Totem vs. Fixe Aliens

SirChips-A-Lot wrote:Alien sex toys.....wash em before you use em, ladies. I think I'm going to try the totem (not the Basics, the weird, 2-lobes-are-legit-ones) cams. Already got money put aside for a full set of the Fixes but I'm going to get the others, too. Benefits of union membership.... Psyched to try these oddball spaniard cams. Wonder if all the anti-Fixe drama is in any way justified. My guess is, not. It's rad Kevin took the time to get this going again, we are spoiled fucking children, one and all, for bitching about niggling details on these. Layton would have killed for a set back in the day, probably would have done the Nose in fifteen minutes with a modern rack. Times change, the pink kleenexes remain a constant. Wah. Wah, wah.

1."Loadable on just two lobes, to exploit shallow or flared cracks where one or two outer lobes cannot establish rock contact. To load just two lobes, connect a carabiner at a point where the sling is supported (see figure). Do not use Totem Cam in this way to protect against a fall. This reduces its stability and halves its strength. Placements involving only half of the lobes can help to support body weight in some aid climbing situations.
Learn more about loading just two lobes.

2. We should all be ashamed of wanting to get the most for our hard earned money then I guess.

3. FixeUSA was not who bought the rights, they just are importers.

SirChips-A-Lot wrote:Layton would have killed for a set back in the day, probably would have done the Nose in fifteen minutes with a modern rack.

From what I read in articles, the last several years of his life, he still preferred pitons.

Partially inspired by this thread, I set off to look into picking up some Totem Basic offsets. But it looks like their web store is closed until they "recover the normality in stock" (which I find to be a delightful turn of phrase).

Anyone have any more info as to when they'll be available?

totemcams.com/index.php?id=1

Spoke with Totem via email about this last, and they didn't give me a date when their webstore would have cams available for purchase. Totem is apparently just shipping out new stock to some retailers (Backcountrygear.com for example) and they'll have them available.

MP Friends,

I know some of you are craving to get your Totem's on. I contacted Totem with a few questions thinking of this entire thread. Here you go, for those that are interested. This is in reference to the Totem Basic Cams (Alien style), not the Totem Cams.

-------------------------------
Hi Jason:

I will answer your question:

Q: Do you have any time frame on when the web store will reopen?

A: We really hope to re-open the web store in the last week of July estimated.

Q: The Main Page of your website shows the Newest of the Basic Cam lineup, the Blue, and another of the updated Red. Will the Green, Yellow and Hybrids also have the Updates (Improved Teeth, Trigger Bar Color, etc)? If so, when do they planned to be released?

A: All our new basic cams are been manufactured with the last improvements.

Q:If I order cams from either backcountrygear.com or gearcoop.com (the only two sites I have found that sells Totems), will they be the updated cams, or the previous generation?

A: I´am sure that in these places they haven´t got the updated design yet.

Q: Can you update your website, specifically concerning photographs as well as specifications for the Blue Basic Cam and the Blue/Green Hybrid Basic Cam? Also, for us non-metric Americans, can you have a conversion chart?

A: We are working on the website. Soon we will update all the info and photos. We are working full time with production, day only has 24 hours... it´s a busy time for us.

Here are the Basic Cams in Inches:

Totem Basic Blue 0.50: 0.44"-0.68"
Totem Basic Blue/Green Hybrid: 0.60 HY: 0.53"-0.68"
Totem Basic Green 0.65: 0.53"-0.84"
Totem Basic Green/Yellow Hybrid: 0.70 HY: 0.65"-0.84"
Totem Basic Yellow 0.75: 0.65"-1.02"
Totem Basic Yellow/Red Hybrid 0.85 HY: 0.78"-1.02"
Totem Basic Red 0.95: 0.78"-1.24"

Thank you so much

Best regards

Unai Arrieta
______________________

Gear Coop says they have the updated versions. I will be in Southern California next week to Verify. I know both websites have out of date pics.
There you have it. Enjoy.

At least Fixe is based in Colorado and the owner Kevin is a stand-up guy. BUY LOCAL!

Taylor-B. wrote:At least Fixe is based in Colorado and the owner Kevin is a stand-up guy. BUY LOCAL!

Actually, Fixe is based in Spain while Fixe USA (Fixe's US distributor) is in Colorado, or so I understand.

Allen Corneau wrote: Actually, Fixe is based in Spain while Fixe USA (Fixe's US distributor) is in Colorado, or so I understand.

Fixe USA is out of Bishop, CA

Jason Parks wrote:Gear Coop says they have the updated versions. I will be in Southern California next week to Verify. I know both websites have out of date pics. There you have it. Enjoy.

Not sure about the previously available sizes but both GearCoop and Backcountrygear have the newer versions of the Blue and Blue/Green Hybrid

Jason, thanks for sharing your findings. I'm excited to get my hands on a blue basic.

Just a heads up for anyone about to order: I put in an order for a full set of basics (non-hybrids) with BackcountryGear about 2 weeks ago when they were still listed as backordered. Pictures on their website are still the old models but I got mine in the mail yesterday and all are the updated version! Like everyone has said, quality looks fantastic.

So unless some of these guys have some older stock sitting around, seems like anyone waiting on regular basics from online should be getting the newest iteration.

those are really really good looking.

damn, sexy!

Visited Gear Co-op in the O.C. They did have the Newest Generation Totem Basics. Wife gave me the okay to commit, so here they are!

By the way, if you live in SoCal (or visiting for that matter), Gear Co-op has a free "membership" that gets you 10% off everything you buy (in store only, not online). And they were super nice there!

Got my cams, now go out and get yours!

Jason,
Thats good to hear, I just ordered some yesterday from gear co op:) can't wait to get em!

Jason Wrote:

Totem Basic Blue 0.50: 0.44"-0.68"
Totem Basic Blue/Green Hybrid: 0.60 HY: 0.53"-0.68"
Totem Basic Green 0.65: 0.53"-0.84"
Totem Basic Green/Yellow Hybrid: 0.70 HY: 0.65"-0.84"
Totem Basic Yellow 0.75: 0.65"-1.02"
Totem Basic Yellow/Red Hybrid 0.85 HY: 0.78"-1.02"
Totem Basic Red 0.95: 0.78"-1.24"

Fixe Aliens
.33 black - .33-.54 in.
3/8 blue - .40-.67
1/2 green - .53-.86
3/4 yellow - .63-1.05
7/8 grey - .74-1.17
1 red - .78-1.33

Looks like the one advantage with fixe is the extra sizes. Personally I dont use the flexible cams at the .75-1.25'' range (equivalent to a .5 C4). Do a lot of people use the flexible cams in the bigger sizes??

Im thinking about picking up a set of one of these. I have C3s and few X4s. Not sure what to get. Looks like the new features on the totems are great just bummed they dont have more sizes that are not offset.

Going to Squamish in 3 weeks, come on totem OPEN THAT WEB STORE AND TAKE MY MONEY!! I'd order from backcountrygear.com but totem has a warehouse in BC so shipping would be cheaper and faster if I order direct. Fingers and toes are all crossed.

FYI backcountrygear.com has free shipping on anything over $49, and 20% off!

Yeah I saw that on the site and was stoked, but then saw that it doesn't apply to Canada... Ha

and those are definitely the new totems?

Came home today and found the first of my totem basics had already arrived!