c3, or master cam

Looking to buy a few more cams already own some c3's but also really like master cams. Any suggestions.

I have 2 sets of the C3s, they are fine as I'm sure you know. After using my friends mastercams those are what I'm going to replace my C3s with. Flexible, dependable (I've had wire problems with my C3s), light and down right sexy looking. Vote 1 for mastercams.

Master cams and/or Totem Basics. Not a big fan of C3s.

Honestly, besides the opinions you'll get from here I would go climb on some.

I have a mix of old BD micros, C3s and Mastercams. I picked up a C3 after climbing on my buddies. All in all I've never had issues with any of them and they climb great.

Except for the grey 00 mastercam. The range on it sucks.

Got a set C3s a few years ago. The red gets used. The others stay in the bag.

For the size, most of the larger C3s aren't as stable as a four-lobe unit. I was on the fence about Mastercams, and after using some wasn't sold.

Ended up picking up some Totem Basics. They're solid, dependable and they fit in tight & flaring spots well. After a year, they're still my favorites. You can fill in the smaller sizes with Fixe Aliens/used Aliens.

It's probably a good idea to round out your small cams with a different type/brand. So, in that light, I'd rec master/alien/whatever cams.

C3s are a good cam and due to the 3 lobe, narrow head, sometimes fit well in placements you won't get the other cams into. I believe the C3s took a beating in the rep department due to their initially high price, I've never noticed them to be inferior to any of the other small units. All the gripes I heard about them didn't crop up in my real world cam jamming anyway. But you probably weren't on the fence about them anyway, just asking a question of same same but different.

With all the quality options out there now, 99% of the time it is probably purely a matter of preference and you will grow proficient with whatever gear you have.

I wanted to like the mastercams, I bought the blue #1, used it for a while. I don't remember exactly what climb i was on... something at the gunks, I put it in as my first piece in a shallow horizontal, midway cammed. The stem stuck out of the crack right where that little coil spacer around the stem is, between the head and the top trigger bar. I gave it a quick tug down, and the thing pulled right out. I did it again in slow motion and watched the coil around the stem hold the trigger back as the stem flexed, pulling the kevlar cords on the upper lobes, releasing the cam. I pulled it out and put in my old blue TCU instead. I didn't really trust it after that and traded it with someone for a red C3.

Ballnutz. Sometimes they stick too well.

Larry S wrote:I wanted to like the mastercams, I bought the blue #1, used it for a while. I don't remember exactly what climb i was on... something at the gunks, I put it in as my first piece in a shallow horizontal, midway cammed. The stem stuck out of the crack right where that little coil spacer around the stem is, between the head and the top trigger bar. I gave it a quick tug down, and the thing pulled right out. I did it again in slow motion and watched the coil around the stem hold the trigger back as the stem flexed, pulling the kevlar cords on the upper lobes, releasing the cam. I pulled it out and put in my old blue TCU instead. I didn't really trust it after that and traded it with someone for a red C3.

Not quite the same, but yes, the smallest of the Mastercams have such a coupling of the cams to the triggers from side to side that they don't behave well in uneven placements. Also, the max pull of the trigger isn't where the cam is most flexed, so if a placement walks in...
Well, that's "planned obsolescence" so keep a chunka change free to buy a new one at any given time.

C3s really shine for aid

For free, totem cams or the totem basics first, the I'd go mastercam or the new Bdel X4s (depending on what they're like once they come out)

I've used mastercams for a while and I definitely like them. I also recently picked up a set of C3s to supplement them; I've only climbed a couple pitches with the C3s, but it didn't take long to find some perfect placements for them that the mastercams didn't fit in.

If you already have the C3s, you can't go wrong with mastercams. If you're patient you can find them new for $40/each, too, so they're pretty affordable.

C3s for aid. Totems for free climbing.

my c3's break easy and wiggle often but fit in places nothing else would

my master cams are very solid, sit really well when placed, and take a beating. the grey held me on a 12 footer placed upside down with only 3 cam heads touching!

i'd say buy master cams. if you have extra loot, supplement with c3's

Jon O'Brien wrote:my c3's break easy

What do you mean by this?

Jon O'Brien wrote:the grey held me on a 12 footer placed upside down with only 3 cam heads touching!

You sir, are bolder than I.

Haven't tried basics, but I'm a long time alien fan-my .02. Also consider offset (mastercam or alien) depending on the rock you climb the most. Love the blue/yellow mc combo.

Maybe wait until the new BD b4 you throw down...rumor has it, hawt...

have 0-3 mastercam. seem to always reach for the mastercams first. they just feel more solid to me. the yellow and orange (sizes 2 and 3) find a home on just about every pitch i climb. i have noticed that they need more TLC than the rest of my rack (BD C3s and C4s). their construction is tighter and dirt gets in there and makes them sticky from time to time. no issues thus far with the durability of the kevlar wires (50 climbing days roughly). for really small placements i prefer c3. i am interested the new x4s sizes .3 and .4. i think having a little diversity on the rack is good. i carry .5 and up C4. i've used aliens and like them but they are just too darn expensive. especially when mastercams can be found for 40-45 buck on the reg

Another vote here for the Totems and Totem basics.

C3's matched with Totem Basics and Fixe Aliens for the blue and black, ftw. I love the combo

Don't see a reason to have doubles of the same brand of any micro cam (other than alien offsets).

+1 Wait and try the new BD X4! Then let us know how they are...

I'm in the same boat, waiting to check out the X4 before I get the mastercams to replace some old aliens. But BD website has a price of 69.95 each on the x4. ten bucks higher than I expected.

-Jon