C4 6 vs Big Bros

I'm wondering getting a big piece to add to my rack.

I don't have a #6 yet but the Big bro of the same range is cheaper.

Is it just a novelty of worth considering?

Can't walk a big bro

Nathanael wrote:Can't walk a big bro

+6

I have a green bro and a #6. I think the green bro goes bigger than the #6 but still covers some of the range of the #6. For single pitch I almost always take the #6 over the bro. I really only bring the bro if I'm already racking my #6s and want more big pieces, or if it is a really long route or approach and I don't want to carry the #6, especially if it only has use in one spot.

I feel a lot safer with the #6 beneath me, but I haven't used the bro a ton or ever fallen on one, so there's that.

And yes, everyone loves a big cam top rope.

It is really hard to place a bro correctly, and you will need 2 hands, so like above said, it usually is used with big cams, move cam with you, leave bro where you have a good stance to place it, repeat.
Some cracks just won't accept a bro, can't be too flaring or knobby, they like a nice clean parallel sided crack. But I have to say I have used the green and blue bro allot more then the #6 cam, usually with a #4 and #5 cam leapfrogging, and leaving the bro's along the way.

I have both and climb a decent amount of offwidth. I definitely prefer the 6 and only use the big bros when they're necessary. Or as another poster has mentioned to leave behind as back-up pro while I bump that 6 higher and higher and higher and higher. Leading on top rope is pretty sweet :)

geoff georges wrote:It is really hard to place a bro correctly, and you will need 2 hands, so like above said, it usually is used with big cams, move cam with you, leave bro where you have a good stance to place it, repeat.

I've never needed 2 hands to place a Bro. Get out there and practice with it.

It only takes one climb that requires that you place a big bro with one hand, or else, and congratulations, you just figured out that you can place them one handed no problemo.

(my apologies to the grammar Nazis)

Correct me if I'm wrong guys:

- doesnt a Big Bro take a force in nearly any direction when placed well?
- would the comperable big bro also cover a wider size range? potentially making it more versatile?
- you can't walk them, but you can use them to fend off pesky bears

dave higdon wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong guys: - doesnt a Big Bro take a force in nearly any direction when placed well? - would the comperable big bro also cover a wider size range? potentially making it more versatile? - you can't walk them, but you can use them to fend off pesky bears

-I find them to be pretty easy to dislodge, but maybe I haven't figured out how to place them well.
-Yes, I believe a comparable bro has a greater range than the cam, but I'd say "more versatile" is still really debatable.
-Truth. A large bro is probably the finest weapon on your rack.

dave higdon wrote:- doesnt a Big Bro take a force in nearly any direction when placed well?

In my limited experience, I'd say "no". But, maybe mine aren't placed well by your standards.

I've had one pull out when the follower was hanging because a traverse caused a diagonal pull on the Bro.

Big Bros are lighter and take up less rack space than comparably-sized cams.

Colin Garceau wrote:I'm wondering getting a big piece to add to my rack. I don't have a #6 yet but the Big bro of the same range is cheaper. Is it just a novelty of worth considering?

1. get the cam
2. don't get the BD, get a wild country friend 6. It is more stable.

David -

I've used an older #6 Wild Country and it is about as stable as the stock market. Did they improve it?

Ray Lovestead wrote:David - I've used an older #6 Wild Country and it is about as stable as the stock market. Did they improve it?

For walking up or as a placement? IME the dual axle makes walking up more stable, but as a placement, the thinner/shorter axle and the less lobe to axle contact surface makes it much more wobbly compared to the WC.

Ray Lovestead wrote:David - I've used an older #6 Wild Country and it is about as stable as the stock market. Did they improve it?

Not sure, the springs are very powerful, so possibly. And the axel is longer than a BD, so it looks more stable, but maybe this is just cosmetic?