Petzl Caritool

Using this for shorter screws and Petzl Ice flutes for long seems to be the ideal combo. The ability to stack screws on the top is great and the whole thing is much more sturdy than the BD equivalent. The gate is stiff enough to stop random stuff getting clipped to it but retrieving anything off it is easy. Useful bit of kit that would be easy to dismiss as pointless but really saves allot of fiddling about with biners.

The Petzl Caritool was bought for 2 uses. The first was to rack screws and pegs (pitons) quickly and easily and without taking up room on my harness. The second use was to clip in my ice axes during an abseil etc. It's perfect for the first use and using the specific slots on my Petzl Corax (I think it would work well with most harnesses)helps it stand out stiff to make clipping and unclipping so simple. All in all I find it so easy to rack gear that I think I might use it all year round for racking gear. Cons: Unfortunately it's not big enough for the second use as it will only really fit one ice axe for most models of axe. If that's what you want it for go for the larger version Caritool.

The Caritool is nice lightweight way to organise yourself and your kit and keep things out of the way but close at hand. I especially like the internal clip that holds it secure on a harness or belt, stopping it swinging around the way a standard krab inevitably does. Some things look like novelty bits of kit or token efforts at solving a problem that didn't really exist in the first place, but this definitely isn't one of those , it's a well designed item that makes life easier at a minimal weight penalty. You'll wonder how you ever lived without one, I know I do.

Unlike the other people who have reviewed this product, I did not buy the Petzl Charlet Caritool specifically for ice climbing. I bought it for extra space on my harness for trad, bouldering and (when it gets warmer) for DWS use. The Petzl Charlet Caritool fits fine on my harness (DMM Renegade) and provides me with even more space which I use for quickdraws - allowing easier access to all the other pro I feel the need to take on long and new pitches. For bouldering, I simply use it to carry my chalk bag. It is incredibly light, strong enough for the task and you do not have to worry about hurting yourself falling on it! For the summer, I intend to take it out over the water. Here its lightness and single metal part make it useful. However, the main safety feature that I have seen from other reviews of this product (specifically arborists) is that if something you are carrying in it gets snagged, say underwater, 5kg force to break it means you won't drown - always a plus! In comparison to the Black Diamond Ice Clipper, it is slightly cheaper, less bulky in design and a nicer colour. Importantly the gate is longer and still catches when under a little tension (this product will flex if you pull on it or put a lot in it). Overall I am very happy with the pair I ordered from Facewest.

I bought this caritool to get more space on the harness for cams and other rock protection. Yet to buy my first ice-screw. I think this one is better then the competing product, because it slips onto the slot more firmly thanks to that extra tongue.