Ice Climbing Quickdraws
A Quickdraw is an important tool used in Ice Climbing. Also known as runner, it reduces rope drag when a rope is pulled through a number of Carabiners. It allows the rope to be pulled to the center and provides a less resistive path from the belay point to the climber.
Quickdraws are composed of two snap-gate Carabiners which are connected by a short, sewn loop of durable webbing. There is a variety of Quickdraws to choose from and some even offer enhancements in grip, maneuverability or speed.
The Carabiners in Quickdraws are commonly paired off as a Straight-Gate Carabiner while the other one is called a Bent-Gate Carabiner. The rope is always connected to the bent gate type since it lessens the friction created by the rope and prevents it to come in contact with any dents or imperfections attained by the other Carabiner when used. Experienced ice climbers customize their own Quickdraws which have certain qualities or features to meet specific situations.
Examples are:
- Tube-gate Carabiner – This is used in almost any application.
- Wire-gate Carabiner – This type is lighter than the tube-gate type. It is also used in many situations.
- Straight-gate Carabiner – This is used to attach to bolts or pros.
As with all other pieces of equipment and gear used in Ice Climbing, it is very crucial to know the features and purposes of Quickdraws. Know how and when to use Quickdraws and more importantly, make sure to learn how to use them the right way.
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