By: Morgan Cvetkovic-Jones

With summer and the outdoor climbing season fast approaching, you might be planning to make your debut on real rock, taking the skills you’ve learnt at the gym to your local crags or boulders. In this mini-series we’ll be looking at some of the kit you’ll need to get started climbing outside. First up is sport climbing quickdraws, the things you’ll be relying on to protect you in the case of a fall at a pre-bolted crag or wall. Below we’ll suggest our top 5 picks (in no particular order) for your first set of sport climbing quickdraws, taking price and quality into account. 

But, before we press on with our suggestions, why not check out our quickdraw buying guide if you’re unsure on what type of quickdraw you’ll need and why. 

1. Wild Country Session

The cheapest option available, the Wild Country Session is a fantastic choice for your first set of quickdraws being specifically engineered for optimal sport climbing performance with two streamlined, solid gate carabiners.

Pros: 

• Solid gate carabiners with a keylock nose design that are super durable and won’t snag when unclipping.
• Colour differentiated carabiners for ease of use.
• Great strength to weight ratio.
• BetastickEVO compatible. 

Cons:

• Sling could be wider for better handling.

2. Black Diamond HotForge Hybrid

This eye catching draw from Black Diamond hybridises their HotForge and HotWire offerings into the most versatile package on the market, combining the durability of a solid, bolt end gate with the lightweight clippability of a wire gate.

Pros:

• The HotForge keylock carabiner on top will be durable against the bolt and won’t snag on your harness thanks to its keylock design.
• Premium Black Diamond quality means the draws are a delight to use.
• Coloured bottom HotWire carabiner for visual target whilst climbing.
• Versatility. Could easily be used whilst trad climbing too.
• BetastickEVO compatible.

Cons:

• Despite the hybrid design, the HotForge Hybrid is still a bit weighty for a trad climbing draw at 99g per draw.
• Sling could be wider for better handling.

3. Edelrid Bulletproof

The Edelrid Bulletproof is exactly what it says on the tin, the most durable quickdraw that money can buy. Oozing quality, the Bulletproof consists of two keylock, solid gate carabiners for streamlined sport climbing with reinforcements for sustained use. The Bulletproof, if not the best choice for a full set, is an ideal addition to your quickdraw collection to specifically target those points on a route (like anchors) that will experience the most wear and tear. 

Pros:

• The most durable, solid gate biners on the market with a steel insert in the lower, rope clipping carabiner to prevent premature wear from the rope.
• Colour differentiated carabiners for ease of use.
• Super strong and wide sling which is great to handle and use.
• Keylock carabiners which eliminate any snagging on harnesses or gear.
• BetastickEVO compatible.

Cons:

• One of the heavier draws out there at 118g.
• Pricey.

4. Mammut 5er Crag Indicator Wire Express

Combining reliable performance with an impressive price tag, the Crag Indicator’s are the best bang for your buck quickdraw around.Featuring the familiar hybrid design of wire and solid gates, the Crag Indicator is distinctive thanks to its Indicator Technology.

Pros:

• Indicator Technology: In the event of critical damage to the Crag Indicator’s sling, red core fibres will show, informing you that it’s time to replace the sling.
• The solid keylock carabiner at the top of the draw will be durable against the bolt and won’t snag on your harness.
• Colour differentiated carabiners for ease of use.
• BetastickEVO compatible.

Cons:

• Sling could be wider for better handling.
• Slightly heavy compared to its hybrid competition at 106g per draw.

5. Petzl Spirit Express 

True to Petzl’s renowned reputation, the Spirit Express is, in our opinion, the best overall sport climbing quickdraw on sale today. Precisely designed for sport climbing with two solid gates connected by a chunky sling, the Spirit comes packed full of Petzl quality.

Pros:

• Two solid gate, keylock carabiners that don’t just clip like a dream but will stand up to tonnes of abuse.
• Keylock biners won’t snag on your harness or gear.
• Colour differentiated carabiners for ease of use.
• Durable, chunky sling that feels great in the hand.
• Lightweight at 93g per draw.
• Premium Petzl quality.
• BetastickEVO compatible.

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not as versatile as some hybrid offerings.

Click here to see our full range of Quickdraws