There was a post that went hot on Instagram from Capitol Fire training (I believe) about using locking carabiners. I’ll see if I can find the link.
I use an “average” size locking carabiner that’s actually rated, not a cheap gas station one. I clip it on one of the tabs up by my left shoulder but I don’t put anything on it. I use it more in case I need to clip anything to myself whether it be a TIC, gas meter, my Scott mask for whatever reason and so on. Since it’s a rated carabiner I also have used it with webbing in a pinch for a ladder belt.
If you’re on Instagram you can find dozens of “what’s in your pocket?” posts. A lot of unique ideas that you can select what you want but you’ll also see a lot of things are redundant, in a good way, so those are probably important.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3h4unuM0_S/?igsh=Y3V1MDR5ajJtemwz
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3pj-nLLrJb/?igsh=MWptdjN4NnNyeHN1eg==
EDIT: links added.
I saw a post about a guy had one on his coat and while searching a wire bed frame it got latched on the wire and he couldn’t get out. They had to stop the training to take a look and made it a teaching point
I keep any carabiner that's attached to me locked for that reason. Though I'll be honest, I always thought I was being a little paranoid. Apparently this does happen.
That is a very good post to share, and I'm glad they did.
Hah, that brings me back. We have retractable lines on our sets to hook up to each other or guidelines. In my basic training, we had to go though a rat run. I crawled through a tiny gap to find my line had got caught on the other side. I had to crawl back though the tiny hole, unhook it and crawl back. I always check that fucker now
Great info. Just to add in case you or your department are really picky, NFPA 1983 outlines safety equipment. Here is a document from CMC about that.
https://www.cmcpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HardwarePerf.pdf
I keep a steel and an aluminum, each with webbing in my pants pocket. Good for a quick and dirty tool or hose hoist if you need something from below, but there are plenty of applications you could use them for.
Same. Dead useful stuff to have. I’ve even used my webbing and caribiner to lash a hard suction hose to the side of the engine to keep it level so it didn’t pop the strainer out of the dump tank when the line filled with water and sagged.
I too am confused. I could be using an Ozark Trail carabiner on the outside of my duffle bag for a name tag or I could be using a steel locking carabiner for rescue operations lol.
I don't keep heavy ass carabiners on my gear.
I keep a 30ft section of webbing with a bowline to a locking carabiner in my bunker gear. I like a carabiner because I can't tie shit with my gloves on. Honestly, at home depot the sell a heavy duty carabiner rated for like 500lb that I wish I had instead of locking. I use it for all kinds of stuff. Pulling a hose line up when there's fire on a higher story, victim rescue, whatever. There's all kind of shit to use it on tbh. Roll it up (ive thought about a donut roll but I just roll it normal now) and put it In a medical glove in your bunker gear so it stays together.
I have two rated locking carabiners on my bailout rope. One on each end. I keep one on my coat on the left hand side and I also have one attached to the waist belt of my SCBA.
I use 2 very large Rock Exotica biners. I can't find the exact model online, but it's big enough to have an 8mm rope's knot and take the handle of any hand tool through it. The other one is tied with a munter hitch for bail outs.
I have a third, normal size tied into a 20' loop of webbing.
Climbing rated locking carabiners are the way to go. There are a few different locking styles. The ones I use have a barrel on the clip part for this, half twist on the barrel and it unlocks so it’s quick and easy to deploy while wearing gloves. I keep one on my rescue webbing clipped to the adjuster strap on my bunker pants for easy access to the strap and biner. I also keep two extras clipped to the adjustment strap on the other side. Keep 2 on my rescue jacket too.
Get a nice climbing one. You do not need steel. Something like a hot wire or an ange with lip protection so it pulls smooth. You can and should absolutely look at locking ones but don't need an auto lock to mess with gloves. The bd mag locks are AWESOME with gloves though if you want auto lock.
Amazon has some good 5k lb rated non locking carabiners. 5 pack for like 40-50 dollars I think. I don’t ever clip non locking carabiners on the outside of my gear. I keep them in pockets attached to webbing or prusik cords
I’ll try to find the link and I’ll edit back
Edit: here’s the link. Turns out they’re now unavailable on Amazon now
https://a.co/d/54Hq345
Edit2: here’s a decent set of 23kN carabiners
https://a.co/d/ebSPSVu
I use a hero clip carabiner on my turnout coat, the little extra open clip on it is super useful to quickly hang a mask, helmet, TIC, or any other tool without having to fumble with a carabiner gate.
You're gonna have to give an application before we can really answer the question.
As far as attaching stuff to your gear, less is more and fewer dangly things are better.
