New Black Diamond Cams With 30% Wider Range

Black Diamond has just launched a new range of cams designed to protect narrow and shallow cracks. The Camalot™ C3s are three cam units, with a thirty percent narrower profile than any other three or four cam design, so they can take the place of nuts or wires (or no protection at all!) in super-narrow cracks. Not only that, but their camming range is 30% wider than before.

So, how do they work? Well, each cam moves independently of the others - as each has its own spring - so there's a greater camming area in contact with the rock at any one time. They are levered by compression drive springs, which push each cam with greater force, so they hold the rock better. And if you have a tendency to get your gear mixed up with your partner's, but haven't taken out a mortgage in coloured tape yet, the slings and heads are colour-coded for easy recognition.

The cams come in five sizes, ranging from 7.8mm to 23.2mm (5/16" to 15/16"), including overlaps. We haven't seen them yet, but they're in the shops now, so if you're going to be climbing anything short on protection then it might be worth giving them a look. And if you do try them out, don't forget to come back to our user review system and let other OMers know what you think. For more information, you can also check the Black Diamond website.