The Kootenay Carabiner was designed to be the perfect blend of function and form. Aimed at EDC enthusiasts, preppers, and outdoor enthusiasts who require a strong carabineer for a variety of situations. I've been using carabineers for decades for a variety of tasks, mainly to carry my keys. The Bison Designs carbon fiber carabineer has been my go to for over a decade, and it's still going strong. I've decided to give it a much needed break and check out the Kootenay to see what is all about.
The Kootenay features stone tumbled titanium for strength and weight reduction. Titanium seems to be all the buzz, regardless of what decade we're in. It's popular because it has strength like steel but lightweight like aluminum. The Kootenay is 3.16 inches in length, 1.42 inches wide, and comes in at a mere 30g. What makes this carabineer unique is it's split-compartment. I'm used to the regular carabiner shape, and this design is radically different. This mountain silhouette shape houses the double-zone safety design which prevents items from moving around like a standard carabineer. This split compartment is cool because it allows whatever I put in the bottom zone to stay there and not move to the top. The gate on the Kootenay is just as original as the design, not relying on previous designs. The whole package is very different and very well thought out.
The small-ish top gate can be tricky getting on a belt loop. But I'm super used to a regular carabineer, and getting used to the way this operates and clips. If your looking to find another way to carry the Kootenay it has a pocket clip. A pocket clip on a carabineer? Absolutely! Works really good too, promotional photos shows it clipped with the keys facing outward. But I much prefer using the clip in a traditional way and keep my keys in my pocket.
The Kootenay is a one of a kind carabineer that merges modern material and design with utility. The whole thing screams different, and it has gathered some attention while wearing it. The folks at Pichi have really created something that's functionally beautiful. If your looking for a new carabineer and want something completely non-traditional check out the Kootenay.
