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ben123324
Oct 9, 2012, 2:06 AM
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hey guys, new here. quick question. would you trust this line of cams? I don't have much money so i cant afford a rack of full name brand cams. would these do? they seem kinda sketchy...
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epoch
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Oct 9, 2012, 3:53 AM
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What?
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billcoe_
Oct 9, 2012, 3:55 AM
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ben123324 wrote: hey guys, new here. quick question. would you trust this line of cams? I don't have much money so i cant afford a rack of full name brand cams. would these do? they seem kinda sketchy...
You have everything but the line of cams you are asking about. How about a hint?
Sounds like....2 syllables...
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sungam
Oct 9, 2012, 8:50 AM
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Calling it right now as gear4rocks.
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markc
Oct 9, 2012, 1:53 PM
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sungam wrote: Calling it right now as gear4rocks.
This. Gear4rocks, the company that makes Rock Empire feel better about themselves.
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milesenoell
Oct 9, 2012, 2:46 PM
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Ah yes, the Ukranian makers of plastic nuts.
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ben123324
Oct 9, 2012, 8:05 PM
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sungam wrote: Calling it right now as gear4rocks.
ding ding ding! sorry, messed up the link... but yea, how about them? any "good"?
and while i'm busy freaking people out with sketchy cams, how about rock empire? markc implies that they are 1 up from gear4rocks...
(This post was edited by ben123324 on Oct 9, 2012, 8:13 PM)
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edge
Oct 9, 2012, 8:11 PM
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ben123324 wrote: sungam wrote: Calling it right now as gear4rocks. ding ding ding! sorry, messed up the link... but yea, how about them? any "good"?
Well, if I was stranded on a desert island and that's all I had, I would probably prefer to tie off wedged coconuts.
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billcoe_
Oct 9, 2012, 8:53 PM
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ben123324 wrote: sungam wrote: Calling it right now as gear4rocks. ding ding ding! sorry, messed up the link... but yea, how about them? any "good"? and while i'm busy freaking people out with sketchy cams, how about rock empire? markc implies that they are 1 up from gear4rocks...
Someone tested the Ukrainian Gear4rocks cams and they all tested better than advertised. HOWEVER, with so many better choices (think Metolius, Wired Bliss, BD Camalots) why get them? They do make the only plastic nuts, which work fairly well and are relatively lightweight.
Rock Empire cams, same thing, EXCEPT, in the larger sizes, say 4" and up, they are significantly lighter (and cheaper too) than Camalots. If you are considering a backcountry wide ascent, they're your Huckleberry.
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JimTitt
Oct 9, 2012, 10:04 PM
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ben123324 wrote: sungam wrote: and while i'm busy freaking people out with sketchy cams, how about rock empire? markc implies that they are 1 up from gear4rocks... They are a good budget cam, about on a level with the previous generation product from any "up-market" company. Good enough for a US company to re-brand and sell as their own product (and a few Euro companies as well).
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ben123324
Oct 9, 2012, 11:51 PM
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i guess what i'm mainly asking is: would you climb with these? now that i've looked i see that other brands(like metolius) sell cams for just a little extra, but i'd trust them more.
on another note, for a 35ft trad route(college rock, MA), i know its short, how many cams should i get for a rack? ive taken a class on placing pro, etc. but i dont know how much pro i need and what range i should get for the cracks and pockets available. is there a general range for a typical granite face? i like the below route, and the crack is up to maybe 10 cm at points, down to nothing at others.
exercise left to the reader:http://www.rockclimbing.com/...h_morning_70298.html
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billcoe_
Oct 10, 2012, 4:22 AM
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Yes, I have climbed on Rock Empire cams. My partner Ujahn has a set. That I own multiple sets of Metolius four cams, 3 cams units, 2 sets of 4th gen Camalots, a set of both Wired Bliss 4 cam units and 3 cam units, 39 Aliens, 2 sets of Totems cams, a set and a half of Metolius Supercams, a set of Trango Max cams, Valley Giants, sets of Wild Country Zeros, Flexible Friends, offset Friends, original friends and misc. other HB Yates, and even Clog cams should tell you something. When Ujaan brings his rack we climb on Rock Empires on occasion. He's embarrassed about this, but no matter, they do the job. Don't be falling on your gear till you are damned sure it will hold.
