Tape on Tricams

What are your experiences with putting a bit of tape on the webbing of a tricam so it's easier to place them with one hand?

I really never had a problem with setting tricams but I thought I get some feedback on what people think before I ever try this.

Thanks!

It works great. I have used this in the past for a specific route where the placement is just out of reach. It allows the tri-cam to flop down without the nylon bending. I have used athletic tape because it was convenient. Never really thought about it simply for one-handed placements. For a one handed placement, for me, it is easier to place depending on the orientation of the tri-cam. Much easier to set one-handed if the point is down for horizontal placements and point is facing you in vertical placements. This prevents the need of a second hand to set the tri-cam, because your wrist naturally rotates to set it in those positions.

But I wonder if that stiffened nylon affects the safety/placement. Cam movement when you climb past it, etc. If not to specification, I would imagine the tri-cams might not safely work. Thoughts?

The "new" tricams will have pre-stiffened webbing.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:But I wonder if that stiffened nylon affects the safety/placement. Cam movement when you climb past it, etc. If not to specification, I would imagine the tri-cams might not safely work. Thoughts?

A stiffened tri-cam is no different than the cable on a nut. They both need to be slung properly to prevent movement. I don't stiffen the entire sling on my tri-cams, just near the end. So there is still some flexibility in how I am using it. You really only need a little bit of stiffness near the cam in order to place it over head one-handed. Check this route out: mountainproject.com/v/inner….

I tape an inch or so from the base with gaffers. CAMP recommends using a soda straw actually. If you do tape make sure to always put a runner on it to avoid walking.

See here: camp-usa.com/product-highli…

Jake Jones wrote:Pretty good tip. I've usually reserved placing those for comfy stances. I have passed good tricam placements though because I needed two hands, or because I thought it would take too long. This would certainly help. One question though, I have the dyneema version, not the nylon. Still think it would work? I'm gonna try it out.

I will still work with Dyneema, I place them one handed all the time.

Jake Jones wrote:Pretty good tip. I've usually reserved placing those for comfy stances. I have passed good tricam placements though because I needed two hands, or because I thought it would take too long. This would certainly help. One question though, I have the dyneema version, not the nylon. Still think it would work? I'm gonna try it out.

I only have the dyneema versions in the pink to purple sizes. My biggest issue with those is the coloring. The pink and red aren't that different in color. The blue should really be purple. So if you match up the blue with some of the larger sizes, you have three blues in a row, blue blue and navy. Kind of annoying, but pretty easy to see the size difference.

Jake Jones wrote:I only have the four pink through... blurple sizes. I love 'em. Some of my friends have the huge ones. Can openers.

I have the small black and all of the larger ones in the forged sizes (essentially black to green). I don't always carry the bigger ones, but on long multi-pitch routes without bolted belays they are great. It prevents you from carrying the larger sized nuts and they make for very versatile anchors. They are also normally half or more less weight than their equivalent SLCD.

A piece of plastic milk carton does the trick.