I'm still new to trad climbing and am wondering if offsets are useful for free climbing. I have a set of offset mastercams from0/1 to the largest size which I think is a 4/5. Should I sell them or keep them for when I get more experience. I've heard they are only useful for places like Yosemite. Any input is appreciated.

It depends if you need the money or not. There will be a time and place for them if you keep climbing different kinds of rock.

No you dont need offsets to be a decent and well equipped free climber.

Depends where i use offset aliens all the time in zion...but offset nuts are great everywhere.

offsets are a great addition once you have put some mileage on gear and learn the ins and outs of placements....there are probably more obvious pieces of gear you may want to acquire like doubles if you do not already have some in the major sizes (fingers, hands etc...)


that beign said i always carry my two offsets when i free climb...offset nuts are also very awesome

I carry my offset nuts with me for most free climbing but the offset cams stay packed away with my aid climbing gear.

Depends on the kind of rock / placement. The rock around here tends to be pretty featured and irregular. I have a buddy who swears that 90% of cam placements around here would be just as good or better with an offset... plus the placements that you can ONLY get with offsets. I have to say I think he's probably right. When climbing anything but splitters, it would probably be pretty sweet to have your doubles be offsets. Of course, that is pure conjecture. I haven't placed an offset cam in my life.

Edit for clarity: I mean carry one set of standard cams and one set of offsets

Offsets work pretty awesome in the eyebrows at Looking Glass.

I posted them on MP for sale. I have someone interested in the set. If it falls thru I will let you know for sure. Thanks for all the insight;)

If you could only have 3 sizes of offset aliens for free climbing what sizes would they be(or even doubles). Christmas is nigh and I'm thinking of some alien hybrids;)

yellow/grey is my favorite piece. green/yellow, blue/green also are useful

Blue/green, green/yellow, yellow/red
My $0.02

Thanks. I'm probably going to go with basic cams for the sizes that I can get & fill the gaps with aliens.