Grivel Climbing

Locking vs. Non-locking 

Locking carabiners: Gates lock to prevent accidental openings during falls; essential for belaying or critical protection placements

• Screw-lock: Requires manual twisting to close
• Auto-locking (twist lock): Automatically locks when the gate closes

Non-locking carabiners: Lighter, quicker to clip or unclip but can accidentally open; ideal for racking gear or for quickdraws

Carabiner shape

• D shape: Strongest shape, excellent for most kinds of climbing
• Asymmetric D: Lighter than D shape with a larger gate for easy clipping; use for belaying, rappelling, general climbing  
• Pear shape: Designed for belaying, rappelling and anchor points; heavier and more expensive
• Oval shape: Smaller gate opening, affordable but not as strong or light as others; ideal for aid climbing or racking trad gear

Gate Types 

• Straight-gate: Durable, easy to use; common for clipping gear to harnesses
• Bent-gate: Makes rope clipping easier; generally used for quickdraws  
• Wire-gate: Lightweight, less likely to freeze or vibrate open during a fall
• Locking: Most secure; essential for anchors or belaying

Safety standards

• All climbing helmets must meet industry safety standards for climbing
• Some also have additional certifications for mountaineering, biking or snowsports

Shell material

• ABS (hard shell): Durable and affordable; generally heavier with less ventilation
• Polycarbonate (foam shell): Lightweight and well ventilated; pricier

Features

• Adjustability: Fine tune the helmet fit or chin strap so you can layer underneath
• Vents: Helpful for warm weather climbing or long days of climbing

Fit

• Helmets are sized by head circumference (inches or centimeters)
• Measure your head circumference by wrapping a tape measure around your head just above the ears and about 1" above the eyebrows