Source for good quality mini biners

Zpacks
Ultralight Designs

Arrowhead Equipment and Jacks R Better also have them for about $4/pair.

Adam

If you don't need a carabiner specifically the nite-ize biners hold far more than their rated weighting and are really high quality (along with easy to find). I think MLD, before switching to the superfly biner, said the #1 size could hold 50lbs and showed no signs of wear (aka deformation) under this load.

Otherwise the sources above will fit the bill.

Maybe I'm just unlucky but I used a small Nite-ize biner for a few months as a keychain and I lost count of how many times I pulled it out of my pocket and a key ring or Photon light had somehow slipped out and was still in my pocket. Maybe the larger ones have stronger gates but I've switched to the mini-biners from Lawson and haven't have anything mysteriously detach. FWIW, MLD claims the mini-biners have a breaking strength of 150 lbs.

Adam

Adam, that's probably the usage scenario. Keys in pockets get jangled around a lot and contorted into all sorts of weird shapes that could easily open any spring closure. The Nite-ize probably isn't well suited to this task (weak spring mechanism and a shape that lends itself to being hooked in a way that pressures the gate). A standard carabiner shape is definitely better suited since it's harder for the keyrings to put direct pressure on a gate.

Good to know though should I ever update my key system.

Dean,

Just checked out what Lawson was selling, look pretty close to the same as these mini wire gate biners that I sell. Slight difference in the weight/size specs, but pretty close.

http://www.thegearhouse.com/Ultralight-Backpacking/Mini-Wiregate-Carabiners.html

Sold individually or in a 10 pack.

"Maybe I'm just unlucky but I used a small Nite-ize biner for a few months as a keychain and I lost count of how many times I pulled it out of my pocket and a key ring or Photon light had somehow slipped out and was still in my pocket."

Same problem here, it is not a design that works well in pockets or purses.

Instead of using a mini with a gate, try a mini with a screw together mechanism. Worked my whole pct hike keeping my phone/knife attached to me. Still use the same one on my phone so if I leave it in my lap and get out of te truck, it doesn't slam the ground. Still use te same z line too:)