Black Diamond  Camalot C4 Cam

The industry standard for SLCDs. These things are sort of the jack of all trades. Not the lightest unit, or the one with the best expansion range in class, but they are durable, easy to place, and don't have any significant drawbacks that one often has to put up with in ultralight or super-expansive cams. Trigger operates smoothly. After a few falls on some of the units at weird angles, the stems as still straight and trigger wise are in good shape. Would definitely buy these again, though I'll probably never have to.

These are lighter and more flexible than the old ones. However I miss the durability of the heavier style single stem without the thumb hole. For this size cam, you use them a lot, they get worked. Some of my cams bend downward in a rainbow when you squeeze the trigger after they are loaded sideways once. You know, like the old Alien's used to do, when you squeeze the trigger and they go limp on you. But if you can afford replacing them and or don't mind this issue, its nice having them be lighter weight. The large thumb hole is easier to manage when your pumped too, compared with the old style without the thumb hole.

The backbone of any trad rack. The dual axle not only increases the range, but makes placement feel simple. I preferred other cams until BD updated the C4 with a thumb loop. Now I've got the .4 to 4 and take them on a route before anything else. In smaller sizes, however, I prefer the more solid TCU. The only con is that I've found they are sometimes harder to work free from a tricky placement than other cams I've used. I also wish they came in discounted sets, maybe .3 to .75 and 1 to 4.

You wont find a better cam on the market in my opinion. I have yet to see a cam as smooth and easy to use with the versatility of the C4. The Trango Flex cams are very similar and would also recommend them. When you are looking for that quick and easy placement with little to no effort needed, whip out one of these bad boys and place away. I have a partner that is die hard passive pro, but will always reflects on how bomber my C4s are when he seconds. Wouldn't know how I would live without my C4s.

Just like all Black Diamond gear, the C4's work exactly as stated and designed. When placed properly, I've never heard of one failing. The color does get scratched, but that's to be expected with climbing. I'd recommend getting a Neutrino set of biners, since the C4's and the Neutrinos are the same colors. Lastly: If these fail, it's most likely due to user error, not gear failure. Be safe and take a class or learn from someone with tons of experience!

The Black Diamond Camalots are the best SLCD in the market and that was the main reason I bought them plus some Neutrino Carabiners so I could match the color between the carabiner and camalot; although I'm a rookie climber and I'm just starting out in traditional climbing but I wanted to start to collect my own rack.

Black Diamond put some serious research and development into this product and the result is the gold standard in Active Protection. I use sizes .5-4 and they inspire confidence in most every placement

These cams are so smooth, light, and come in such a great range of sizes to fit any size crack. Makes you feel the extra bit of confidence when places pro that your safety counts on. Protection at it's best!

Great communication from the team while my cams were visiting the mothership in Utah. Quick turn around and they are back on the rack ready for the weekend!

Here's a pic of my bran new #6 with the one I got when the new c4 had just come out. Time to give this one some character too!