in between camalot sizes - Creek Rats!

in your experience, what are the "gaps" in sizes between camalot placements (C4s - not micro camalots)and what sizes fill those gaps in other companies? This is pretty much only relevant to I.C. splitter-type cracks.

Thanks!
Mike

WC's friends fit perfectly in there.

NorCalNomad wrote:WC's friends fit perfectly in there.

+1

2 friend between .75 and #1 camalot (i try to avoid this size)

2.5 friend between #1 and #2 camalot (hmm...cant think of any at the moment)

3 friend between #2 and #3 camalot (think pink at battle of the bulge and neat at optimator come to mind)

4 friend between #3 and #4 camalot (meathooks at original meat)

yay! perfect thanks

Black Metolius cams are awesome between #1 and .75 Camalots. Think Quarter of a Man.

the size that gets me the worst is between a new 3 and 4 C4. The old 3.5 which I covet, fits great.

I've so far managed between the .75-1.0 by usually overcaming the #1, and never (knock on wood) have had an issue between a 1-2 and a 2-3

I do wish they shifted everything a 1/4 size down with just a wee bit more overlap between a #.75 and #6 and added a #7 that fit wider than the new #6 so the blue big bro would be obsolete...
but I digress... thanks for answering the original question.

cam flame war in 3..2..1...

Andrew nailed it. Note that he didn't list the 3.5 friend because it is basically the same as a 3 camalot. But (to reiterate) the 4 friend is like the 3.5 camalot.

Why is it only relevant at IC? I like having both friends and camalots on my harness and time i carry doubles.

Ditto on the Black Metolius b/w #1 and .75, a crucial piece on that awful size. Also, a Gray Alien is nice for pieces b/w .4 and .5 Camelot.

Another option out there is Wired Bliss.

So what's the absolute perfect mega-rack that covers every single size variation from tiny to huge (without being excessively large - think feasible to actually carry for free climbing).

+1 on the Black metolius.

#1 friend for Middle Crack, 2 friend for Way Rambo, .2 Camelot for Burl Dog and #1 Link Cam for 9 Lives..

Just spray'n.. so hardddd.

Seriously though, everyone of these I found myself CRUX'n on without the right gear so I immediately went to Wall St. and booty'd them.

Ryan Williams wrote:Why is it only relevant at IC? I like having both friends and camalots on my harness and time i carry doubles.

I think a better way to phrase it would be "most relevant" at IC. While carrying a set of friends and a set of camalots as doubles certainly gives you more options anywhere you climb, I would argue you can typically get away with a double set of camalots just fine.

Except at indian creek where the crack can literally be a scary tipped out size and too tight for the next size for a loooong ways (camalots). Hence the importance of having friends or another cam offering in-between sizes.

Mark Hammond wrote:Andrew nailed it. Note that he didn't list the 3.5 friend because it is basically the same as a 3 camalot. But (to reiterate) the 4 friend is like the 3.5 camalot.

Thanks for that addition Mark. left out the 3.5 friend because I think most people will be carrying 3 camalots in that size already.

A bit surprised by what looks like a pretty good consensus here, that you need something other than camalots to make up for the in between sizes at the creek. I have been climbing at the creek for years, with just camalots from junior sizes on up. I have always felt the overlap in the camalot sizes was sufficient so that another manufacturer's cams weren't necessary.

Surely others out there agree with this sentiment? Continue the conversation, please.

For background, most climbs I have done at the creek I have led, and I climb in the 5.10 to 5.11 range.

Climb Ohn! Wally

NorCalNomad wrote:WC's friends fit perfectly in there.

+2. Especially numbers 1.5, 2, & 4. While the other Friends are slightly different sizes, those 3 seem to fit perfectly in in the worst gaps of Camalots. The #1.5 fits nicely between .5 & .75 C4, the #2 is great between .75 & 1 C4, and the #4 is a nice fit between the 3 & 4 C4's.

Ryan Williams wrote:Why is it only relevant at IC? I like having both friends and camalots on my harness and time i carry doubles.

Word. There are lots of parallel cracks in lots of places.

sanz wrote:So what's the absolute perfect mega-rack that covers every single size variation from tiny to huge (without being excessively large - think feasible to actually carry for free climbing).

OK just for fun, assuming a standard double rack.

-1 set of C4's from .3 thru 4.
-WC Zero's # 4,& 5.
-Alien/Mastercams (take your pick) from black alien/grey mastercam thru red alien/orange mastercam.
-WC helium friends from 1.5 thru 4.
-All racked on Heliums of course.
-1 set DMM offset nuts & 1 set DMM wallnuts. Take whichever set seems appropriate.
-Any area specific gear, such as tricams, RP's/WC superlight rocks, wide gear, etc...