Black Diamond Hotforge Hybrid Quickdraw

Curated from 62 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: February 9, 2025

Black Diamond Hotforge Hybrid Quickdraw

Brand: Black Diamond
Price: $19
Snoop Score:
1.0
Sentiment
0.0
Popularity
0.0
Technical
2.4

Snoop's Take

The Black Diamond Equipment Hotforge Hybrid Quickdraw is designed for rock climbing, featuring a unique combination of a HotForge carabiner on top and a redesigned HotWire wiregate on the bottom. This quickdraw aims to provide climbers with a reliable tool for securing themselves on routes while offering a colored bottom carabiner for visual targeting. However, user feedback reveals significant concerns regarding safety, particularly with gate failure under load. One user notes, "So don't tie directly tie into quick draws because if you fall it will likely snap and break," highlighting the risks associated with improper use. Additionally, the feedback points to an odd failure mechanism when used improperly, emphasizing that static gear should never be used with high fall factors, suggesting a cautious approach to its application. Considering the feedback from climbers, this product may not be recommended for those who prioritize safety in their climbing gear. Potential buyers should weigh the risks highlighted by users against their own climbing needs before making a decision.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Quickdraws

The carabiner’s gate broke in a fall.

Insightful Chatter

So don't tie directly tie into quick draws because if you fall it will likely snap and break.

Negative Feedback
Product
1.0
Black Diamond Hotforge Hybrid Quickdraw
Sport Climbing
1 / 10
Trad Climbing
1 / 10
Gym and Indoor Climbing
1 / 10
Multi-Pitch & Alpine
1 / 10
See how this compares to all Quickdraws

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Gate failure under load
So don't tie directly tie into quick draws because if you fall it will likely snap and break.
I get there’s the whole ‘wire is for trad, solid for sport’, but is it really that big of a deal?
Odd failure mechanism when used improperly
Static gear - as for quickdraws - must never be used with fall factor 1 or 2.
it's fine to do, but never, ever climb above the fixed pro when doing so as a fall could result in major damage to you or the static gear.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion about climbing equipment recommendations and safety features
Quickdraw brand recommendation
Any major brand is fine and there isn't any real difference.
All of them have to pass a certification, choose a good brand.
Only one I wouldn’t recommend is anything with the thin dogbone because these ones get easy to backclip for beginners for some reason.
Discussion about wire vs solid gates for climbing
No, it's not a big deal.
Discussion about the advantages of keylock gate
Keylock. Keylock. Keylock.
Preference for keylock design
Keylock, Keylock, Keylock.
Ended up going with the all keylock set and this just reaffirmed my decision so thanks!
Notchless design preferred for easier cleaning on overhangs
since youve indicated below youre mainly doing sport
You mean notchless on the bolt side?
yes ... bolt side

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Discussion about climbing safety practices
Bought some Black Diamond LiteWire quickdraws, what is the manual trying to say here?
Discussion about preferences between wiregate and solid gate quickdraws
I prefer solid gate because they feel like the open smoother to me, but it really doesn’t matter.
Gotcha, didn’t know if wiregate is easier to clip or vice versa.
Comparisons between different brands of quickdraws
they're not the world's lightest draws, but they're super durable, and really easy to clip.
I think the gate is smoother on the Djinns but that could be totally subjective.
I like the djinn better, I find them easier to clip.
Discussion on climbing techniques and equipment usage
True but nobody takes big fat nylon quickdraws like the one described here ice climbing :)
no. Alpine draws have less of a use for ice climbing because usually your lines are straighter and you usually climb with double ropes.
Lightweight dynema and wiregate Alpine draws for ice, mixed, and alpine climbing.
Comparison of wiregates vs solid gates
They have taken a beating and are really easy to clip and are light weight.
Discussion about comparing quickdraws
If you like the livewires id say you give wild country wildwires a shot as well, they're on sale at bentgate right now.
Preference for longer slings (17cm) and comparisons to Petzl Spirit Express
17cm slings are nicer imo. and the petzl spirit express is the best, but the black diamond positrons will work fine!
Advice on purchasing quickdraws based on price and brand preferences
Buy whatever is cheapest or buy petzl spirits. I went with cheap, my friend went with spirits.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about climbing route and equipment failure
The carabiner’s gate broke in a fall.
Funky is putting it lightly.
Black Diamond Gear Myths: To Oppose or Not to Oppose Your Quickdraws Biners.
With the gates facing the same direction, if you pay attention to which side of the bolt you are climbing on, you can place the draw so that only the spines of the biners will be against the rock.
General climbing safety practices
help/review with buying quick draws Hi everyone thanks to u/ominoregg and the bananafingers deal post, i'm looking into the Black Diamond HotWire Quickdraws and i was wondering what peoples views were on them?
Discussion about replacing old webbing on quickdraws
Replacing webbing on quickdraws
People tend to use thicker dogbones for sport as they quite often end up pulling on them when redpointing routes, thin and light ones for trad as the gear is less likely to be used to pull on.
Only use slings for alpine/extendable quickdraws
Yes, runners like the ones you linked will work fine.
Discussion about quickdraw carabiner replacement
Can you put different carabiners in a quickdraw (aka swap them out for new ones)?
you can replace the carabiners on a quickdraw usually without issue, unless the rubber band that secures the rope side biner is too tight for the spine of the new biner to fit through.
Discussion about specific brands of quickdraws
thanks! I was also eyeing up the Spirits as well but I don't know if he'd prefer the bent or straight gates
Concerns about Black Diamond's company reliability and product failures
The lack of email response and disappearance of live people on phones is frustrating as well.
when couldn't admit to causing actual deaths, I'll pass on their stuff.
I think the release buttons were defective.
Discussion about recall for carabiners and quickdraws
Black Diamond is issuing a voluntary recall for inspection of carabiners/quickdraws and Nylon Runners.
Discussion on transitioning from sport to trad climbing
Are you thinking of transitioning to trad eventually?

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