which hexes to buy

I have a full set of Rockcentrics, plus a number 11 Hexentric, I wonder if they still make that size?

These things still have a very useful role to play in protecting a climb - save your cams for the parallel placements etc.

I like the Metolius Curved Hex. I have a full set that I use regularly.I find them perfect for many belay anchors.

Just an FYI.

The wired hexes allow you to reach up and place them as if using like a nut. Which can be useful, although the slinged version do place a little easier due to the lake of a stiff cable.

Don't bother with the smaller sizes, 4 and up only. The small sizes are too difficult to set properly when pushing your self on harder grades and you'll find that you don't use them very much. I use the 6-10 range often (Hexentrics).

I used to use them more often when I lived at the Gunks, very good for horizontal cracks, not to mention the pink, red and brown tri-cams. I still carry those guys on every climb.

Every climber should learn on passive gear only, and every once in a while force yourself to only climb on passive gear. It is challenging if you aren't used to it and personally I think it helps me stay sharp on the basic and fundamental lessons we all learned when first starting out. Plus if you have some old T-tons to try out, you really appreciate cams more.

Enjoy,

Jon

Second on the metolius curved hexes. Although honestly, BD stoppers work better than a hex in most situations. Carry a healthy assortment of each, question answered.

Love the Metolius hexes, and tricams. Just picked up the small white and black ones and can't wait to use them. Had a full set of BD's and gave them away, that's how worthless they seemed to me, along with the large tricams. Metolius seems easier to place. Wired or slung you can still use them in a pinch as a runner, and cheaper to leave behind. Like American Express, I 'don't leave home without them' :) lol
My $.02

Juan

Which hexes to buy? Personally I would vote....none. Never cared much for them.

I was recently looking at the comparison charts for BDs vs WCs and noticed that the range of the BD Hexes is quite a bit larger than WC's. However, the WCs seem like they'd be more versatile in placement due to the shape.

Anyone have any say about the range? Is the difference negligible?

Tanner Mitchell wrote:I was recently looking at the comparison charts for BDs vs WCs and noticed that the range of the BD Hexes is quite a bit larger than WC's. However, the WCs seem like they'd be more versatile in placement due to the shape. Anyone have any say about the range? Is the difference negligible?

All the listed ranges are misleading because they measure the narrowest and the widest dimensions, but the hex won't fit every crack in between. Tricams on the other hand often will. IMO tricams over hexes because they are more effective at backing up both your cams and nuts at the same time. Hexes do have an old school badass aura to them though. Any way you look at it the more passive pro the better.