They pretty much look alike, so it’s easy to assume that all carabiners are created equal. But that is far from the truth. You’re taking a big risk of accident and injury if you don’t use carabiners that have been specifically manufactured for climbing and that are fit for your purpose.

Climbing carabiners can be distinguished by both their shape and the type of gate that they use.

Shape:  Make sure to choose the right shape of carabiner for the activity you are planning.

Oval carabiners - a good choice if you are going to be carrying heavy gear, since its shape allows it to distribute weight evenly and prevents load shifting. They are often used in pulley hauling, big wall and aid climbing and are typically cheaper and less durable than D carabiners.

D carabiners - if you are going top or lead climbing then a D carabiner is often the best choice – they have more room for rope and can take more pressure than their oval counterparts.The come in both symmetrical and asymmetrical D shapes. The symmetrical D carabiner is roomy, pressure-resistant and ideal for top rope and lead climbing. A-Symmetrical D carabiners are narrower than their symmetrical counterparts and ideal for belaying.

Gate type: You'll need to choose between a locking and non-locking carabiner

	Locking carabiners - a carabiner equipped with a locking mechanism helps prevent the carabiner from opening accidentally. Locking carabiners are used in rappelling, belaying and locking gear.
	There are three main types of non-locking carabiner - straight gate, bent gate and wire gate.
	Straight carabiners are lightweight, have wide openings ideal for lead climbing and have angled noses which make clipping easier
	Bent carabiners are used in sport and lead climbing. Their concave curves provide more room for rope and easy clipping.
	Wire carabiners have wire gate openings, making them much roomier for getting rope in and out