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Aliens - Which Version Best?

Original Post
Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

I've never given any attention to Aliens, but have seen their name tossed around constantly. Had a few questions.

If I see someone say CCH Alien, are people using that interchangeably with the 'Fixe Original Alien'?
Has one cam emerged as 'better' out of Fixe Alien Original, Fixe Alien Lite, and Totem Basic?
Smallest cam I own is Powercam #1. Was thinking whether Alien, Zero, or Mastercam for those 00, 0, 1 small sizes in the future, thoughts?
On a range comparison I saw the Alien's are getting something like 50% increased range over the Powercam/ Mastercam, how are they achieving that?

Anything else? What am I missing here?

BigFeet · · Texas · Joined May 2014 · Points: 385

+1 for Totem Basic.

Eric LaRoche · · West Swanzey, NH · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 25

Except totem doesn't make the smaller sizes that would be the range of the 00 and 0. WC Zeros claim a 1kn higher break strength over the Aliens and mastercam.

Colin Porter · · Stockholm, SE · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 5

Totem Basic. Used them since last fall and have 0 negatives to complain about.

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

I've been finding lots of good solid placements for my .1 and .2 X4s. I have Aliens (red to blue) but can't comment since I've only used them about a week.

Another choice would be C3s. Lots of people swear by the 000 00 and 0.

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

Yeah I have no interest in the new Mastercams, would be looking for the old ones if going that direction. I guess I have seen so many threads talking of Totem cams, quoting "not the basic ones" that I assumed a negative connotation with it, which in fact sounds like people are just saying that to differentiate.

I had looked at getting a yellow Zero, just because it was absurdly cheap on steapandcheap. But maybe in the future I'll lean towards aliens or totems because it sounds like they get small, but also have a better range than Metolious for down low in the sizes??

Chart for those interested, unfortunately totems not included, I'd be really interested to see how they span the ranges, eliminating the grey size.

Small Cam Ranges

Not looking to buy anytime soon, but off the cuff, it seems a full set of totem basics would be an awesome compliment to the small sizes (doubles rack, for me) and then you could even grab a black alien if you wanted to get really small. I do love the knurling on the totems (in theory, haven't gotten to use the .75 I bought this winter).

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

the c3s are not everyones cup of tea, but they have the absolutely smallest headwidth in the smallest sizes

the grey/purple/green c3 will fit where nothing else will .... of course they are more stiff

once you get to red the headwith is marginally more narrow ... an the yellow is more or less the same as the blue/gray X4 or equivalent alien

;)

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

Okay Found it (mm)

Color________Alien__________Totem
Black_______8.4-13.7
Blue_______10.2-17.0______11.2-17.4
Green______13.5-21.8______13.6-21.4
Yellow_____16.0-26.7______16.6-26.1
Gray_______18.8-29.7
Red________19.8-33.8______19.9-31.6

Also found: Totems vs. Aliens
I thought this discussion was going to go Fixe Alien vs. Alien Lite, so interesting turnaround.

And also found, going to read through this more, but:

patto wrote:The fact of the matter is that on slick rock you are putting yourself at greater risk with cams with a high camming angle like aliens.
So back to my original question, is this how the aliens/basics are achieving more range? I've always loved the Powercams, and knew it was either cam angle or spring snap. This would worry me if the aliens didn't 'feel' as strong as Metolious in rock...
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Dylan B. wrote:They had a couple of glitches in their manufacturing process and didn't handle the recalls well.
That's putting it mildly.

Totem is the highest quality Alien style cam on the market currently.

Lanky · · Tired · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 255

Here's a review of Fixe's new "Alien Evolution" cams. Updated and improved, as they say: splitterchoss.com/2015/03/2…

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

Hey trying to revive this thread, in lieu of making a new one, HAD ONE QUESTION, about the crimp at the base of the Fixe Alien thumbloop.

I just bought a grey Fixe CCH-Style Alien. And where the wire comes back through that (brass??) crimp, the cut wire end sticks out about an eighth of an inch, the steel wire is sharp, and already 1-5 frayed ends are sort of out of the bunch and I could stab myself on them if I tried. (Let alone by accident if not trying). Can I just remove this?

Do you guys just file all this shit off? And what is the deal here, is this a bad MFG. job? Is this standard? Is this excess material needed for the integrity of the crimp?
I saw this alien for sale thread and you can see that there is no steel cable protruding from the crimp. So what's the deal?

Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175
Tom Sherman wrote:I've never given any attention to Aliens, but have seen their name tossed around constantly. Had a few questions. If I see someone say CCH Alien, are people using that interchangeably with the 'Fixe Original Alien'? Has one cam emerged as 'better' out of Fixe Alien Original, Fixe Alien Lite, and Totem Basic? Smallest cam I own is Powercam #1. Was thinking whether Alien, Zero, or Mastercam for those 00, 0, 1 small sizes in the future, thoughts? On a range comparison I saw the Alien's are getting something like 50% increased range over the Powercam/ Mastercam, how are they achieving that? Anything else? What am I missing here?
Climbing friend,

Why do you believe in extraterrestrial life or "aliens"? I am thinking this is quite silly. Who cares about the people of alien type, unless they have excellent climbing venue for flash on mars.
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Tom Sherman wrote:Hey trying to revive this thread, in lieu of making a new one, HAD ONE QUESTION, about the crimp at the base of the Fixe Alien thumbloop. I just bought a grey Fixe CCH-Style Alien. And where the wire comes back through that (brass??) crimp, the cut wire end sticks out about an eighth of an inch, the steel wire is sharp, and already 1-5 frayed ends are sort of out of the bunch and I could stab myself on them if I tried. (Let alone by accident if not trying). Can I just remove this? Do you guys just file all this shit off? And what is the deal here, is this a bad MFG. job? Is this standard? Is this excess material needed for the integrity of the crimp? I saw this alien for sale thread and you can see that there is no steel cable protruding from the crimp. So what's the deal?
Return them to the manufacturer for defect, you shouldn't be Fixes QC department.
Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433
Ray Pinpillage wrote: Return them to the manufacturer for defect, you shouldn't be Fixes QC department.
Not sure if its a defect, but all the official pictures either hide this view or do not show it like this.

My camera sucks, but had the idea to take picture with magnifying mirror. So:
Alien1

Alien2

So are they supposed to look like this or no? Looks like a file would take care of no problem.
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

You know that part where you said the frayed cable ends were sharp and asked if you should file them down?

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433

Ray are you speaking in a riddle or am I not understanding you?

EeT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 0

I checked out my aliens and they have the same thing going on..

Geoff Georges · · Seattle, WA · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 4,649

Hi Tom,
I will add my 2cents, even though most I already agree with- Totem best, C3 still a contender, longtime Alien fan.
First, I looked at my collection of Alien, Totem, Metolius, BD and WC.

The WC and Metolius in small sizes have bit the dust, they just don't hold up.

The BD c3's are still working and have held under some good size falls, and I have had them since they came out-mid 2000's.

1st version Fixe Aliens getting very worn, worried about the cam wearing through to trigger wire coming out of it.- these are very floppy, takes getting used to.

Fixe Lite Alien are nicer with thumb loop, also like that they reduced the width- funny thing is these also have the sharp cable sticking out of the swage.- never been a problem, all my old aliens have this.

Totem, I don't know about the metal, but the lobes seem to be holding up better then the Aliens.
It looks like they grind the cable off at the swage end. They have a narrow width, compare a red Totem to equal size BD #.5, so much smaller and lighter, or even a X4 is heavy at the size.
I have noticed that the Totem colors (that you show in the chart) to Alien colors are not equal- all the totem are slightly bigger then Alien- which is good, I carry 1 of each for more options.

BD X4- I only have the red #.1 because I cleaned it off a route. I did not consider buying these, but really like it, durable, places and cleans easy. The bigger ones seem too clunky and heavy, but at this size I like it better then black alien.

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Tom Sherman wrote:Ray are you speaking in a riddle or am I not understanding you?
If the wires are sharp and sticking out far enough to stab you and you want to file them off they are a problem. I don't own any Fixe Aliens but Totems and the CCH I've owned do/did not have the cable sticking out. I would not file anything next to the cable on a cam. Smooth off a cam lobe after a fall? Sure. File off 1/8" of sharp cable hanging out past the swage? No.

Call Fixe, that is bad QC.
Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316
Tom Sherman wrote:Ray are you speaking in a riddle or am I not understanding you?
Thank you! I wasn't really having a good day until I read this.
nathanael · · Riverside, CA · Joined May 2011 · Points: 525

Just file it off (or leave it if it's not bothering you). Cams aren't some magically device where a mere mortal can't comprehend what is load bearing and what isn't. That part of the cable is obviously not going to add or subtract any strength from the cam.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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