Built for the Paddle Shaft, Not the PFD (Buoyancy Aid)
The Palm Wire Gate Karabiner is a wide-gate, non-locking karabiner designed for one specific job: clipping quickly onto a paddle shaft, tow line or floating anchor point — not for wearing on a PFD or harness as a primary rescue connector. That's a genuine, deliberate design choice, not a missing feature. Where Palm's locking karabiners (Autolock, Screw Gate) are built for secure attachment on a rescue harness, the Wire Gate is built for speed: one-handed, no mechanism to jam or fumble with cold, wet hands.
A Wide 35mm Gate for Paddle, Tow & Floating-Anchor Use
The 35mm gate opening is sized specifically to clip straight over a typical paddle shaft or boat toggle in one motion — a standard climbing-width gate simply won't fit. In a whitewater or touring rescue kit, that makes it the go-to karabiner for attaching a paddle to a tow line, clipping into a towline system on the bow of a kayak, or rigging a floating anchor. It pairs naturally with a throw line or tow belt already in your kit.
22kN Rated, UIAA Approved
The karabiner is rated to 22kN on the major axis (gate closed, correctly loaded), 8kN on the minor axis, and 7kN with the gate open — kN is a unit of force, roughly 225lbs per kN, and the drop from 22kN to 7kN with the gate open is exactly why correct loading matters in how it's clipped in use. It carries UIAA approval. It's built from anodised aluminium and is explicitly not intended for climbing or mountaineering use.
Who It's For — and What It's Not For
This is the right karabiner for a whitewater or touring paddler building out a tow/rescue kit alongside a locking karabiner, or a coach equipping a kit bag with the full Palm karabiner set. It is not a substitute for a locking karabiner worn on a PFD or rescue harness — for that job, choose the Palm Autolock or Palm Screw Gate karabiner instead, where a secure, non-snagging connection matters more than speed of use.
Ordering & Delivery
The Wire Gate Karabiner is priced at the entry point of Palm's karabiner range. As a small accessory it ships via standard tracked parcel delivery rather than the van service used for boats — see our Delivery Information page for current UK mainland and remote-area pricing and timescales, and our Returns page for our returns policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a wire gate karabiner used for in kayaking?
A wire gate karabiner is a wide-opening, non-locking karabiner used to clip onto a paddle shaft, secure a tow line, or rig a floating anchor point — not as a primary rescue connector worn on a PFD. Its large 35mm gate lets you clip it quickly over gear one-handed, which is exactly what a fast-moving rescue situation demands.
Should I clip a wire gate karabiner to my PFD as my main rescue connector?
No — for a PFD-worn rescue connection, choose a locking karabiner such as the Palm Autolock or Palm Screw Gate instead. A non-locking wire gate karabiner's open gate can snag or release under load, so it's built for paddle-shaft, tow and anchor use, not as your primary attachment point on a rescue harness.
What's the difference between a wire gate and an autolock karabiner?
A wire gate karabiner has no locking mechanism, so it's faster to clip and unclip one-handed — ideal for paddle-shaft and towline use. An autolock karabiner locks shut automatically, giving a more secure connection for wear on a PFD or rescue harness, at the cost of a slightly slower one-handed action.
Why does this karabiner have such a wide 35mm gate opening?
The 35mm gate is sized to open wide enough to clip directly over a paddle shaft or boat toggle in one motion, rather than needing a separate loop or sling — a narrower gate, like those on most climbing karabiners, won't fit typical paddle shaft diameters.
How is a karabiner used to tow a kayak or create a floating anchor?
In a typical tow setup, the wire gate karabiner clips a tow line or tow belt to the bow toggle of the kayak being towed; the same wide gate makes it quick to clip onto a rope, sling or paddle float to improvise a floating anchor point. Exact rigging varies by technique and situation, so this is best learned from a qualified whitewater or rescue instructor rather than from a product page alone.