I would climb with them on a wall
I would climb with them in the hall
I would try them on the rack and I would carry them on my back
I would climb with the Rock Empire cams said Sam I am.
As far as leading the route you showed a photo of, are you fucking nuts? Seriously. Start leading long easier routes that take and place good gear. The short routes are more dangerous than the long ones. If you pop off, and there is a single piece or 2 between you and eternity: goodby. I once saw a fella fall and rip 4 good pieces and dirt out. The crying, wailing and nashing of teeth of his loved ones right by the unfortunate climber who had angered in at the base was beyond description. As was the smells of the CPR we gave, and the odor of Wheat Thins on the dead mans breath. And that route looked a hell of a lot better than the photo you just posted of that shit route. If you can toprope it why the hell wouldn't you do so? Looks fun on TR. The dead guy had no such options, for he fell 70' up on teh start of a long multipitch route...one that has good pro. Get some nuts and a mentor. Not joking on any part. Well, the Sam I am was over the top, but serious on everything else.
Good luck
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olderic
Oct 10, 2012, 1:17 PM
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I've led that route. I know people who have soloed it. Not much difference. It is NOT a good lead especially for a new leader.
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markc
Oct 10, 2012, 1:57 PM
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I own Rock Empire Robots and Micro-Robots. They got me leading on a budget, but I happily upgraded to Black Diamond Camalots after a season or two. As others have said, they don't have the finish of more expensive units. At least with Robots, I found the spacing of the cam lobes to be narrow in the larger sizes. (This isn't the case for all their cams.) That said, they're certified and I didn't have any safety concerns with them.
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maldaly
Oct 10, 2012, 4:03 PM
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Listen to billcoe. He speaks wisdom.
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cracklover
Oct 10, 2012, 4:08 PM
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Isn't that the route Robbovious fell off and perma-fucked up his foot on?
GO
(This post was edited by cracklover on Oct 10, 2012, 4:15 PM)
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cracklover
Oct 10, 2012, 4:14 PM
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ben123324 wrote: on another note, for a 35ft trad route(college rock, MA), i know its short, how many cams should i get for a rack? ive taken a class on placing pro, etc. but i dont know how much pro i need and what range i should get for the cracks and pockets available. is there a general range for a typical granite face? i like the below route, and the crack is up to maybe 10 cm at points, down to nothing at others. exercise left to the reader: http://www.rockclimbing.com/...h_morning_70298.html
You need approximately the same rack for a 40 foot climb as for an 800 foot climb. Seriously. Only difference is that the longer one might have more of a variety of pitches. But in general, a pitch of climbing requires that you carry all the stuff you might need, plus a little extra.
GO
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olderic
Oct 10, 2012, 4:20 PM
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cracklover wrote: Isn't that the route Robbovious fell off and perma-fucked up his foot on? GO
Wasn't that in Purgatory Chasm?
There are routes at College Rock that can be led somewhat reasonably - the route in question might even be one. But I still don't think it is the place for fledgling leaders. Gabe's suggestions of places to start pretty good. Nothing beats the Gunks in that department though.
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cracklover
Oct 10, 2012, 5:20 PM
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olderic wrote: cracklover wrote: Isn't that the route Robbovious fell off and perma-fucked up his foot on? GO Wasn't that in Purgatory Chasm? There are routes at College Rock that can be led somewhat reasonably - the route in question might even be one. But I still don't think it is the place for fledgling leaders. Gabe's suggestions of places to start pretty good. Nothing beats the Gunks in that department though.
Re. College Rock - routes that can be led reasonably, yes. Good for complete beginner leaders... eh, maybe not. At least not the ones I did.
