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NEW Black diamond Z4

Original Post
Dan Jay · · New Westminster, BC · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 0
Climbing magazine​​​ just posted this article outlining the new black diamond Z4 micro cam. Seems like it will be a replacement for the x4's and the C3's with the same head width as the c3 units.

So let's get to the speculation!

A new take on the alien? A last minute response to the DMM dragon flys? Plastic crap or modern material design?

What's your hot take?
Kevin Mokracek · · Burbank · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 342

The lobes look very similar to Totem lobes.

Shy Guy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2018 · Points: 0

Stokeed, wonder what they’ll retail for... 

Parker H · · Indianapolis · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

So the article states the 0 Z4 is smaller than the old 000 C3 but the full range of 7 cams goes all the way up to a .75..

There were 5 sizes of C3 all .3 or smaller. 

Figure out that math

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

It's a specialized kit, maybe 1% of climbers will need these on their rack.

Bill Mustard · · Silt, CO · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 151

Black diamond is the walmart of outdoor shit according to some...

Gold Plated Rocket Pony · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 96
In fact, the no. 0 Z4 is Black Diamond's smallest cam to date.
I'm guessing it should say "smallest [4 lobe] cam to date." looking at the vid:

Jonathan Awerbuch · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 41

I wonder if the small ones are lead rated

Kevin Mokracek · · Burbank · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 342
Jonathan Awerbuch wrote: I wonder if the small ones are lead rated

Even if its not I would rather have something in that might hold than nothing at all.

Rando Calrissian · · Denver · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 45

How come no Y4? Is the Z4 really 2 better? I NEED ANSWERS!!!

Chad Heying · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 30
Kevin Mokracek wrote:

Even if its not I would rather have something in that might hold than nothing at all.

As someone who just had a marginal .3 x4 catch the majority of my fall to prevent a ground fall then pop to ease me to the ground, I second this!

Kevin Mokracek · · Burbank · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 342

They named it the Z4 to make it more confusing when ordering over the phone.   "Ok, I have a .75 C4, would you like anything else today? No, thats Z4 not C4"

Chris Johnson · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 15

February 2020....fack.... been waiting for a C3 replacement for my small cams....but I don't really want to wait that long...

Shy Guy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2018 · Points: 0
Kevin Mokracek wrote: They named it the Z4 to make it more confusing when ordering over the phone.   "Ok, I have a .75 C4, would you like anything else today? No, thats Z4 not C4"

What is “ordering over the phone”?

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
Jonathan Awerbuch wrote: I wonder if the small ones are lead rated

nah man, toprope only for those puppies!

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
Kevin Mokracek wrote: They named it the Z4 to make it more confusing when ordering over the phone.   "Ok, I have a .75 C4, would you like anything else today? No, thats Z4 not C4"

are you sure that's Z4 and not zee 4?  maybe the guy has a german accent and you will end up with a #4.

Ranger Rick · · Lexington, KY · Joined Aug 2017 · Points: 44
Jonathan Awerbuch wrote: I wonder if the small ones are lead rated

Don't cams need to hold a minimum of 5kN to be certified? Or did I read that in a dream...


Edit: EN-12276... confirmed it wasn't a dream
Ben Ha · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 0

How to keep my Dragonfly preorder ot not LOL !!! 

Shy Guy wrote: Stokeed, wonder what they’ll retail for... 

'The cams cost $10 less than the current X4 at $70 per Z4. With the release of the Z4, Black Diamond is slowly phasing out the X4 and C3.'


https://gearjunkie.com/black-diamond-z4-camalot

Nick Drake · · Kent, WA · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 651

Still dual axle in the .4 size. Thin lobe. Dumb idea. 

Jared Chrysostom · · Clemson, SC · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 5
Nick Drake wrote: Still dual axle in the .4 size. Thin lobe. Dumb idea. 

C4's and DMM Dragons (probably others?) go down to a 0.3 and have two axles. 

Brandon Fields · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 5

February 2020?!?!?!? These will be out before i get my Dragonfly preorders!! Fack!!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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