No More Link Cams

I thought these looked cool. Never bought one or used one though:

https://rockandice.com/climbing-news/omega-pacific-maker-of-the-link-cam-closing-up-shop/

Omega Pacific has made the decision to close its doors.  The decision is based upon economic factors, and the founder’s decision to retire.

In other words, they could not find a buyer ...

Well you'll still always be able to find link cams fixed and/or exploded in cracks all over the country. 

Tough for Spokane....Mountain Gear and now Omega Pacific.

O-P produced some interesting stuff.  The SBG (and SBG II) were unique belay/rappel devices.

The last thing you want to have on your rack is a Link Cam. I'm surprised Omega Pacific lasted as long as they did after putting those things out. Unfortunately SuperTopo is now an archive with all photo's deleted, but here's a thread to look through.

​Link cam thread from ST​​​

Brian in SLC wrote:O-P produced some interesting stuff.  The SBG (and SBG II) were unique belay/rappel devices.

That's my fav tube belay device, hands down. Will need to pick up a couple now as a backup 

Brian in SLC wrote: Tough for Spokane....Mountain Gear and now Omega Pacific.

O-P produced some interesting stuff.  The SBG (and SBG II) were unique belay/rappel devices.

The SBGII is my favourite tube-style belay device; it's the only one of its kind that cannot jam, because the device stays a fixed distance from the belay biner, and never gets pushed right up against him the biner.

Now that Omega Pacific is no more, I should stock up on SBGII's...

I've not seen that belay device 'till now, but it looks like great idea.

Got rid of my link cams but I still have a place in my nostalgic heart for OP. A lot of my first gear came from them 30 years ago and I still have biners on my rack from back then. 

I appreciated Omega manufacturing most of their gear in the USA. Doval wiregates are my go-to for racking passive pro.

I am not a fan of Link Cams, though, for these reasons:

- They become overcammed at the slightest provocation.

- Their weight and lack of thumb-loop makes them unwieldy.

- When fully contracted, they don’t fit well in shallow placements.

- If you bring fewer pieces because they cover a wider range, you don’t have as many placements total. I’d rather carry a couple extra ULMC’s for the same weight (and price) and not worry about running out of gear.

It would have been funny to see them make an offwidth Link that covers from a #6 down to #3.5, although highly impractical.

They seemed like a solution in search of a problem, but props to Omega for the originality.

Crap.

So I shouldn't have bought all remaining link cam stock to flip?
I assumed they'd now be worth more like c3s

Omega Pacific auto locker is the first piece of gear I bought.  Still belay with it 20 years later. Still pretty much suck at climbing. Only two constants. 

I've got a bunch of OP carabiners and quickdraws I got when I started out and still use today.  Also use their rap rings exclusively.  Everything I've had from them was built to last.

Their last generation ice screws were a great bargain. And I learned to drytool with their Alpha ice tools - NOT such a great product, but they got the job done. Still have their Bulldog as my 3rd tool.

I always liked Omega Pacific Gear. In particular the set of 1-13 stoppers I got on STP for $50 and the locking carabiner that had the offset gate opening for more clearance - genius.

P.S. I have some Doval carabiners posted in the seller forum for cheap!

kevin deweese wrote: Well you'll still always be able to find link cams fixed and/or exploded in cracks all over the country. 

I have literally never seen someone with link cams on their racks but I have seen many of them fixed all over the place.

Does this mean they’ll now be valued like Silent Partners?  I’ve got a complete set of Link cams.  First $600 takes them!

I also brought link cams with me, but only on specific climbs. They were hard to trust if likely taking a whipper, though I have fallen on them. The angle of the stem is even more important when falling on one. They were great for aiding through as a “crack jumar” pieces. 

c'est la vie

I actually really like my link cam. I whipped on it several times and it held beautifully. It never got stuck for me. I broke a purple C4 in a leader fall though... (although I have whipped on purple c4s before/after...) I also see stuck/exploded mastercams, aliens, totems, C4s, and X4s whenever I do beginner routes.

Link cams are not C4s, but the yellow link cam is bomber from under-cammed #1 C4 to tight 0.75 C4. Back when I was leading on a single rack of C4s, nuts, and a link cam, it was placed on every pitch in jtree. Now I have more cams and my partners kept hating on link cams, so I don't use mine... Too bad link cams never got lighter and more popular....

They made some great carabineers.  
I doubt the Link Cams represented much of their sales, and it seems strange that they are the sole focus of that article.  Few retailers ever carried them.  
Most gear shops, though, sell OP carabineers, and lots of them.  

Remember when they had that program with the local prison where convicts were manufacturing their climbing gear?  I think the State Supreme Court shut it down.  

I'm really sorry to see them go.  Hopefully the owner has a good retirement and the employees find good jobs elsewhere.  

Mark Awrote:

I have literally never seen someone with link cams on their racks but I have seen many of them fixed all over the place.

I just used a .5 on an aid route in Yosemite and it came in pretty handy. I was anxious about placing it, but it was straightforward enough. I was great because the route ate .4s, so it was really useful.