Re. Rob - maybe you're right, I'm not 100% sure.
And yes, nothing beats the Gunks for new leaders working through the easy grades. But there are also some reasonable small things around Boston, for folks not quite ready to make that leap.
GO
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ben123324
Oct 10, 2012, 6:28 PM
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ok. i'll go find some better climbs at crow hill or something. the problem is that i'm 16 and have just a learners permit so i have to get rides everywhere. CR is a 10 min drive 1 town over, and crow hill is an hour.
honestly, i get your point. i've been working a 5.12 in my schools wall, and i had a belayer who's never done a second before. 1 draw clipped in. i took a fall that i wasn't expecting(slipped off a crimp) and luckily righted myself before hitting the ground 15 feet lower. mat helped...
anyways, that route is easy and i've done it enough that i know every crack, crimp and sloper on it. the picture doesn't show the route well enough though. there's a dihedral to the left with plenty of pro options. then the crack itself when you get there. i'm not saying it would be easy to learn and safely lead there, but it it definitely protectable.
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wonderwoman
Oct 10, 2012, 6:54 PM
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ben123324 wrote: ok. i'll go find some better climbs at crow hill or something. the problem is that i'm 16 and have just a learners permit so i have to get rides everywhere. CR is a 10 min drive 1 town over, and crow hill is an hour. honestly, i get your point. i've been working a 5.12 in my schools wall, and i had a belayer who's never done a second before. 1 draw clipped in. i took a fall that i wasn't expecting(slipped off a crimp) and luckily righted myself before hitting the ground 15 feet lower. mat helped... anyways, that route is easy and i've done it enough that i know every crack, crimp and sloper on it. the picture doesn't show the route well enough though. there's a dihedral to the left with plenty of pro options. then the crack itself when you get there. i'm not saying it would be easy to learn and safely lead there, but it it definitely protectable.
It may look protectable, but have you ever placed gear before? Please practice anchor building / gear placement on the ground before jumping on the wall. That's how most folks start trad. You are getting advice from some seasoned climbers who know CR very well. The 5.9 will always be there. I suggest leading it after getting some mileage under your belt.
(This post was edited by wonderwoman on Oct 10, 2012, 6:55 PM)
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USnavy
Oct 10, 2012, 8:53 PM
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billcoe_ wrote: Don't be falling on your gear till you are damned sure it will hold.
(This post was edited by USnavy on Oct 10, 2012, 8:54 PM)
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billcoe_
Oct 10, 2012, 10:42 PM
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olderic wrote: I've led that route. I know people who have soloed it. Not much difference. It is NOT a good lead especially for a new leader.
maldaly wrote: Listen to billcoe. He speaks wisdom.
USnavy wrote: billcoe_ wrote: Don't be falling on your gear till you are damned sure it will hold. Talk about paradoxical circular reasoning... Falling in your gear is the only way to verify with absolute certainty that it will hold a fall, thus your statement is impossible. ...
Not at all Navy. You can learn what a good cam placement is, what will hold and what won't, other ways:
1) Aid climbing will allow this kind of knowledge.
2) Follow any mentor and you will see what a good cam is. The more mileage you get the more you will learn. And as important, spacing and where to stand and rest while placing them.
3) Simply putting in cams in cracks and just yoinking on the placement from the safety of the ground while you wait for your buddies to burn a lap or 2.
As Wonderwoman says, practice is important. You can, of course, shorten that process up by taking classes or dogging a skilled leader and learn what a good cam placement is without killing yourself to learn it. Hey Ben, learn everything you can, grasp every opportunity to learn and every scrap of knowledge you can get. A lot of this info is better gotten from locals in your area, they'll tell you what is working and what isn't and it will increase your safety margin ten times over. I see your point about getting places, you can also toprope the short crack and put placements in while you do so. It will get you a feel for what the difference is and is a great way to start.
Best to all!
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dr_feelgood
Oct 11, 2012, 2:22 AM
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It needs to be said...
Yer Gunna Die!!!!1
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