Why does BD keep discontinuing their best carabineers?

First the Oz, now the Magnetron... 

Really tired of publicly traded mega corps cutting their higher end hardware cuz it doesn't have the same profit margins as their softgoods / headlamps / whatever.    

I know there are some mixed feelings about both of these carabineers - but still...

I have felt loyal to BD as it was what I learned with in the Chouinard days. Sadly, the BD we grew up with doesn't exist anymore. OZ and Magnatron biners are more expensive to manufacture than making something almost as good which is likely what the board wants to do.

sorry mate. magnetron was never a good biner. it was a gimmick that didn't catch on. that's why they axed it...

What is with the discontinuation of the Oz and other carabiners that kept from nose catches? I loved those and I’ve been collecting the used ones that I can find.

curt86iroc wrote:

sorry mate. magnetron was never a good biner. it was a gimmick that didn't catch on. that's why they axed it...

Hot take!   

Nah - As Hal mentioned above, it's because it was too expensive to manufacture.  And I know many folks that loved em! Lightest weight autolocker around (excluding some interesting attempts by Elderid and the double gated Grivel's!) 

Nathan P wrote:

Hot take!   

Nah - As Hal mentioned above, it's because it was too expensive to manufacture.  And I know many folks that loved em! Lightest weight autolocker around (excluding some interesting attempts by Elderid and the double gated Grivel's!) 

The Petzl Sm’d autolock is 36 grams lighter, according to my Googles. It’s been my favorite locker for a few years now.

Marc H wrote:

The Petzl Sm’d autolock is 36 grams lighter, according to my Googles. It’s been my favorite locker for a few years now.

Sm'd autolocker is great (it's 51g)! But I like the full-size HMS style of the Magnetron Vaperlock! (it's 53g). I think you were looking at the heavier full round stock Magnetron! 

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/climbing/locking-carabiner/black-diamond-vaporlock-magnetron

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/climbing/locking-carabiner/petzl-smd-twist-lock

Love the magnetron. Sad to see it go.
Seems like folks love em', or hate em'.

The Oz was pretty new when I bought a dozen on sale for new racking biners. Glad I got them when I did! 

The price on ebay for a magnetron vaporlock is now $160 USD. Does anyone know if BD will ever make their best biner again? I really love them, and even if their retail price increases from the original $30 to $50-60, I think it is still very competitive given the inflation over the years.