Buying carabiners online from overseas bulk producers

Hi guys,

So in another one of my posts, a gentleman recommended the titanium carabiner in the link below while discussing top-rope solo setups. It is imported from China and can be purchased on a general shopping site similar to amazon. I have also seen similar carabiners for sale on Amazon.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-lock-Titanium-alloy-carabiner-25KN_60825523149.html

This is a picture of the carabiner:

The website for these carabiners says "do not use these carabiners for climbing" even though the have a 25Kn rating gate closed etc. 

Its PPE certification is CE0321, I tried to look this up but can't really find any information on it. I believe that these numbers are individualized for each product?

The EN362 number i think is the European certification for "EN 362:2004 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height. Connectors." from what i've found on the web.

In my opinion, I would only buy carabiners by a reputable company known for supplying climbing gear, even though the majority of carabiners they supply are probably made overseas and are similar to the above I would imagine. Im a bit paranoid this way. 

Anyone have any additional info on this topic? Whats you 2 cents of these carabiners? Have you bought carabiners online from overseas and had any issues or complaints? Have they worked well for you?

Thanks,

North Col 

The website for these carabiners says "do not use these carabiners for climbing" even though the have a 25Kn rating gate closed etc.

I wouldn't use them for climbing because the website says "don't use them for climbing." And because they don't have a name brand that I would trust.

North Col wrote: Hi guys,

So in another one of my posts, a gentleman recommended the titanium carabiner in the link below while discussing top-rope solo setups. It is imported from China and can be purchased on a general shopping site similar to amazon. I have also seen similar carabiners for sale on Amazon.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-lock-Titanium-alloy-carabiner-25KN_60825523149.html

This is a picture of the carabiner:

The website for these carabiners says "do not use these carabiners for climbing" even though the have a 25Kn rating gate closed etc.

Its PPE certification is CE0321, I tried to look this up but can't really find any information on it. I believe that these numbers are individualized for each product?

The EN362 number i think is the European certification for "EN 362:2004 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height. Connectors." from what i've found on the web.

In my opinion, I would only buy carabiners by a reputable company known for supplying climbing gear, even though the majority of carabiners they supply are probably made overseas and are similar to the above I would imagine. Im a bit paranoid this way.

Anyone have any additional info on this topic? Whats you 2 cents of these carabiners? Have you bought carabiners online from overseas and had any issues or complaints? Have they worked well for you?

Thanks,

North Col

I posted that link as a joke. I thought the /sarc at the end made that clear. I would NOT recommend buying in bulk like this. While they may be stamped with the certifications, you just don't know. Stick with reputable manufacturers that have a strong presence in your country. As in they'll be sued out of existence and lose their entire customer base for not doing extra quality control testing and having something slip past.

South Col is gonna have a field day with this.

China does not have the same standards in metal and overall quality control that the more commonly known reputable climbing companies have here in the US and Canada.

$5 isn't even a great deal...

Dan Gozdz wrote:

I posted that link as a joke.

A particularly bad idea in that thread and this one given how many poor beginners come through MP...

I would pay to see GoPro footage of someone climbing with 500 locking biners on their rack

chinese manufacturer's have been known to:

1. Falsify raw material certifications, especially for metal
2. Falsely label products as "CE" marked when they are not
3. Falsify 3rd party testing has been done when it has not (or doctor the results)
4. Disregard US regulations for controlled manufacturing of some industrial components (i.e. pressure vessels)

I have examples of all of the above, and i do this for a living. roll the dice if you want to...

At the end of the day, ask yourself if chancing your life is worth the couple of dollars you save.

I think every beginning climber needs to spend $2500 for 500 titanium lockers.

That's just the way it's always been done.

From 'Climbing in North America' by Chris Jones

I feel like if you used 500 of these to secure yourself at least a few would hold. However, making upward progress with all that lightweight Ti would be a challenge.

You might try checking on the UIAA website. You can search manufacturers 

Healyje wrote: A particularly bad idea in that thread and this one given how many poor beginners come through MP...

Agreed. And I did not catch the sarcasm in his post. Others may not as well. 

And disregard the 500 pieces minimum order - that is irrelevant to the question. I posted because I myself would never trust this type of equipment and I assumed the thread would follow that theme and shed light on this for others thinking of buying such items without proper certification from not reputable buyers. 

Lets see what my doppelganger South Col thinks!

I actually bought 2 of these from Ali express. Didn't realize you shouldn't climb on them.  I've been using them inthe gym for 2 months.  I suppose I should replace them. 

Adam Wilkie wrote: I actually bought 2 of these from Ali express. Didn't realize you shouldn't climb on them.  I've been using them inthe gym for 2 months.  I suppose I should replace them. 

See these fourms really have value! Id be interested if someone where to test these in regards to the actual material and strength. 

North Col wrote:

See these fourms really have value! Id be interested if someone where to test these in regards to the actual material and strength. 

I doubt that would prove much, seeing as their QA is usually terrible and could vary greatly from batch to batch.

Don't believe anything you read on the forums.

   

Tradiban wrote: Don't believe anything you read on the forums.

I dont and it would be foolish if people didnt do their own research or use their brain to decipher the good info from the bad and draw their own conclusions as to what makes sence and what is shit.