Hoody

The venerable UK outfit Wild Country sells a quiver of ultralight wiregates (Astro, Helium, Nitro, Xenon). I’ve been running Astro draws for a while, so I’m quite familiar with the carabiner. This is a great, middling-light clipper and lands squarely in the upper-middle ranks for gate-opening size. The nose is elegantly hooded, for minimal snag hassles, and the gate is properly stiff like a strong cup of Earl Grey. The I-beam shape is aggressive, with an innovative look that incorporates pockets of varying depths, while the rope cradle has a deep dip and smooth action. The convex spine is easy to handle, a true pleasure to clip. I’d use the Astros anywhere, from trad to sport to alpine.