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New aliens wires popping

Original Post
Joshua Larkin · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

So my partner got the new grey alien for his birthday and squeezed the trigger and popped one of the wires from the lobe. Super bummer. Has anyone else had this problem? Did he just get a freak cam?

Colin Porter · · Stockholm, SE · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 5

Were they the Alien Evolutions? If so, yes, I've heard they break/ some have arrived broken. Fixe is making the original Aliens and distributing the Alien Evolutions, manufactured by someone else.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
Colin Porter wrote:Were they the Alien Evolutions? If so, yes, I've head they break/ some have arrived broken. Fixe is making the original Aliens and distributing the Alien Evolutions, manufactured by someone else.
Fixe doesent actually manufacturer anything as far as I am aware. Fixe USA, or Fixe Hardware, whichever name you prefer, is a retailer ran mostly by one person. The real manufacturer is Fixe-Faders, which is located in Spain. Most people confuse the two because they have similar names, but they are two separate companies (albeit related in that Fixe USA is the only main US distributor for Fixe-Faders).

Here is the original story behind Fixe: "Fixehardware is a company run by rock climbers. The initial concept for the company took place while climbing the Lotus Flower Tower in Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimables in 1992. Over dinner with some neighboring Spanish climbers in the Cirques Fairy Meadows I introduced the idea of introducing this high quality product to the US market. A few months later my new Spanish partner and I shook hands at my father’s dining room table in Huntington Beach California and Fixehardware was in business. The first orders were shipped to customers from my father’s garage."
Jim Titt · · Germany · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 490

The company is actually called Tech Rock S.L.

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

Dang, Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water.

bernard wolfe · · birmingham, al · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 265

I didn't realize the Alien Evolutions were purchasable currently. The Fixe USA website suggests otherwise.

Joshua Larkin · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

I bought the red alien evo from neptunes the day after they arrived a few weeks back. I've plugged it like 5 times and used it in an anchor once and no problems. I mean the cam is super light and flexy, so I'm psyched to put it on my rack. After what happened to my partners grey piece, I'm a little cautious. I'm emailing the guys at techrock.es right now asking what's up. I'll get back with the response.

M17 · · New York · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 20

That's beat. I wanted to pick up a few of these, but I've been holding off. Please let us know.

bernard wolfe · · birmingham, al · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 265

Same here.....was thinking of maybe buying a set. I've never owned an Aliens.

And perhaps the product will get a magazine review or be featured in a new gear review. If so and anybody catches it, please alert

Steloz · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 0

Does anyone know if they will still continue to sell the regular aliens?

Brasky · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 0

Totem Basic Better Quality Same Price

Jeff Gicklhorn · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2008 · Points: 295

+1 for the Totems, pretty impeccable quality control for both the standard Totems and Totem basics

M17 · · New York · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 20

Agree on the Totem cam quality, I've a set of Totem cams and they are fantastic. I've regularly heard Totem Basics>Fixe Aliens. Totem Basics don't go down to the smallest size, but perhaps I'll just throw in some X4s. I wanted to like the new Fixe ones esp. the double slings. I'm not in a huge rush so I'll wait it out a bit longer.

bernard wolfe · · birmingham, al · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 265

In my 4-5 minutes trying to research Totem cams......and where I might buy some......results are fairly murky and cost, if indeed those are true $US, seem high, all other comparative qualities notwithstanding.

M17 · · New York · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 20

Totem cams or Totem Basics? Well, they can be found online at several non-murky retailers and I've seen them in a few stores, including Rock and Snow. Which ones are murky? They're certainly not as widespread as other brands. If the price is an issue, just wait for a 20% off coupon as they are rather frequent. I purchased my Totem cam set for 20% off.

bernard wolfe · · birmingham, al · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 265

First of all....this site: totemcams.com/index.php?id=1

is no longer active

Next....the cam pictured in this review seems somewhat complex, mechanically.......but maybe this isn't the one you are referring to

tribevine.com/product/10400…

or here...
store.madrockclimbing.com/t…

and next.....seems the price is around 80-90 USD per unit. Mighty steep....or maybe that is a competitive price among cam manufacturers. I haven't done a thorough comparison

divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90

Totem is a campany that has two models: Totem Cams and Totem Basic Cams. The Totem Cams are the weird looking ones (they are fantastic! $79.95). The Totem Basic cams are the alien knockoff (except they are better knockoff than Fixe $69.95).

If you are looking for legit dealer, check out Rock & Snow in New Paltz, NY:

Totem Cam
rockandsnow.com/58053/Totem…

Totem Basic Cam
rockandsnow.com/73158/Totem…

Give them a call, I'm sure they'll hook you up. They give 10% when buying 5 or more cams (mixed and match). Or if you can wait, call them next week when they have 20% off sale (Black Friday).

M17 · · New York · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 20
bernard wrote:First of all....this site: totemcams.com/index.php?id=1 is no longer active Next....the cam pictured in this review seems somewhat complex, mechanically.......but maybe this isn't the one you are referring to tribevine.com/product/10400… or here... store.madrockclimbing.com/t… and next.....seems the price is around 80-90 USD per unit. Mighty steep....or maybe that is a competitive price among cam manufacturers. I haven't done a thorough comparison
As for the Totemcams website, what specifically is that page supposed to be displaying? Their website works okay for me, but I'm not really sure what that page you linked is supposed to be showing.

Well, it has a different design, sure. It's a very flexible cam, more so than any other I've used and it works really well in flares. It's holding power is substantial.

I can only attest to the Totem Cams, not the Totem Basics. I've a set and think they're a fantastic cam. I didn't buy them directly from their website, but I don't think their retailers are murky. REI even sells them. I personally got mine from Backcountrygear for 20% off.

That said, I just stated that I was looking forward to the updated Fixes (esp double sling), hoping they would match the quality of Totem Basics, but seems not. However, info. is limited so who knows.
divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90
M17 wrote:That said, I just stated that I was looking forward to the updated Fixes (esp double sling), hoping they would match the quality of Totem Basics, but seems not. However, info. is limited so who knows.
I thought the OP has the updated version (Alien Evolution)? I'm surprised that no one likes the X4s. I love mine, I got the yellow, whipped on it a few times, it's kinked but still functioning.
M17 · · New York · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 20
divnamite wrote: I thought the OP has the updated version (Alien Evolution)? I'm surprised that no one likes the X4s. I love mine, I got the yellow, whipped on it a few times, it's kinked but still functioning.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he was. OP and second poster talked about the new cams breaking or arriving broke.

I actually just purchased the X4s down to Blue. I haven't used mine yet, but have used them often on other racks and they're bomber. I'll probably end up adding Yellow/Red.
Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175

I love gear talk from climbing neophytes.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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