Carabiners and quickdraws are some of the most essential pieces of gear for climbing. Although some people perceive them as one thing, the truth is that they are entirely different. While carabiners are metal loops featuring a spring-loaded gate designed to connect components, quickdraws are basically two carabiners connected by a sling, and they need to be attached to a climbing rope.

Whether you are into sport climbing, alpine or mountaineering climbing, having the right gear is paramount for being able to climb safely and effectively.

What Are Quickdraws Used for?

The high-performance quickdraws can keep things smooth as long as they are of quality and attached the right way, one end to the protection and the other to the rope. These pieces of gear can be used in any type of climbing, but especially for lead climbing.

According to professionals, they are designed to create a straight line of rope between the climber and the anchor, minimizing rope dragging. Having reduced rope drag is essential for keeping things smooth and with no drawbacks at all. Their other purpose is to handle the forces of a fall, and they seem perfect in reducing the chances of carabiners twisting and compromising your climbing.

Tips for Greater Ease of Use

Don’t Swap Its Ends

Swapping ends shouldn’t be a thing you do, especially when using these draws for clip security. That’s because pegs and bolts can get small. So, by all means, make sure to use your quickdraw the same way without switching ends. The best thing to do is to choose draws in different colours or simply use different carabiners at the ends. It’s really up to you which you’ll choose, the most important thing is to choose and have one to avoid accidents.

Don’t Use Rubber Keepers on Open Slings

Rubber keepers are super useful for improved clipping ease and reduced risk of cross-loading. They are great for ensuring the rope is properly clipped, however, you should never use them on longer open slings as this can make it easy to be held only by the rubber by accident.

Check Your Draws

A good habit you can develop is checking on your quickdraws before using them, as malfunctions can be quite common at the least expected moment. Checking them for wear and damage is a must in order to prevent accidents, but you should also check if they are properly assembled, especially if they contain a rubber keeper.

Don’t Reach for the Quickdraws When Falling

Practice shows that it’s best not to reach for them when falling, as this can lead to accidental unclipping or getting injured on your hands and fingers.

Types of Climbing Quickdraws

Sport

These pieces of climbing gear are different from the rest because they need to allow for easy clipping without compromising the durability and weight they can carry. Durability in them is paramount, as in this type of climbing, there will be more falls and lots of lowering off on them. They consist of larger carabiners that should have a bent gate for easier clipping and a wider radius for the rope to run smoothly. If possible, look for ones with a deeper gate basket, as this allows for the rope to easily drop in while clipping. These pieces of gear should also have grip points for easier handling.

Lightweight Crossover Draws

Crossover draws are known for their versatility. They can be used for a range of uses, whether this is sport climbing, mountaineering, trad or some other type of climbing. When compared to the aforementioned models, these ones might be a bit stiffer and not that easy to use. According to manufacturers, they are quite flexible and lightweight as they absorb rope movement as you climb. According to trad climbers, a range of different draw lengths might be needed for being prepared.

Alpine Draws

When alpine climbing, you’ll often need a few longer sling draws to keep the rope straight and keep your path smooth, no matter what. The greatest thing about slingdraws is that they look like medium-sized models but can extend triple their length when needed. You can either find them in some well-stocked stores or you can make a custom order and have them made specifically to meet your needs.

Locking Draws

These quickdraws are just like any other regular but only with locking mechanism carabiners on each end. They are made for situations where security is crucial, ensuring that your rope won’t accidentally slip or unclip from the draws. Depending on your needs and availability, you can choose from twist-lock and magnetic closures for greater ease of use. Aside from this, you can also choose from the screwgate designs which require manual locking.

Non-Locking Draws

You can choose from a larger selection of non-locking draws like the straight gate, bent gate and wire gate designs which are known for their fast and efficient clipping.