Black Diamond OvalWire Carabiner

The birth of the OvalWire came about from Black Diamond's desire to produce a low-profile, lightweight and easily clippable biner for aid climbers. Lighter and less bulky than Ovals, the OvalWire has a wire gate that resists gate whiplash, won't freeze up and is easy to clip. Sharing all of the same qualities as Black Diamond's classic Ovals, the wiregate versions are lower in profile and lighter—which means they can be piled on a rack with reckless abandon. A great biner for aid climbers who require an inexpensive, yet high-tech oval biner.

$5.90

Big Wallers Rejoice !!
These biners are the bees knees for aid routes. The claim to a narrower profile is not just propaganda, it's the gospel truth Brothers and Sisters! These are remarkably more narrow in profile than standard ovals, which means you can stack them up on your harness like there's no tomorrow. The difference in weight is noticeable, also. Take 20 of these clipped together in one hand and compare the weight to 20 standard ovals in the other. You will be a believer! The only improvement I would LOVE to see is a keylock gate which would make these the ultimate racking biner. The price is right, too.

good for racking gear
I use this ‘biner mostly for racking nuts, tricams, small cams, etc. It is lightweight and can carry a lot of gear. The drawback is that it snags on wires, and that the gate could be stiffer.

Training Tips

Low weight, high rep circuit training combines the best of both worlds: aerobic and anaerobic training. Keeping the rest time in between high repeats low excercises like bench press, leg presses, inclined sit-ups, and upright rows is the key to maximum benefits.

As a long distance runner, a gradual increase in distance each week will allow you to build a solid areobic base. Distance increase should be no more than 10% of the previous week's distance.

When buying a new pair of running shoes, bring your old ones with you. You will get a better fit if you know if you supinate or pronate.

Heart monitors are useful for knowing when you are in the right zone for your training efforts. If you understand what your maximum heart rate is, you can set up your monitor to beep at you when you exceed the high or low range of your heart rate for the type of workout you are doing.