Another hex topic - straight vs curved

I know there are several posts touching on this, but I don't think directly, so... Do you prefer straight hexes or curved hexes?

I have older straight BD's and my comfort in placements have been hit or miss. Probably more due to my lack of experience with hexes so I was wondering if I should just practice more with them or should I invest in curved hexes? Conceptually, the curved do seem easier to place and better protection.

Please no "just use cams" comments since that's bound to start another active vs passive battle.

Curved for sure, just make sure it's not to aggressive of a curve (don't even know if they make aggressive ones anymore.) I like the Wild Country nuts, but the DMM look good as well.

Curved don't need to be set as hard as they typically have more contact area. If the curve is too aggressive they tend to get stuck more frequently.

CURVED!

One nice plus will be they'll be anodized to match standard sizes, the WC matches its and DMM's, the DMM Torques also match Camalots, and Metolius matches its cam range.

Nice to have the dyneema slings too.

My personal preference is for the original Hexentric-- straight sides and no sideways taper on the ends. String 'em up on perlon long enough to not need extension, and rack 'em on a shoulder sling where you can swing them out of your way. The curve doesn't seem to buy you much these days; if the crack is anywhere near parallel, you will be placing a cam so most hex placements will be in obvious constrictions.

Another thought here:

Because of their overall dimensions, BD hexes each cover a larger range between their regular placement and their end-wise placement. The newer hexes seem more cut-off, with their regular and end-wise placement dimensions being more similar. Does that make sense?

Curved hexes are a pain in the ass to clean if that means anything, might as well buy some giant tri cams if you want your follower to hate you.

And as far as the pic goes, its bomber AND easy to clean.

I never liked wired hexes because the wire doesn't let the head rotate as easily as cord does. You can see in the picture that a little rotation would set that piece better, but the wire holds it back. Better to place a nut or (egads!) a small cam.

Not to revive a dead thread, but people who use the search may benefit.

Jay Knower wrote:I never liked wired hexes because the wire doesn't let the head rotate as easily as cord does. You can see in the picture that a little rotation would set that piece better, but the wire holds it back. Better to place a nut or (egads!) a small cam.

Or a flip of the hex in said placement (180 degrees), wired or not, would make it bomber.
If the horizontal plane of the pic is level with the climbers eye, this is a slanting placement. A fall would most likely pull the wire into the fall line (ie. perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the pic. From the way it looks, the lack of surface contact (between the hex sides and rock) would easily pop that piece.
Just out of curiosity, who would climb above a cam with the equivalent surface contact?

hexes are bomber when u can find a placement. better than nuts or cams i thunk. although i will sling a flake