All-Arounder

The Phantom is a great medium-sized microlight even as it falls near the lightest end of the scale—that is, you get a remarkable amount of biner for very little heft. Testers appreciated this I-beam’s long gate opening and slightly asymmetrical shape, which also yields a broad and well-rounded (smooth-handling) rope cradle. The gate has strong action, and unclipping and rack maneuvers were quick and casual. The Phantom is one of those cases where visible simplicity of design—in this case, a mild, no-frills trapezoid—translates to topshelf performance. I would use the Phantom in all clipping situations, from racking gear to sport draws to alpine routes. It also comes in seven different colors and/or a color-coded five-pack ($47.95).