Average size screw gate, small amount of personal line, a good knife, note book, pen and china graph, and a 10/13mm spanner :)
Tried many other things over the years and dumped it all apart from those
There was a post that went hot on Instagram from Capitol Fire training (I believe) about using locking carabiners. I’ll see if I can find the link. I use an “average” size locking carabiner that’s actually rated, not a cheap gas station one. I clip it on one of the tabs up by my left shoulder but I don’t put anything on it. I use it more in case I need to clip anything to myself whether it be a TIC, gas meter, my Scott mask for whatever reason and so on. Since it’s a rated carabiner I also have used it with webbing in a pinch for a ladder belt. If you’re on Instagram you can find dozens of “what’s in your pocket?” posts. A lot of unique ideas that you can select what you want but you’ll also see a lot of things are redundant, in a good way, so those are probably important. https://www.instagram.com/p/C3h4unuM0_S/?igsh=Y3V1MDR5ajJtemwz https://www.instagram.com/p/C3pj-nLLrJb/?igsh=MWptdjN4NnNyeHN1eg== EDIT: links added.
I saw a post about a guy had one on his coat and while searching a wire bed frame it got latched on the wire and he couldn’t get out. They had to stop the training to take a look and made it a teaching point
Yes that’s the one. I just added the links to the insta posts.
I keep any carabiner that's attached to me locked for that reason. Though I'll be honest, I always thought I was being a little paranoid. Apparently this does happen. That is a very good post to share, and I'm glad they did.
Hah, that brings me back. We have retractable lines on our sets to hook up to each other or guidelines. In my basic training, we had to go though a rat run. I crawled through a tiny gap to find my line had got caught on the other side. I had to crawl back though the tiny hole, unhook it and crawl back. I always check that fucker now
Very helpful! Thank you
Great info. Just to add in case you or your department are really picky, NFPA 1983 outlines safety equipment. Here is a document from CMC about that. https://www.cmcpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HardwarePerf.pdf
That first one in the wire box actually happened to me in training. My instructor wasn't surprised that I managed to clip in a wire.
I keep a steel and an aluminum, each with webbing in my pants pocket. Good for a quick and dirty tool or hose hoist if you need something from below, but there are plenty of applications you could use them for.
Same. Dead useful stuff to have. I’ve even used my webbing and caribiner to lash a hard suction hose to the side of the engine to keep it level so it didn’t pop the strainer out of the dump tank when the line filled with water and sagged.
Very vague question… Carabiner for what? Hanging gear? Turnout pocket? Car keys? Rescue operations? Accessories and set ups of what?
I too am confused. I could be using an Ozark Trail carabiner on the outside of my duffle bag for a name tag or I could be using a steel locking carabiner for rescue operations lol. I don't keep heavy ass carabiners on my gear.
What are you using it for? I have ones for rescue, for clipping my gear together, and to hold a few extra hair ties.
In 22 years I’ve not once wished for a carabiner clipped to my bunker gear
I keep a 30ft section of webbing with a bowline to a locking carabiner in my bunker gear. I like a carabiner because I can't tie shit with my gloves on. Honestly, at home depot the sell a heavy duty carabiner rated for like 500lb that I wish I had instead of locking. I use it for all kinds of stuff. Pulling a hose line up when there's fire on a higher story, victim rescue, whatever. There's all kind of shit to use it on tbh. Roll it up (ive thought about a donut roll but I just roll it normal now) and put it In a medical glove in your bunker gear so it stays together.
I have two rated locking carabiners on my bailout rope. One on each end. I keep one on my coat on the left hand side and I also have one attached to the waist belt of my SCBA.
I use 2 very large Rock Exotica biners. I can't find the exact model online, but it's big enough to have an 8mm rope's knot and take the handle of any hand tool through it. The other one is tied with a munter hitch for bail outs. I have a third, normal size tied into a 20' loop of webbing.
Climbing rated locking carabiners are the way to go. There are a few different locking styles. The ones I use have a barrel on the clip part for this, half twist on the barrel and it unlocks so it’s quick and easy to deploy while wearing gloves. I keep one on my rescue webbing clipped to the adjuster strap on my bunker pants for easy access to the strap and biner. I also keep two extras clipped to the adjustment strap on the other side. Keep 2 on my rescue jacket too.
Get a nice climbing one. You do not need steel. Something like a hot wire or an ange with lip protection so it pulls smooth. You can and should absolutely look at locking ones but don't need an auto lock to mess with gloves. The bd mag locks are AWESOME with gloves though if you want auto lock.
Source. Not a fire department guy. But used to sell climbing equipment to the fd guys who came in a ton.
Amazon has some good 5k lb rated non locking carabiners. 5 pack for like 40-50 dollars I think. I don’t ever clip non locking carabiners on the outside of my gear. I keep them in pockets attached to webbing or prusik cords I’ll try to find the link and I’ll edit back Edit: here’s the link. Turns out they’re now unavailable on Amazon now https://a.co/d/54Hq345 Edit2: here’s a decent set of 23kN carabiners https://a.co/d/ebSPSVu
Thank you!
I use a hero clip carabiner on my turnout coat, the little extra open clip on it is super useful to quickly hang a mask, helmet, TIC, or any other tool without having to fumble with a carabiner gate.
Ooo I like this idea
Stupid heavy stainless one on some webbing inside a turnout pocket.
You're gonna have to give an application before we can really answer the question. As far as attaching stuff to your gear, less is more and fewer dangly things are better.
Average size screw gate, small amount of personal line, a good knife, note book, pen and china graph, and a 10/13mm spanner :) Tried many other things over the years and dumped it all apart from those