Lets see you Offwidth racks

Help me get inspired for this season of offwidth climbing post up pictures of your racks nothing smaller than a 3.5 is all I ask.

Joe De Luca wrote:

Help me get inspired for this season of offwidth climbing post up pictures of your racks nothing smaller than a 3.5 is all I ask.

Is that a Merlin?

Yes it is the number 9

Most of those look shiny. Use them much? Mine are scratched from bouncing around my tote bin. Screw off widths. :)

Where do you go to place an order for the Merlins? I can't find their website.

Same Doug that works at Nomad Ventures in JT? If so, I remember you showing me the website when I was in the shop talking with you about Big Bros, but couldn't find it the site when I got home. Does it not show up on a browser search?

Doug G wrote:

A couple new ones.

Damn son those three cams are probably worth more than my entire rack!  How much did that set you back? Where did you order those number 9's from? They're not VG's right? Sorry I'm no OW gear master. 

Edit: Realized from opening my eyes they're Merlins.  

Nothing smaller than a new 5.0 for Dan as he prepares to battle an unnamed desert die-hedral.
 

Including, but not limited to, VG 9 and 12 and a Cleaveland Mountaineering Custom 8.5.

I realize showing one in actual use is prob unusual for this site, but this is Da Boneyard at Red Rock, 5.10...my favorite OW at Red Rock.  Valley Giant, Triple C4#6's and #5's, double #4's and #3's. Placed it all in one single 220' pitch.  If you like OW...this is one to track down.  Snowflakes will have to burn a few calories to get to it though.  Have to zoom in to see it, but it is all on my waste.

Doug G wrote:

A couple new ones.

Why don't you throw your gold big bro in that photo

Dan Evans wrote:

Same Doug that works at Nomad Ventures in JT? If so, I remember you showing me the website when I was in the shop talking with you about Big Bros, but couldn't find it the site when I got home. Does it not show up on a browser search?

Yep that's one of my jobs. If you look on Super taco under Valley Giants you will find the contact.

Joe De Luca wrote:

Why don't you throw your gold big bro in that photo

Maybe later after you give me a couple beers.

I have climbed a few offwidths and providing the crack is within the  large cam sizes it can be attractive to those who are adverse to run outs as pushing a cam ahead of yourself can give one that top rope feeling.  Technology has changed climbing in many ways.

Speaking of big gear I see a lot of large cams and very few big bros.  My impression is that big bros are pretty space/weight/cost efficient for wide stuff, but evidence here suggests that cams are favored.  As someone just about to get into leading OW I'd be interested to hear why you use the gear you use so I can start building my OW rack the right way.

Gavin Towey wrote:

Speaking of big gear I see a lot of large cams and very few big bros.  My impression is that big bros are pretty space/weight/cost efficient for wide stuff, but evidence here suggests that cams are favored.  As someone just about to get into leading OW I'd be interested to hear why you use the gear you use so I can start building my OW rack the right way.

Im in a similar position as you. I tried the Big Bros out and they weren't as straight forward to place nor as secure as I expected. I also read a few occasions of the leader knocking the Big Bro loose and it sliding 60 ft down the rope and hitting the belayer. I feel like i would much rather just drag up a few large cams and bump them.

Big Bros can be finicky to place but they are cheeper, lighter and more compact.

Push the cams and leave the Big Bro as pro.

Joe De Luca wrote:

Help me get inspired for this season of offwidth climbing post up pictures of your racks nothing smaller than a 3.5 is all I ask.

I gave my best Valley Giant to a friend who was a wyde hound as a wedding gift. My photo now would be lame ...but good looking stuff up there ya'all! I'm thinking that a photo my tired old wyde ass not falling out of a wyde crack would be more inspiring than a bunch of lame hardware to you Joe:-)  But what do i know.

I'll try and round up some gear later for a photo chute to inspire you.