Ever stared into a crack, dreaming of scaling its face? That's where climbing cams come in. These ingenious little devices, perfect for crack climbing, are your secret weapon against stubborn rock formations. Forget wrestling with nuts and hexes; cams offer secure protection in varied crack sizes, from thin finger cracks to wide hand jams. With a camming device, you'll find newfound confidence and freedom to explore challenging, exciting routes, expanding your climbing capabilities and enjoyment. So grab your climbing harness and let's get climbing!
The provided list helps consumers make informed decisions by highlighting crucial factors. These factors ensure the selected items are high-performing, durable, and easy to use, ultimately leading to a superior user experience. This careful consideration ensures the recommendations are genuinely the best available options.
1. Wild Country Friends: Lightweight Cams for Trad & Alpine Climbing
Lightweight, versatile, easy placement—Friends are the new trad heroes.
For trad and alpine climbers seeking lightweight, high-performance protection, the Wild Country Friends rock climbing cams are a must-have. These revolutionary camming devices, boasting the original 13.75° camming angle for proven efficiency in placement and removal, have been redesigned for today's demanding ascents. Featuring hollow dual axles for reduced weight without compromising strength, and extendable Dyneema slings to minimize rope drag on long routes, Friends offer superior versatility. Whether you're tackling challenging cracks or navigating complex alpine terrain, these close-to-the-rock active protection devices are your reliable climbing partners, ensuring safe and efficient ascents.
These Friends climbing cams are a fantastic addition to any trad climber's rack. Users consistently praise their ease of placement, even for those new to traditional climbing, highlighting them as superior to other cams like the BD C4s in terms of versatility and weight. The double slings are a significant advantage, eliminating the need for additional quickdraws and simplifying alpine setups. Many reviewers found them to perform exceptionally well in various rock types, including sandstone, and noted their excellent grip and wide range of placements. While some users mentioned slight performance differences in specific rock types like limestone when compared to other high-end cams (e.g., Totems), the overall consensus points towards the Friends being a reliable and cost-effective alternative. The lightweight design and smooth handling further enhance the positive user experience, making them a popular choice for outdoor climbing adventures. The product's build quality is also praised, with users expressing confidence in their performance even under pressure.
- Brand: Wild Country
- Color: Multicolored
- Manufacturer: Wild Country
- Material: other
- Size: .4,.5,.75,1,2,3
- Style: 0.4 - 3
- Weight: 27.44 Ounces
- Rate: 4.8 / 119
- Lightweight design
- Original 13.75° camming angle for efficient placement and cleaning
- Extendable Dyneema sling for reduced rope drag
- Traditional rock climbing
- Alpine climbing
- Multi-pitch climbing
2. Black Diamond Camalot C4: Updated 2019 Camming Device
Reliable, versatile cams perfect for climbing adventures.
The Black Diamond Camalot C4 (2019) sets a new standard in camming devices. This redesigned classic boasts a 10% weight reduction, making it ideal for alpine climbing and multi-pitch adventures. The innovative trigger keeper (on sizes #4-#8) ensures compact racking, simplifying organization in your climbing rack. Its double-axle design maximizes the range of each cam unit, providing reliable placement in a wider variety of cracks. The durable C-Loop continuous cable stem further enhances strength and longevity, making the Camalot C4 a top choice for experienced climbers seeking superior performance and reliability in challenging rock formations.
Black Diamond Camalots consistently deliver exceptional performance for trad climbing, proving themselves a reliable and trustworthy choice for both experienced and aspiring climbers. These mechanical camming devices offer a perfect balance of versatility and strength, suitable for a wide range of placements and climbing styles. Users consistently praise their lightweight design and precise functionality, emphasizing the ease and confidence they provide during ascents. While some users noted older manufacturing dates (a factor easily mitigated by checking production dates or purchasing from local retailers for newer stock), the overall consensus highlights the superior quality and enduring performance of Black Diamond's Friends (another name for their camming devices), making them a worthwhile investment for any trad climber. Many long-time users attest to their dependability, making them the go-to choice for years of safe and successful climbs.
- Brand: BLACK DIAMOND
- Color: NO COLOR
- Manufacturer: Black Diamond
- Material: Plastic
- Size: 0.4
- Style: Modern
- Weight: 60 Grams
- Rate: 4.7 / 143
- 10% lighter design
- Innovative trigger keeper for compact racking
- Widest range per cam unit
- Traditional trad climbing
- Sport climbing with trad gear
- Multi-pitch climbing
3. Ultralight Master Cam: Metolius's Lightweight Rock Protection
Metolius Master Cams: vibrant colors, lightweight, and reliable.
