QuickDraw

QuickDraw is also a graphics software library made by Apple Computer.

Two quickdraws. The upper quickdraw has a solid bent gate and the lower quickdraw has a wire gate.

Quickdraws (also known as runners) are used by rock climbers to attach rope to bolt anchors or chocks. They allow the rope to run through freely.

Quickdraws consist of two snapgate carabiners connected by a short, pre-sewn loop of webbing. This webbing can be of nearly any length, depending on the application. A longer runner is useful for keeping the rope attached to the quickdraw from rubbing against rock. The snapgate carabiners are not necessarily identical. Usually, one will have a straight gate and the other will have a bent gate. The bent gate carabiner is always attached to the rope. This reduces wear on the rope by avoiding rubbing it over any dents or imperfections acquired by the other carabiner during its normal use, while facilitating easy attachment to the rope.

Quickdraws can be home-made or manufactured. Quickdraws can feature a wide variety of different carabiners, such as wire-gate carabiners and bent-gate carabiners, for specific applications and advantages. These specialized carabiners can be mixed and matched to either end of the quickdraw to meet any specific situation.

Some of the possible options are:

Tube-gate carabiner: This is the standard tube-shaped gate most common in a carabiner. Great for all-around performance and useful in nearly any application. However, they are heavier.
Wire-gate carabiner: Wire-gate carabiners are significantly lighter and offer similar or equal strength and performance to a standard carabiner with a tube-gate. Some may find a psychological issue with using wire-gate carabiners, however, as they look flimsy.
Straight-gate carabiner: The standard gate for a carabiner, which will work for nearly every application. It is generally utilized for the carabiner intended to be attached to a bolt, or protection.
Bent-gate carabiner: The bent-gate is intended to be the carabiner used to clip the rope to, and offers an advantage when attempting to do so.

Every manufacturer has a variety of different quickdraws to choose from, and many different styles of carabiner if you wish to create your own quickdraws. Some are lighter, some are stronger, and some offer enhancements in grip, maneuverability, or speed.

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