The Grivel Twin Gate Omega

Recently on show at Kendal’s Outdoor Retail Show was a piece of climbing gear its makers claim will revolutionise a vital item in cragrats’ gear bag.

Grivel’s new Twin Gate carabiner is intended to replace both conventional screw-gate models and ordinary snap-link carabiners to carry a climber’s rack.

The new Grivel design has, as you would imagine from the name, two spring-loaded gates, hinged at opposite ends. The Italian brand says this makes them quicker to use and more secure, with no risk of a screw gate being undone as rope runs through, or of the gate being snapped open while carrying vital and expensive climbing runners and other rack items.

One gate opens outwards and the second one inwards, and the range will retail at between £9 and £17.

The Omega, pictured here, will sell at £12.

Sister company Scarpa is continuing to expand its range of boots featuring the Sock Fit system developed with speed mountaineer Ueli Steck.

Scarpa Marmolada

The system consists of a Schoeller fabric tongue allied with an ankle-flex zone and is, according to Scarpa, being ‘taken down the mountain’. Starting with its Rebel series of boots, the Sock Fit range will eventually encompass trail shoes and all the range between.

The Marmolada is an Italian-made boot aimed at scramblers and via ferrata users. It is made from suede and synthetic uppers, and tips the scales at a lightweight 1,060g a pair for size 42.

It features and OutDry membrane and will retail at £200, appearing in the shops in spring 2015.