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Big cams

Original Post
Gwut · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 80

What are the best big cams to buy that arn't black diamoind, I am talking in the 4-4.5 range.

Siberia · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 30
Gwut · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 80

not that big, does any one even make big ones excpt BD?

Alphonse Furlone · · Winter Park · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 0

wild country friends 5 & 6

Rob WardenSpaceLizard · · las Vegans, the cosmic void · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 130

I just tried to order one from Exclaiber for the shop i work at...no dice the #6 Tech friend is not even in stock with the distributor...wired bliss may still be in the process of making some big cams

GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385

tri-CAMS!

mattm · · TX · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,885

Why not BD? Frankly, I've never understood the love of the WC #5 and #6. I've had both mind you. What I've witnessed in my grovels in the "wide" are the WC, being single axel, have a tendency to have one side of the cams invert. They just seem to not want to "stay put" in the same way as a dual axel BD. This is especially true when the rope runs on the cam or other general "interference" common with wide grovels. It could certainly be user error of course.
I may have to go re-vist the wide and see if it still holds true with me...

Gwut · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 80
John Marsella wrote: I have a WC #5 and a BD #6. The WC feels "more solid" at more open positions than the BD, but my gripe is that, unless you hold the WC in the correct orientation (ie, with the outside lobes toward your hand) the inside lobes hit my knuckles. I've had the WC try to walk funny while shoving it along, but I chalked that up to user error.
BD cams are over rated, and not cheap, what about Lucky are they making any thing big?
Allen Corneau · · Houston, TX · Joined May 2008 · Points: 80
John Wilder wrote: Metolius makes the Supercam that may go to roughly BD 4, but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Large Supercam range is 68mm to 105mm and the #4 C4 is 66mm to 114mm, so roughly the same.

A #6 DMM Dragon cam is nearly the same as the C4 (68-114mm) and probably more available than the WC's.
Garret Nuzzo Jones · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 1,436
Allen Corneau wrote: Large Supercam range is 68mm to 105mm and the #4 C4 is 66mm to 114mm, so roughly the same. A #6 DMM Dragon cam is nearly the same as the C4 (68-114mm) and probably more available than the WC's.
The #6 dragon cam is pretty much a #4 camalot but I really didn't like the fact that it's stem is so short. Makes it difficult to handle IMO.
Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265
Gwut wrote:BD cams are over rated..
LOL. That must be why so many companies have successfully tried to make larger cams.
Andrew Mayer · · Driggs, ID · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 131

+1 to some of the weaknesses of WC 5 and 6 Matt and John addressed (tendency of the single axle to invert, especially when the rope runs over the cam and hitting your knuckles as you retract the trigger unless you hold it just right.

I've only used a WC 6 and BD c4 #5 and the old green #5 and my current feelings are that the BD are better.

Could anyone elaborate on advantages of the WC 5 and 6 over BD in addition to John's comment about them "feeling more solid" when tipped out?

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

How much are you looking to spend? I have a never-been-racked BD #5 (pre C4) for $75 + shipping. Stated range: 107 - 178 mm (4.2 - 7.0 inches)

patto · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 25
Andrew Mayer wrote:Could anyone elaborate on advantages of the WC 5 and 6 over BD in addition to John's comment about them "feeling more solid" when tipped out?
WC Friends are wider and have a better (smaller) camming angle and so grip better. That said on cams this size you are normally not placing them in slick cracks.
Peter Franzen · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,730

The large Supercam is a fantastic piece of gear.

David Pneuman · · All Around Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 0

Buy the BD's
What are you really going to want when you get a little over your head ?

Raul P · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 35

+1 on the super cams. I love them, I just wish they made them bigger.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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