Sport climbing, why use quickdraws

I'm just transitioning to outdoor climbing and probably won't be doing any lead climbing for years, but I was wondering why people use quickdraws instead of just a carabiner alone to clip into bolts when sport climbing. Is it just because it's easier to clip in that way, or is it somehow safer and more secure? 

Think about the way a rope would torque the biner while moving it around, there is leverage that could unclip your rope while falling past if you just use a carabiner alone. Use you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oke_4xJTtM

And I think you should probably do some learning from a mentor.

It's easier to clip, reduces rope drag, and reduces the possibility of the carabiner cross-loading on the bolt.

I use only a single carabiner when I’m lowering off a route I’m bailing on! Haha

reduces the drag of the rope (especially on longer terrain) allowing for the rope to snake its way up, vs., severe angling which makes the pull up to clip much harder

Dogbones vs. Alpine draws? Advantage. disadvantages on sport climbs? 

Alpine draws are bulkier and harder to clip, but if you need to extend the distance from the bolt to reduce rope drag, there is really no substitute.

I actually find though that I almost never use true alpine draws. The sport routes I've encountered are rarely bolted in a way that demands extension, and when I climb trad, I use slings with only one biner, carried over my shoulder since the gear placements already have a one carabineer on it. 

rob.calm wrote: Dogbones vs. Alpine draws? Advantage. disadvantages on sport climbs? 

A dog bone has a keeper for the carabiner on the end that keeps it positioned for easy clipping. Alpine draw biner is flipping around way to easily and this could lead to tears, decking or worse.

The bone is also (ideally, see Petzl Spirit bone) is fat, rough and tough webbing that makes it easier to grab and clip when you are desperate. A real sport bone is not dynema (too slick).

Gavin Towey wrote:...when I climb trad, I use slings with only one biner, carried over my shoulder since the gear placements already have a one carabineer on it. 

So you rack all you nuts on their own single biner? 

zoso wrote:

So you rack all you nuts on their own single biner? 

If you primarily place cams and don't tend to place a lot of nuts, then all you have to do is carry a few individual carabiners to put on your stoppers when you place them.  That's the way Beth Rodden does it here starting around 2:50 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4q5f6SPXGc

chris p wrote: I'm just transitioning to outdoor climbing and probably won't be doing any lead climbing for years

Why not?

Robert S wrote:

Why not?

I'm planning to get into top roping outside. My climbing partner is my sister, but she is way behind me in climbing ability, so she won't want to climb trad for a while, especially since she just had a baby a few months ago. 

zoso wrote:

So you rack all you nuts on their own single biner? 

No, I use mostly cams and carry a few quickdraws for the stoppers. 

Chris P. BITD it was common practice to use two biners when climbing bolted slab. - Not exactly sport climbing. When real sport happened, it was discovered that this didn’t work and biners would snap when it was overhanging!
The short Dog Bone, with a rubber keeper on the rope end is the best for the job. Especially if you use large biners, Not tiny wire gate ones.
Go lead stuff, most sport is made to lead.
Have fun

chris p wrote:

I'm planning to get into top roping outside. My climbing partner is my sister, but she is way behind me in climbing ability, so she won't want to climb trad for a while, especially since she just had a baby a few months ago. 

You can lead single pitch, sport without an issue. Clean your draws on the way down and then belay your sister on something she can climb. 

Edit- learn what you’re doing before you just jump on the sharp end. 

Why use quickdraws? Cause the others are too slow. Now that might sound like a smart ass answer but in reality it is true.

BITD the day one would have slings slung over their shoulder. In many cases, one would have to release one hand, pull the sling off, grab the rock again, release the other hand, then finally clip the gear and rope. Fine for moderate grades but not for harder grades. By doubling or tripling the sling and attaching two biners one could clip the sling to the gear loops on one's harness. And like gun slinger who draws quick or is shot dead, a rope gun can quickly get a sling on the gear and rope before they fall. Thus the name quick draw.

Crap I've been doing it wrong this entire time - I've been untying the rope from my harness, and threading it through the bolt, then retying it to my harness.

what have I done with my life.

Rope drag