The Metolius Ultralight Master Cam revolutionizes protection placement with its featherlight design. Forty percent lighter per set than traditional cams, these hand-built, Bend, Oregon-crafted beauties boast CNC-machined cam lobes and stops for unparalleled precision. Color-coded trigger assemblies, thumb pieces, and 11mm Monster Sling webbing ensure quick and confident placement, even in demanding situations. Each cam undergoes rigorous individual proof testing, guaranteeing reliable performance in critical moments—a testament to Metolius' commitment to quality and the needs of serious climbers.
The Metolius Master Cams are a game-changer for climbing. Their vibrant, color-coded lobes instantly identify the correct cam size, eliminating guesswork and saving precious time on the crag. Climbers consistently praise their lightweight design and superior quality, often finding themselves reaching for the Master Cams over other leading brands like the Black Diamond C4s. The intuitive design makes them remarkably easy to use, providing reliable protection and peace of mind on even the most challenging climbs. While one user experienced a missing cam in their shipment (an isolated incident), the overwhelmingly positive feedback speaks volumes about the exceptional performance and overall satisfaction provided by the Metolius Master Cam system.
- Brand: Metolius
- Color: Purple
- Manufacturer: Metolius
- Size: #0
- Weight: 0.1 Pounds
- Rate: 4.5 / 24
- 40% lighter than conventional cams
- Color-coded for easy identification
- CNC machined for superior precision
- Lightweight backpacking and mountaineering
- Sport climbing where weight is a factor
- Traditional climbing in areas requiring many cams
4. Wild Country Zero Friends: Lightweight Cams for Trad/Alpine Climbing
Conquer challenging trad and alpine climbs with the Wild Country Offset Zero Friends, the lightest camming device in its class. Its revolutionary 17.6° camming angle and narrow 28.1mm head allow for secure placements even in shallow cracks, minimizing rope drag thanks to its extendable Dyneema sling. Built with a strong steel cable protected by a flexible spring for reliable performance in horizontal cracks, the Zero Friend boasts a 5kN strength rating, yet weighs only 1.8oz (51g). This size 0.1 cam, with its 8.5-13.2mm range, is the perfect addition to any climber's rack, significantly enhancing protection and minimizing weight.
The Wild Country Zero Camming Device is a fantastic addition to any climber's rack. Its compact size, perfect for those teeny-tiny cracks and seams often overlooked, makes it incredibly versatile. Users praised its smooth, clean action, though noting a slightly stiffer pull than a Z4. The double sling is a particularly welcome feature, expanding placement options in pockets and smaller features. From sizes 0.1 to 0.75 (easily expanded with doubles), these cams performed flawlessly at Eldo (Eldorado Canyon State Park), earning high praise as "good friends indeed!" The build quality is excellent, matching the product image precisely. Overall, this small but mighty cam is a valuable asset for any climber looking to expand their protection options.
- Brand: Wild Country
- Color: Red
- Manufacturer: Wild Country
- Size: 0.1
- Style: 0.1
- Weight: 1.8 Ounces
- Rate: 4.9 / 15
- Lightweight design
- Narrowest cam head for shallow placements
- Extendable Dyneema sling for reduced rope drag
- Trad climbing in steep, shallow cracks
- Alpine climbing where weight savings are crucial
- Sport climbing with trad gear for extra protection
5. Wild Country Zero Friends: Lightweight Cams for Trad & Alpine Climbing
Conquer challenging trad and alpine climbs with the Wild Country Zero Friends, ultralight camming devices engineered for exceptional placement. Their narrowest-on-the-market head, featuring a unique 17.6° camming angle, effortlessly fits into even the most stubborn, non-parallel cracks. The extendable Dyneema sling minimizes rope drag, while a robust steel cable ensures secure placements, even under downward pressure. Weighing just 1.7oz (49g), these compact cams (0.1-0.2 sizes, 11.2-13.2mm range) maximize protection with minimal weight, allowing you to go further and explore more challenging routes. The offset lobes significantly enhance placement ease in demanding cracks, making the Zero Friends an indispensable asset for any serious climber.
- Brand: Wild Country
- Color: Red/Yellow
- Manufacturer: Wild Country
- Size: 0.1/0.2
- Style: 0.1/0.2
- Weight: 1.7 Ounces
- Ultralight design
- Narrowest head for easier placement in shallow cracks
- Extendable Dyneema sling to reduce rope drag
- Trad climbing in tight, shallow cracks
- Alpine climbing where weight is critical
- Sport climbing with runout sections requiring lightweight protection