Would this biner...

[BobT]

Many years ago, in the On Belay climbing magazine, I suggested that carabiners be loaded in every possible way nad only the lowest number be published. That way we would get carabiners that are equally strong in all directions. I was half joking when I wrote that letter. Now I follow my suggestion and buy carabiners on the basis of their minor axis strength.

The makers of wiregate carabiners and D-shaped carabiners brush off the issue of minor axis strength by telling climbers not to load the carabiners along the minor axis. Wonderful -- just orient the carabiners while you are falling.

I would buy one of these BiWire carabiners just to put in my collection of wacko gear, but I would not use it.

 

[No_Bivy]

No offense but wire gates have been proven to be better then other types of gates.......carabiner whiplash. Not an issue in tree work. But don't discount how far biners have come, I have taken big falls on wire gates.....never heard of any one having a problem.

 

[fhfr436]

From the sport world, the wire gate 'biners are most useful for ice climbing and mountaineering because their spring can't get frozen like the internal spring on a solid gate. I don't think many tree climbers are working in such conditions that their krabs might be frozen while in use!!

I agree that the out-swinging gate would be a great protector from snagging branches.