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Black Diamond Magnetron Carabiners Auto-Lock with Magnets

July 13, 2011

Magnetron GridLock

Forget twistlocks and screwlocks. Black Diamond's newest carabiners for 2012 use magnets to auto lock.

Throughout the decades, Black Diamond has been at the forefront of revolutionary carabiner design—from Yvon Chouinard’s original ovals; to the climbing world’s first-ever wiregate, the HotWire; to the crossload-eliminating belay carabiner, the GridLock.

The company's next carabiner design innovation? Magnetron Technology.

What’s so special about Magnetron Technology? One word: magnets. Yes, that’s right—locking carabiners that utilize magnets and not twistlocks or screwlocks on the gates.

Black Diamond's patent-pending Magnetron Technology will be available on select locking carabiners in July 2012.

Here are the basics: using the power of magnetic fields to reinvent the locking carabiner, the Magnetron GridLock and the Magnetron RockLock locking carabiners combine maximum security and ease of use like never before.

Magnetron RockLock

Magnetic attraction to a steel insert in the carabiner nose keeps two independent arms securely locked.
Locking arms must be individually depressed before the gate can be opened.
Once open, opposing magnetic fields repel the arms to ensure smooth and reliable gate operation.
Symmetrical design allows for easy one-handed operation (right or left).

For an in-depth look at the concept and development of Magnetron Technology, watch the Black Diamond video below.

Magnetron GridLock and the Magnetron RockLock will be in stores by July 2012.

via Climberism

Filed under: Gear News

Comments

Seth Levy (Seth)

TRAILSPACE STAFF

397 reviewer rep
963 forum posts

July 14, 2011 at 8:48 a.m. (EDT)

That's amazing. Must be rare-earth magnets. I couldn't imagine you'd want to get a credit card or an iphone within a foot of those.

whomeworry

87 reviewer rep
2,224 forum posts

July 14, 2011 at 9:53 a.m. (EDT)

More parts = unnecessary complexity IMO.

FromSagetoSnow

TOP 10 REVIEWER REVIEW CORPS

2,679 reviewer rep
1,137 forum posts

July 14, 2011 at 10:52 a.m. (EDT)

Solution in search of a problem? Do I say that too often?

Just when carabiners were dropping in price again, now we have a way to make them more expensive.

Okay, I admit it is cool and may save some falls, but my initial reaction is that I will continue to use screwgates. Maybe just because they are cheap.

Callahan

245 reviewer rep
1,469 forum posts

July 14, 2011 at 12:46 p.m. (EDT)

maybe just trying tooooo hard. It will be interesting to read some users reviews

Rick-Pittsburgh

1,633 reviewer rep
3,962 forum posts

July 14, 2011 at 1:04 p.m. (EDT)

Seth said:

That's amazing. Must be rare-earth magnets. I couldn't imagine you'd want to get a credit card or an iphone within a foot of those.

Earth magnets are used on my Hydraform bladder to attach it to my sternum strap. Pretty strong stuff. Will definitely make a compass go bonkers if held to close.

gonzan

MODERATOR REVIEW CORPS

658 reviewer rep
2,137 forum posts

July 15, 2011 at 6:20 p.m. (EDT)

Magents- How do the $&%# do they work?!?

(sorry, couldn't resist throwing in a web-meme :)

gonzan

MODERATOR REVIEW CORPS

658 reviewer rep
2,137 forum posts

July 15, 2011 at 6:24 p.m. (EDT)

I will be curious to see how they perform over time. Two more hinged parts provide two more potential points of failure, but screw gates can become severely bound in a variety of ways. These wouldn't have that problem.

Robert Rowe

0 reviewer rep
1,238 forum posts

July 15, 2011 at 9:01 p.m. (EDT)

'google' neodymium magnets. Or, better yet, 'wikipedia'.

I have them ... a "dent-ball set" (for removing dents from the bells of horns).

Also, they are replacing ceramic and ferrous metal magnets on the backs of speakers. A HUGE difference in weight. I used to be a guitar-player in rock bands. Still have a couple of those "Kustom" amplifiers (the ones with the colored, sparkly, rolled-and-pleated "Naugahyde"), that have three 15" speakers in each ... are the size of refrigerators ... and weigh A TON.

Replacing the ferrous-metal (AlNiCo) magnet speakers with neodymium magnet speakers makes a huge difference in weight.

The magnets are incredibly powerful. Printed "WARNING !" labels are on the dent-ball tools. Warns those with heart pace-makers to refrain from using them. I know of fellow band instrument repair-techs that have had their fingers smashed by these things ... caught unawares of the amazing strength and speed when they draw onto another metal substance. Has happened to me; fortunately, with a small one. Also, will screw-up a wrist-watch ... and computer chips.

Scroll-down in the wiki site, for the "Hazards" description. Deaths have occurred. Many broken bones, also.

_____________________________________________________________

~r2~

JimDoss