The top of a quickdraw is probably a good application for this product. For a bear bag it’s a heaviweight solution. BPL’s Ursalite biners are much lighter and smaller.
For climbing applications it is essential to be aware that unlike the Trango Superfly, this is not a full size biner. To reduce weight it has a seriously compromised gate opening and interior volume. It will not clip as many items simultaneously as a standard full sized biner and cannot accomodate all of the usual rope clipping techniques for this reason. Multi-use and versatility are essential properties of backcountry wilderness climbing tools where weight is critical. Consequently the performance limitations created by this ultra-lightweight design may ironically make it unsuitable for many lightweight applications.
I recently re-racked with a purchase of 40 Wild Country Helium biners. At 33 grams per unit the full rack would weigh 7oz. more than the Nanos. However, the Helium is full sized and hooded allowing gear to be removed easily without catching on the interior “hook” found on most biners. Speed and ease of clip/unclipping alone is worth the 7oz.(or less weight penalty if carrying fewer than 40) and the versatility of a full sized unit in unexpected and rescue situations is massive.
In conclusion: The Nanowires are nifty little ultralight tools, but keep in mind their limitations; play with them thoroughly in a wide variety of applications before you buy a full rack or take them into a remote, committed setting. These are specialized units – not general purpose carabiners.
Cheers, Al
