Even if you couldn't identify one by name, you'd probably recognize a carabiner if you saw one.  And chances are, you see a lot of them. 

A carabiner is a metal loop with a screwed or sprung gate.  They come in several shapes and sizes, and are designed for the purpose of quickly connecting components together, like a chain-link.  A carabiner differs from a chain-link though in that a carabiner can easily be unclipped/unhooked and disconnected.

Carabiners are most commonly used in sports which require the use of ropes, such as rock climbing and sailing.  They are also used in some industrial applications.  They are small and lightweight, and are used to make quick links.  Depending on what type they are, they can actually bear a tremendous amount of weight.  For example, ones used in rock climbing must be able to bear hundreds of pounds in order to hold the climber.

Today, carabiners are everywhere.  A decade ago, the only people who knew what one was were extreme sportsmen and industrial workers.  These days even young children clip carabiners to backpacks, and adults dangle keys from them.  They have become a fashion statement, and are now mass produced in non-weight bearing versions for the purposes of advertising.

Many businesses have cashed in on the public's fascination with these small clips by having them embossed with their business' logos and giving them away as promotional gifts.  In addition to being trendy, they make great promotional gifts because:

* They're used by people of all ages.  A logo-embossed coffee mug might only appeal to a small segment of the population.  Carabiners, on the other hand, are appreciated by children and adults alike.

* They're useful and practical.  They can be used to link almost anything to anything.  As already mentioned, they are commonly used as a component of a keychain, or the link itself may be used to hold keys.  Hikers use them to carry water bottles and other gear.  They are frequently used to clip an MP3 player or cell phone to a belt.  The possible uses for carabiners are virtually limitless.

* They're decorative.  As already hinted at, carabiners are contemporary and fashionable.  Teenagers often clip them on for purely decorative reasons.

* They're very portable.  Compare the idea of hauling 500 promotional mugs to a trade show to transporting 500 carabiners.  They're much easier to travel with and to hand out liberally to potential customers.

* They're inexpensive.  Promotional-type carabiners with an embossed business logo are affordable and diverse.  Carabiner products include umbrellas, pens, cell phone cases, calculators, compasses, first aid kits, and a host of other items.

Still not sure about using them as promotional gifts?  The next time you go for a walk, look around you.  See how many carabiners you can count.  Those could be your walking advertisements.  For such a little investment, you may find yourself with a big return.