When is a locking carabiner preferred over a non-locking carabiner?

• A. For casual uses
• B. For critical connections where inadvertent gate opening could cause a failure, such as anchors and belay connections
• C. To save weight
• D. To decorate gear

Answer: (B)

Preventing accidental gate opening in critical rope connections is the key idea. In anchors and belay connections, a gate opening could let ropes detach or an anchor fail, which creates a serious safety risk. The locking mechanism—whether screw‑lock or auto‑lock—adds a physical barrier that keeps the gate from opening under load, movement, or snagging. That added security is essential whenever a failure would have major consequences, so a locking carabiner is the right choice for those connections. Using locking carabiners just to save weight or for decoration isn’t appropriate in safety-critical parts of the system, whereas non-locking carabiners are generally acceptable only where there’s little risk of unintended opening.