Mini carabiners for your big wall bivy
To make an organized camp on a big wall, you’ll need probably at least a dozen spare carabiners to clip things securely onto your ledge.
Try to avoid scavenging carabiners from your lead rack to clip stuff to your bivy. (Ask me how I know this.) This will definitely slow you down in the morning when you break down your camp and then restore the carabiners to the proper spot.
So plan head, don't be a cheapskate, and bring the extra “camping-only” carabiners that you need to make a proper camp. (Considering you're wall rack is probably more than $3,000, dropping another $50 to get some low cost carabiners is not that big a deal.)
It's important that these carabiners be properly rated for actual climbing, and not the El Cheapo little “keychain” carabiners that you might get at the hardware store check out. You might remember that the little pink carabiner is not load rated, but what if your partner doesn't know that? What if it's dark and you accidentally grabbed the wrong one?
Get all of them the same unique color. That way you know they’re for camping-only, and you don't get them mixed up with your lead rack.
Lots of manufacturers make tiny wiregate carabiners. A good choice is the CAMP Nano.
Lots of cool colors
Fully load rated at 21 kN
low cost, about $7
Hopefully everything you bring on a big wall has its own stuff sack or clip in point. If you need to add clip points onto pretty much anything, some wonderful cord to use is bank line. It's inexpensive, super strong, and holds knots very well.
If you’re not big wall climbing, mini carabiners also work great for hanging a lantern or headlamp from your tent, attaching light items to the outside of your backpack or hanging your food to keep it away from critters.
