Black Diamond RockLock Twistlock Carabiner
>> Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Customer Reviews
Love it!
I love this carabiner. It's so convenient that you don't have to twist the lock every time you want to lock it. It's also a great size so it fits all my gear with room to spare.
easy to use
very happy with this product. easy one hand use after a few hours of practice.
An Excellent Belay Carabiner
I use both this model and a RockLock Screwgate model currently. I really like the Twistlock because, as was stated in the previous review, it's impossible to forget to lock it. You can't close the gate without locking it -- closing the gate requires a 1/2 twist on the locking mechanism, which is spring-loaded. So when you close the gate, releasing the locking mechanism causes it to spring back into the locked position.
There is a downside to this. Since the biner, when closed, is always in the locked position, it can be a little bit more difficult to handle than the Screwgate in certain circumstances. The Screwgate locking mechanism can maintain its unlocked position, so a one-handed twist of the lock will then free up both hands to manipulate the biner and whatever it is attached to. With this Twistlock model, one hand must be holding the lock in the open position or else it will lock again. It's a relatively minor distinction for my needs, and at any rate it's not a design flaw, just a design difference.
I'd definitely recommend this biner, especially for those who may be worried about possibly forgetting to lock a Screwgate model. Personally, I use it as my full-time belay carabiner now, and the Screwgate has been relegated to locking the chalk bag to my harness.
