Cowstail Carabiners
The two carabiners you put on your cowstails. A snap gate on the short one, a screw gate on the long one.
What to look for
You need two carabiners. A snap gate for the short cowstail. A screw gate for the long cowstail. Any UIAA approved carabiner is fine, but here are specific recommendations.
For the snap gate on the short cowstail: a Petzl Djinn is a solid choice. It's a straightforward snap gate, the gate opens and closes cleanly, and it costs about a tenner.
For the screw gate on the long cowstail: a Petzl Am'D screw-lock works well. It's a good shape, easy to handle with one hand, and stays nicely out of the way when clipped.
The main thing is both gates open and close smoothly and the screw gate screws up pleasantly. If it feels gritty or stiff, pick a different one. Try before you buy if you can.
What to get first
You need cowstails first. These carabiners clip onto the cowstails.
Buying Guide
- Price (New): £
- Price (Used): £
- Buy online? Yes, any caving or climbing shop sells these. Starless River stocks both the Djinn and the Am'D.
Buying Second Hand
You could buy carabiners secondhand if you know what to check for. But a new snap gate costs about 10 pounds and a new screw gate costs about 15 pounds. At those prices, it's hard to justify secondhand.
Where you can buy it
Any caving shop. Starless River, Inglesport, and Bananafingers all carry Petzl carabiners.