A must have for certain belay devices
by nvorel on 04/3/2020Pros
Simple
Easy to remove from belay loop
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton
Gridlock Screwgate
Description
With its revolutionary, patent-pending design made possible by our in-house hot forge, the Black Diamond GridLock Screwgate eliminates the dangers of cross loading. Designed specifically for belaying, the intuitive, easy-to-use GridLock isolates the belay loop behind its uniquely shaped gate, thereby keeping the carabiner in its proper orientation. The GridLock's I-beam spine transitions into a large, rounded rope-bearing surface for maximum strength and smooth rope feeding. Simply put, you'll never have to deal with a shifting, cross-loaded belay carabiner again.
Hot-forged construction.
I -beam spine transitions into a rounded, large ropebearing.
surface.
Intuitive and easy-to-use design.
Screwgate sleeve.
Patented, innovative design isolates belay loop to.
eliminate cross-loading.
Isolates belay loop.
Retail price
US$ 22.95
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Weight (g) Weight (g)In grams, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand. |
76 g |
ShapeShapeRule of thumbAlmost every carabiner you use will be non-locking offset D’s, with the exception of a Pear/HMS locker as your belay ‘biner. Offset D (aka Modified D)60% of the market 
A modification of the standard D shape, the top of an offset D is much wider, allowing for a larger (and superior) gate opening. When loaded, most of the weight is transferred to the spine of the carabiner making them stronger than most other shapes. Used for top and bottom quickdraws, as racking carabiners, and lightweight lockers. Pear / HMS22% of the market 
The Pear/HMS carabiner is used primarily for belaying and/or setting a powerpoint in an anchor. The wide top means they can hold a lot of gear. They are almost always locking and are generally heavier (than D/offset D's) because they need more material to gain back strength lost due to their shape. Oval8% of the market 
The first carabiner shape to be mass produced. When loaded, the pressure is shared equally on both sides of the ‘biner. Since the weaker gate shares the load with the spine, oval biners aren’t as strong as shapes that direct the load to the spine. The bonus is, your gear rests squarely in the middle, so it's great for holding nuts, pulleys, and prusiks. D (aka symmetric D)7% of the market 
D’s have a symmetrical shape that sets the rope closer to the spine, putting the load on the spine (versus sharing the load with the weaker gate side, like the oval). Since the strongest part of the carabiner carries the weight, D’s are the strongest shape. Downside: Smaller gate openings than the offset D. Quick Link (aka Oval link, Maillon Raptide)1% of the market 
Although most climbers wouldn’t refer to this shape as a “carabiner” they are certified by the same EN standard as all the other carabiners. These semi-permanent links ensure the gate will not accidentally open. They're used when setting up a semi-permanent rappel station (not used while climbing up). Semi-Circle / 3Dless than 1% of the market 
Semi-circle: Mostly used by Search and Rescue as this is a great way to secure a chest harness. Learn More
Pros and cons of each shape, graphs and more examples |
Pear / HMS |
LockingLockingmain non-locking carabiners uses:
main locking carabiners uses:
screw gate vs auto-locking gateScrew gates are generally lighter and cheaper. Auto-locking gates are usually considered safer as they automatically snap shut, not counting on one's memory to close and are harder to accidentally unlock. The debate comes on opening speed as some are much faster while others can be a struggle. Learn More
See the newest auto-locking gate technologies |
Screw |
Straight or BentStraight or BentIt's easier to see the difference between straight and bent gates on solid gate carabiners: 
Straight GateThe standard. Always used as the bolt-end of the quickdraw, and still sometimes used on the rope-side too. Also used for racking gear such as cam and nuts. Bent GateCreated to make it easier to put the rope into a quickdraw with their larger gate opening. Primarily used on the rope-end (bottom) of quickdraws. Extra Notes
Important NoteMany manufacturers are now making the bolt-end carabiner come standard in silver (to match the bolt color), and are coloring the rope-end with other anodizations. Do not mix (interchange) bolt-end carabiners and rope-end carabiners. This can be very dangerous as small abrasions made by the bolt can easily wear your rope. DMM put out a great video/write-up on this issue. |
Straight |
Full SizeFull SizeFull size carabiners are easier to hold but generally they're also heavier. This is a totally debatable field as there is no official size, weight, or gate opening necessary to be full size. There are no certifications and this isn't a standard the manufacturer's normally describe specifically. We did our best to compare (descriptions, in-person use, etc), as a way to help give more information about this carabiner. Like always, if you see something that seems totally off, send us a note. |
Yes |
KeylockKeylockA keylock nose means the nose is smooth. Keylock carabiners are also known as: snag-free, notch-less, and hook-less. 
Keylock BenefitThe lack of a hooked nose makes for less snagging on gear and bolts – a dramatic improvement. Keylock DrawbackGiven that they’re more complicated to manufacture, keylock designs often come at a higher price, especially in wiregates. Worth ConsideringThere are more design features necessary to guarantee a snag-free experience, like the curvature of the nose. Some keylock carabiners will still catch on the nose because of the lack of a smooth nose arc (smoother the arc, smoother the clip). Learn More
Check out our blogpost that goes over carabiner nose design to get all the details |
Yes |
Solid or WireSolid or Wire
Solid GatesGenerally on beefier carabiners, so they're usually heavier and more durable. They can also feel more substantial in your hands while clipping. Often favored by sport climbers. Wire GatesFeatured on the lightest carabiners, so they're favored by trad and alpine climbers. Some considerationsIf you want keylock nose carabiners, then solid gates will be much cheaper compared to wire gates. When wiregates first came out they were not trusted (too new, looked too simple). Now, it's proven that wiregates have less gate flutter and gate shutter than solid gates. Learn More
Compare gate flutter and gate shutter |
Solid |
Gate OpeningGate Opening (mm)Gate opening refers to the distance between a carabiner’s nose and the fully open gate. 
