It wasn’t long ago when carabiners were not recognized by ANSI for tree climbing use. Now they are. Praise the Lord!

So what is a standard for life support carabiners? Locking, yes? How many actions? We have single action (screw down or screw up!), double action, and triple action varieties. Ball lock, barrel lock, and maybe other types of which I do not know about.

What about non-locking carabiners? Would you ever choose to hang with one? What standard would you go by?

What about snaps? Do recreational climbers use snaps? What kind should be used? Should the only guide for snap use be in its strength rating?