The Best Locking Carabiners
Updated How we research
BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking Belay/Rappelling Carabiner, Black
Black Diamond's RockLock screwgate in black, a pear-shaped locking carabiner for belaying and rappelling.
Petzl William Carabiner - Large, Pear-Shaped Locking Carabiner for Belay Stations - Screw-Lock
Petzl's William large pear-shaped screw-lock carabiner, made for belay stations and holding several knots.
Locking carabiners live at the most critical points of the system: your belay device, your rappel setup, and the master points of your anchors. They vary more than they look like they should. Screwgates are simple and glove-friendly, auto-locking gates remove the human error of forgetting to lock, and shapes range from large pear-shaped HMS lockers for belaying to compact D shapes that maximize strength for anchor building at minimal weight. We weighed gate security, how easily each locker opens and closes with one hand or cold fingers, resistance to cross-loading, keylock noses that will not snag, and weight for its size. Belayers should start with a dedicated HMS with some form of anti-cross-load feature, trad and multipitch climbers will want a handful of light compact lockers for anchors, and anyone who has ever found a screwgate vibrated open should give the auto-lockers a serious look.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.2 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking Belay/Rappelling Carabiner, Black. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:GM CLIMBING Screwgate Locking Carabiner Red CE UIAA Certified Heavy Duty, Pack of 2. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:Petzl William Carabiner - Large, Pear-Shaped Locking Carabiner for Belay Stations - Screw-Lock. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:EDELRID HMS Strike Locking Carabiner - Triple Lock Silver/Icemint. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking Belay/Rappelling Carabiner, Black8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Petzl William Carabiner - Large, Pear-Shaped Locking Carabiner for Belay Stations - Screw-Lock8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.EDELRID HMS Strike Locking Carabiner - Triple Lock Silver/Icemint8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.GM CLIMBING Screwgate Locking Carabiner Red CE UIAA Certified Heavy Duty, Pack of 27.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.SEPEAK UIAA CE 30kN Locking Climbing Carabiner, Heavy Duty Screwgate Clip, 2pc, Black7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.PETZL Omni Screw-Lock Carabiner7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Yachee Rock Climbing Screwgate Carabiner, 30KN 5620lb Locking Climbing Gear, CE Certified7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.XINDA Screwgate Locking Carabiner Clip - Professional Rock Climbing Carabiner Screw Lock, 2 pcs Black6.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Black Diamond's RockLock screwgate in black, a pear-shaped locking carabiner for belaying and rappelling.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pear shape gives room for a Munter hitch or GRIGRI loading
- + Screwgate is simple to use and easy to check visually
- + Black Diamond build quality for regular belay use
- - Screwgate can loosen if not checked during long sessions
- - Heavier than lightweight wiregate lockers
#2Petzl's William large pear-shaped screw-lock carabiner, made for belay stations and holding several knots.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Large pear shape holds multiple ropes and a Munter hitch easily
- + Screw-lock gate is simple to operate with gloves
- + Great for building anchors on multi-pitch belays
- - Large size adds weight to the rack
- - Can be too roomy for a GRIGRI to sit neatly
#3EDELRID's HMS Strike triple lock carabiner in silver and icemint, an auto-locking pear locker for belaying.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Triple lock closes automatically for added security
- + HMS shape suits Munter hitches and belay devices
- + Icemint color helps identify it on a harness
- - Triple lock can be slower to open with cold hands
- - Heavier than simple screwgate lockers
#4GM CLIMBING's red screwgate lockers in a pack of 2, CE UIAA certified heavy duty carabiners for climbing and rigging.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pack of 2 gives spare lockers for anchors and belay devices
- + CE UIAA certification is clearly listed
- + Heavy duty build handles regular climbing use
- - Screwgate lockers need checking to stay fully closed
- - Budget brand lacks the reputation of Petzl or Black Diamond
#5SEPEAK's UIAA CE 30kN heavy duty screwgate carabiners in black, a 2pc set for climbing and rigging use.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 30kN rating is clearly stated for strong locking use
- + 2pc set provides lockers for anchors or belay setups
- + Black finish looks understated and hides wear
- - Heavy duty build is heavier than lightweight lockers
- - Less-known brand than established climbing hardware makers
#6Petzl's Omni screw-lock carabiner, a semi-circle locker designed for closing harness belay points and rope work.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Semi-circle shape is useful for joining harness attachment points
- + Screw-lock gate gives a secure closure for rigging tasks
- + Petzl quality for rope access and rescue use
- - Not the best shape for everyday belay device use
- - Screw-lock is slower to open than auto-locking gates
#7Yachee's 30KN screwgate carabiner rated to 5620lb, a CE certified locking climbing carabiner for budget kits.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 30KN and 5620lb ratings are both listed for easy comparison
- + CE certification adds some confidence for climbing use
- + Budget price suits spare lockers for anchors and rigging
- - Single carabiner only, so you may need several
- - Lesser-known brand compared with Petzl or Black Diamond
#8XINDA's screwgate locking carabiners in black, 2 pcs marketed as professional rock climbing screw lock clips.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 2 pcs give a spare locker for rigging or belay setups
- + Screw lock gate provides secure closure for anchors
- + Affordable option for climbers building a first rack
- - Check the kN strength rating before using it for anchors
- - Professional claim is vague and not supported by certification details
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Screwgate can loosen if not checked during long sessions (BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking...)
- Large size adds weight to the rack (Petzl William Carabiner - Large, Pear-Shaped...)
- Triple lock can be slower to open with cold hands (EDELRID HMS Strike Locking Carabiner - Triple...)
- Screwgate lockers need checking to stay fully closed (GM CLIMBING Screwgate Locking Carabiner Red...)
- Heavy duty build is heavier than lightweight lockers (SEPEAK UIAA CE 30kN Locking Climbing...)
- Not the best shape for everyday belay device use (PETZL Omni Screw-Lock Carabiner)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among the best locking carabiners?
BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking Belay/Rappelling Carabiner, Black is our top overall pick. Black Diamond's RockLock screwgate in black, a pear-shaped locking carabiner for belaying and rappelling. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Petzl William Carabiner - Large, Pear-Shaped Locking Carabiner for Belay Stations - Screw-Lock is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Petzl's William large pear-shaped screw-lock carabiner, made for belay stations and holding several knots.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Climbing Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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