ISC Big Dan Steel Carabiner

The ISC Big Dan steel carabiner is a large connector with a triple-action auto-locking gate. Its size and wide opening make it easy to clip around bulky hardware, rigging rings or thick slings.

Why a big steel carabiner

Sometimes a standard carabiner just will not fit around what you need to clip: a big rigging ring, a thick sling, or two pieces of hardware at once. The Big Dan has the room, and steel stands up to the abrasion and knocks that come with rigging and anchor work.

The triple-action gate locks itself when it closes, so you are not relying on remembering to screw a sleeve down.

Crews often use it at anchors and on rigging setups, where they need to clip a large ring, a thick sling or a bundle of hardware without fighting for space. It is heavier than an aluminum carabiner, so most climbers keep it on the rigging rack rather than on the saddle.

Use and care

Load it along the spine, gate closed and locked. Large carabiners can be more prone to cross-loading if something sits in the nose, so check orientation when it is under load. Check the strength markings on the carabiner match what your system needs.

Inspect for cracks, burrs and gate function, and retire after a big fall or damage. Life-support use requires training and use per ANSI Z133 and ISC's instructions. Browse other auto-locking carabiners.

Steel resists grooving from rope and wear from sling contact better than aluminum, so a Big Dan used on rigging usually outlasts a lighter connector in the same job.