Home improvement store clips vs bolt snaps

[blac86]

I think the biggest sin of a carabiner is that that's it's large, clumsy, heavy, and a waste of space.

For a carabiner to be dangerous there has to be a more fundamental critical problem, that diver was stupid. The unfortunate truth is without an industry designing gear to protect them from themselves, many divers would be incident statistics.

 

[kelemvor]

I now carry a Trilobite and shears (in different locations) in NJ waters.

I carry both of those as well (in Florida). They're not any extra effort to carry, and you never know when you might want or need to cut something. The only time I ever had to cut something in the water has so far been during a cave class. I have used the z-knife a few times while on the boat though. They're handy tools.

 

[dmaziuk]

I think the biggest sin of a carabiner is that that's it's large, clumsy, heavy, and a waste of space.

Google for grimloc(tm) sometime. They are neither of those things and I'm not sure if they rust (I expect the spring under the lock will eventually). They're a snag hazard, though: the lock button sticks out 1/10" or so.

 

[lermontov]

wow

 

[lermontov]

Yup! Fortunately, when I'm diving at home in a dry suit, all of the boats have fins-on ladders. This is mainly a warm water thing.

Even better is THIS!

View attachment 421925

is that a pee valve in bottom pic

 

[Jack Hammer]

Ive seen plenty of side mounters use suicide clips on their tanks. I don't use them personally on any of my gear as I've seen too many things that shouldn't be much of a risk get caught up. I think their level of "dangerous" depends on the environment they're used in.

BTW, the trouble with some of the hardware store stainless or brass snaps isn't the metal body corroding, it's with the springs rusting and/or failing.

 

[Bob DBF]

I had never had a "sucide clip" snag anything, however I did have a line unclip itself from one which got me to change over to bolt snaps in one day. I use brass rather than stainless for financial considerations, and have had no issue with their operation. I have many that are decades old. What I do get annoyed with is stainless bolt snaps that are included with "quality" dive gear that rust.



Bob

 

[azstinger11]

So this is posted in the New Divers area and no one has really explained exactly why they are called suicide clips. Until the second page and someone posted some pictures, I had zero idea what anyone was talking about. As a recreational diver, how does this kill me exactly? Also aren't they used on Jon lines? Why are bolt snaps/locking carabiners considered superior? The locking carabiner I think I understand since they lock, the clip part can't accidentally open, but for bolt snaps isn't pushing the little handle thing just as likely easy?

 

[diver0008]

but for bolt snaps isn't pushing the little handle thing just as likely easy?

slighly less easy.

 

[KevinNM]

They are only an entanglement issue in certain, very specific conditions, almost all of which a rec diver will never experience.

Like monofilament fishing line? Everyone should have a cutting tool, but not everyone does. And it isn't always easy to get to the entanglement or the line.

As far as rust - get brass or stainless steel and that's not a problem. Both are available at my hardware store with no shipping charges.

Brass tends to produce pretty sharp edges over time. I've got one (which I no longer use) that is similar to two razor blades below the button.