle and just pull to the desired length.
About 1/2 way down - Ring Buckles on webbing:
http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingSuspension.html
I see what you're saying Ed, but with this setup it's nice to be able to just unclip the hammock during the day if it's not needed and then come night time there's no re-tying or messing about to do, just snap the krabs back in and get some ZZZZ's.
Graham_S
12-03-2009, 02:37
I like a krab on my hammock.
As has been said, it provides a nice drip point for the tapes, preventing water running down into the hammock, also in winter, wet knotted tapes can freeze.
If everything is clipped in with krabs you can get the setup disassembled with frozen knots.
Don Redondo
13-03-2009, 14:36
not really a carabiner but if your not using it for climbing... b and q do connectors for chain link that would do the job or find an ex climber who has a couple of second hand crabs as there is no market for second hand climbing kit for safety reasons that wouldnt apply to your usage.
There's usually plenty of this sort of stuff on fleabay. I got some good intalian alloys snaps fo a couple of quid. as long as you don't climb with them or apply high shock loadiongs, they'll be perfectly ok for hammocking.. no need spending many £££'s