Oval carabiners hold a load centered between the spine and the gate. This is a compromise which results in a slightly weaker carabiner than a D-shape but gives the user more flexibility. Because an oval carabiner is symmetrical it doesn’t require the user to rotate it for the best orientation. This feature is very useful in tree climbing applications. An oval carabiner is also a great choice when webbing is used since the centered design suffers less strength reduction than a d-shape carabiner.