General Guidelinestop of your quickdraw: 17 mm – 22 mm Adding bias towards a larger gate opening is a great option once you’ve narrowed your choice to a few similar carabiners and need help determining which one is the best. Learn More
Gate opening comparisons, examples, averages, shape, sizes, graphs, and explanations |
21 mm |
Number of ColorsNumber of ColorsThe number of different colors that you can find this carabiner in. This color-coding practice was started with just 2 colors, usually silver (that goes on the bolt side of a quickdraw) and another color for the rope side. Now, carabiners come in 5+ colors sets known as "rack packs" so your carabiners can match your cams. Climbers can also match their carabiner color to their harness or other gear just for fun. Learn MoreCarabiner Rack Packs Explained |
1 |
Lock IndicatorVisual Warning
A lock indicator is a visual warning only seen on locking carabiners. It adds some sort of visual to show if the carabiner is unlocked such as the color red, a danger sign, an unlocked image, etc. When the carabiner is locked the visual indicator is hidden. Only a small list of manufacturers add this safety feature, although you can easily add one yourself with a permanent marker. |
No |
Strengths (kN)Strengths (kN)In kilonewtons, the strength, as stated by the manufacturer/brand. Major Axis Closed Gate Strength
This is the strongest orientation and the way carabiners are designed to be loaded. Major Axis Open Gate Strength
This strength is measured because while climbing, carabiners lying against the rock can be opened slightly as they move across an uneven surface. A carabiner can also open slightly during a fall as the ‘biner starts to vibrate, dispersing the energy (also called "gate flutter"). A weak gate closure (due to a poor/failing spring or an over-stressed wire) could also leave the gate ajar. Minor Axis Gate Strength
Carabiners are not intended to be loaded along the minor axis (cross-loaded), but it is possible for a carabiner to unintentionally rotate during use, especially while belaying. Of all accidental misuses of a carabiner, cross-loading is the most frequent suspect, which is why there is a rating for it. Generally wire gates are stronger than solid gates in the minor axis. During the test, the wire gate bends, absorbing some of the force, as compared to a less pliable solid gate. Learn More
How carabiners are rated, recommendations and strengths. |  22 kN  8 kN  7 kN |
More hassle than it's worth
by cmarshallj on 11/20/2013Pros
Prevents crossloading
Cons
requires more steps than other biners
Utterly simple in its design, foolproof in operation and flawlessly effective, Black Diamond’s Gridlock belay carabiner is one of those things that makes you wonder why it had taken so long for someone to come up with it. Introduced to the market about a year ago, the Gridlock has become a staple on my harness, and the one ‘biner I use with every belay device I own.
So is the added safety worth it? Just as there’s never a good reason not to wear a helmet, there may be no good reason to avoid the GridLock. Although cross-loading is rarely a concern, the consequences of a failed carabiner are potentially catastrophic. And for climbers concerned with that possibility, the GridLock absolutely achieves what it sets out to do.
Personally, I think that other carabiners, like the Positron, are more multifunctional and therefore more practical than the GridLock, particularly for the price. But for dedicated belaying or beginners, the GridLock is worth a look.
The GridLock's innovation is the funky gate, which makes the biner look like a figure 8 when closed. At the halfway open point you can slide your harness belay loop all the way into the small basket, put your belay device - BD hopes you'll use their new ATC Guide - keeper cable in the large basket, and when you close the gate everything is locked into its proper place. The idea is the carabiner can't turn 90 degrees and get cross-loaded, so the load stays on the strong axis as God and Yvon Chouinard intended.
How many times have you looked down while belaying and noticed your locking biner has slipped sideways, so that either the belay loop or the belay device is smack up against the carabiner gate? Once a day? Every two minutes? This is cross-loading, and it’s dangerous—a locking carabiner is only about one-third as strong across its width as along its full length. Various solutions to this problem have been proposed, but most have been too heavy or futzy to catch on. Enter the Gridlock Screwgate, a cross-loading solution so simple and elegant that BD deserves to sell a million of them. The Gridlock’s gate has a short prong that extends into the narrow end of the biner. Open the gate, and the prong rotates out of the way so you can slip the biner over your belay loop; close the gate again, and the prong seals the gap, effectively locking the biner into the correct position for belaying. Once you get the feel of it, placing and removing this biner is as simple as it is with any locker. And by hot-forging these biners, Black Diamond was able to shave metal from the I-beam spine—the biner is a reasonably svelte 2.7 oz.—while leaving smooth, rounded surfaces at the rope-bearing ends. At Climbing’s office, our test sample kept mysteriously disappearing as editors insisted it needed just one more day of testing. You’ll want to label your Gridlock.
Black Diamond Carabiner Manufacturing
Video shows how the Black Diamond carabiners are made.
Manufacturing of Black Diamond Hot-Forged Carabiners
The UIAA equipment standard provides a baseline for equipment performance in a test lab under controlled conditions on new equipment. Although these test conditions are relevant to the conditions encountered climbing, conditions encountered at the crags and the condition of the equipment are equally important. This recommendation from the UIAA member federation The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) provides vital equipment information that is NOT explicitly addressed in the standard, particularly failure modes of the equipment and recommendations for the use, inspection, maintenance, and retirement of equipment.
How to use Carabiners and Quickdraws, warnings, inspection, care and maintenence with instructional pictures.
A pictoral representation of UIAA-121 and EN-12275 standards for connectors (the UIAA's fancy word for carabiners).