Totems are over priced

Link cams are alright in vertical crack. Careful with pockets or horizontals however.

Link cams are also great for weight training. 

HughCwrote:

What about durability? Any thoughts on how Totems stand up overtime?  I have had some of my C4s for 20+ yrs and they are going strong after some reslinging.  Now my totems, I noticed after using them in more aggressive rock (think Voo or lg. grained granite at Lumpy) seem to take a bit of beating on their lobes with some dings in that soft metal. Now I realize a few things: I can sometimes be hamfisted in slamming in gear when gripped, my followers might be a little clumsy when cleaning my gear, and oops I dropped that one blue Totem and that is on me (20 ft with some bounces). I realize that the soft metal in Totems allows for better bite and is probably very intentional. However, the metal on the lobes on my C4s are in rather good shape despite being some of my initial (read shitty, clumsy) placements.  So now I use totems more sparingly and rarely bring them unless I really need something for offset, shallow or otherwise tricky placements. 

Lobe durability seems fine but the load cables (the important ones) eventually fray where they enter the lobes. I'm seeing this on my blue and yellow totems (placed the most).

Comparing my 2013 blue X4 with my slightly newer blue totem: the X4 is noticeably smaller than a fresh cam in the same size but seems mechanically fine. The blue totem is closer to its original size but has two frayed cables and probably should be retired.

Krimpit thee Frog here wrote:

Link cams are actually perfect for building anchors in multipitch settings. 4 sizes cover the entire range, they won't take whips this way, and you can save your actual rack for the actual climb

2-3 mastercams on one biner weight about as much as one link cam, and cover the same or more range with multiple pieces. this idea that link cams are good for multipitch anchors is silly because of this. 

I'd rather have 10 cams that I can use a couple in the anchor, and the rest in other applications, than 4 cams that fail in funny ways and take more mental bandwidth to place properly.

I'd whip all over this 2 piece anchor of master cams. I would not make an anchor from 3 link cams, and I would never consider a link cam placement unquestionably bomber. They do funny things in rock that is irregular, and have caused two of my friends who had over a decade of experience placing gear helicopter rides, one was aiding on it in yos.

Different people have different preferences and different ways of doing things.

That being said someone handed me a link can when they first came out and said what do you think, I said it’s it’s heavy. I pulled the trigger and said cool concept but you can’t retract the sides at different amounts like you can on a camalot, so it looks like it wouldn’t work good in flared placements. He said do you want to put one on the rack today? I said no and he agreed. 

I was out when I heard about the first failure. A cam that has the potential for a lobe to break when placed in a standard cam placement has no place on my rack

Who reslings totems? 

If they weren’t expensive enough,

Now you’re dumping money into custom sling jobs. Still have yet to burn through any slings on my other reasonably priced SLDCs. 

Has anyone needed a totem reslung???

Sounds like a solution in search of a problem 

Jason Bakshwrote:

Who reslings totems? 

Runout Customs does. But I've never seen a totem need reslinging. 

It will be interesting to see what maintenance and upkeep ( and cost of these) is required for totems. To each their own, I resling my cams based on usage. Getting an idea on cost for these things prior to getting them seems like common sense to me.   

Jason Bakshwrote:

It will be interesting to see what maintenance and upkeep ( and cost of these) is required for totems. To each their own, I resling my cams based on usage. Getting an idea on cost for these things prior to getting them seems like common sense to me.   

Just sell it and get back nearly what you paid, then buy a new one. Resling problem solved.

Krimpit thee Frog here wrote:

I'd rather have 4 link cams tucked back on my back gearloop than 12 cams tucked back there. And im not building a 12 piece anchor. 4 cams. Large range. Its pretty simple. 

I’ll sell you a used yellow link cam for a reasonable price. I just never end up racking it for a climb. 

not joking, here it is. PM'd in case you're truly interested.

Jason Bakshwrote:

Who reslings totems? 

Hi Jason!

Here Jon, from TotemMT :)

We offer the repair/change of the sling of the Totems. Please, check the link below:

https://www.totemmt.com/totem-cam-repairs/

You can download the cam repair form there. The cost of the new sling is 8€ (+shipping cost).

If you have any doubt do not hesitate to contact the commercial deparment: info@totemcams.com / jbasterra@totemcams.com

Have a nice day!

jbasterrawrote:

Hi Jason!

Here Jon, from TotemMT :)

We offer the repair/change of the sling of the Totems. Please, check the link below:

https://www.totemmt.com/totem-cam-repairs/

You can download the cam repair form there. The cost of the new sling is 8€ (+shipping cost).

If you have any doubt do not hesitate to contact the commercial deparment: info@totemcams.com / jbasterra@totemcams.com

Have a nice day!

Will you all replace the thumb press bar as well? Didn't see that on the form. Thanks.

Totem is charging approximately $24 USD to ship your repaired cam back to the USA. That doesn't include the shipping to get it to Spain, or the repair cost.  Very expensive repairs!

FrankPSwrote:

Totem is charging approximately $24 USD to ship your repaired cam back to the USA. That doesn't include the shipping to get it to Spain, or the repair cost.  Very expensive repairs!

Fitting for the thread eh?

almostradwrote:

Fitting for the thread eh?

Good point. Overpriced cams and overpriced repairs! (I own one Totem).