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Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Tag: Carabiner

Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

22 July 2020 / / 1 Comment

The Palm Side swing HMS Karabiner looks like a fairly conventional karabiner that has had some weight shaved off and a trick anodised colour applied. I thought exactly this when it landed here at Unsponsored HQ.

Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner - First Look
Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

I didn’t even look at the name, as it was obscured by the paperwork, before removing the karabiner from its display card and checking out the gate action.

Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look
Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

When you pick up a karabiner it is compulsory to test out the gate action. That is the point that I realised the Palm side swing karabiner was a little bit different.

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DMM Boa – Review

30 December 2018 / / 0 Comments

This is the ‘Big Daddy’ of lockers – the ultimate rigging biner and one which is super strong and super tough. This makes them ideal for kayaking. I’ve had a number of Boa carabiners in my gear inventory for the last four years.

DMM Boa - Review
DMM Boa – Screwgate (Left) and Locksafe (Right)
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Petzl Vertigo Wire Lock – First Look (2016)

27 June 2016 / / 0 Comments

We’ve had an original Petzl Vertigo here at Unsponsored HQ for a few years and have really liked it’s performance. Petzl have been on the case and have updated the Vertigo using i-beam technology. Just like the original the Petzl Vertigo has been primarily designed for ease of clipping in with the added bonus of having a locking key gate. The new construction has shaved off 2 grams.

Petzl Vertigo

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DMM Boa – Review

27 February 2016 / / 0 Comments

The DMM Boa is one of the biggest locking carabiners available. It is billed as the ultimate rigging biner and is used by climbers and high rope access technicians. The Boa is super strong and super tough so this makes it ideal for paddling. I’ve had two types of Boa as shown below. They are the essentially the same in design and weight but have different locking systems. The one on the left has the traditional screw gate and the one on the right has a lock safe gate system.

DMM Boa - Review

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Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line – First Look

23 February 2016 / / 0 Comments

We have a Whetman Equipment Sea Kayak contact line in for review from Whetman Equipment. The system is designed to safely tether two kayaks together for short line contact rescue.

Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line

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Carabiners

10 January 2016 / / 3 Comments

Walk into any climbing shop and you’ll be presented with a wide array of carabiners, loads of sizes, loads of shapes, loads of colours and a range of prices.

What ever carabiner you choose to buy please make sure that it is a type that is rated for climbing/caving and that it is suitable for job you will be asking it to do. A carabiner suitable for climbing will have its strength rating forged, stamped or etched on it. It should also conform to the relevant PPE standard (EN 12275, the standard for mountaineering connectors), this again should be present on the carabiner.

Carabiners

There are some really super light carabiners available out there that are great for climbing but could be too easily damaged/compromised whilst on the river. In instances where hauling, belaying or security are required locking carabiners are best. I carry four locking carabiners as part of my kit, but also have a couple of non-locking carabiners in my boat for clipping gear into that can be called into service if required.

The number you should carry is subjective – Mountainbuzz, Pin Kit.

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DMM Locking Carabiner Recall

14 September 2015 / / 0 Comments

DMM have released a document detailing a list of products that are being recalled. This includes a batch of DMM Boas which I know many people have. I myself have a few, one of which falls within the highlighted batch. It therefore being removed from use until further details from DMM are released.

Screen Shot 2015-09-14 at 22.04.51

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Towing Options – Sling & Carabiner

22 March 2015 / / 1 Comment

First and foremost there is an appropriate time to tow and not to tow. If it can be avoided it is best to do so. However YOU may choose to use a tow system to move a boat across a piece of still water. As with all things of this type it is down to the paddlers own assessment on the day and therefore at the paddlers own risk. Choosing the right kind of towing option for the right conditions is critical.

Towing Options

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DMM Boa – In For Review

30 March 2014 / / 0 Comments

This is the ‘Big Daddy’ of lockers – the ultimate rigging biner and one which is super strong and super tough. This should make it ideal for kayaking.

DMM Boa - In For Review
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Pin Kit – Carabiners/Karabiners

14 October 2013 / / 5 Comments

Walk into any climbing shop and you’ll be presented with a wide array of carabiners, loads of sizes, loads of shapes, loads of colours and a range of prices.

What ever carabiner you choose to buy please make sure that it is a type that is rated for climbing/caving and that it is suitable for job you will be asking it to do. A carabiner suitable for climbing will have its strength rating forged, stamped or etched on it. It should also conform to the 0120CE standard, this again should be present on the carabiner.

DSC02840

There are some really super light carabiners available out there that are great for climbing but could be too easily damaged/compromised whilst on the river. In instances where hauling, belaying or security are required locking carabiners are best. I carry four locking carabiners as part of my kit, but also have a couple of non-locking carabiners in my boat for clipping gear into that can be called into service if required.

The number you should carry is subjective – Mountainbuzz, Pin Kit. Continue reading

New Hardware for the Pin Kit

20 April 2012 / / 0 Comments

A couple of new karabiners have landed today. The plan is to add them to my Pin Kit.

After looking at some DMM kit in the local climbing shop I was very tempted to buy a couple of bits there and then. However I remembered that V12 Outdoors are a dealer for DMM who also stock DMM cosmetic seconds.

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Pin/Rescue Kit Part 2 – Screw Gate karabiner

3 April 2012 / / 0 Comments

There are a number of different sizes and shapes of locking karabiners available. I have settled on a few of the Wild Country ION screw gates. They are both light and strong.

Features:

Hyperlight, Keylock nose, I Beam back, Hot forged, High gate open strength, High strength thimble. 3 Sigma Rated, UIAA, CE EN 12275, 7075 Alloy. All Wild Country screwgate thimbles are made from high strength 7075 alloy which resists internal pressure to prevent accidental gate opening. All Wild Country screwgate karabiners are ‘proof loaded’ to 10kN and 100% inspected by hand.

Weight (g): 50g
Design: Screwgate
Major Axis Strength (kN): 24
Minor Axis Strength (kN): 7
Open Gate Strength (kN): 9
Gate Opening (mm): 19
Locking Mechanism: Keylock

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