Wired tricams

Viamont wired tricams

Anyone using these and if so, what do you think? Any advantage over the slung tricams? I see they carry a CE certification but I don't see anything about UIAA. They seem more legit than Gear4Rocks.

I will agree that they look more legit than Gear4rocks provided someone can prove that Mr. Rybak is a real human who has been making his own gear since the 70's. I have seen this type of tricam in museums and nostalgic photos, but have never actually placed it. Is there a reason this design never caught on?

Nathan Scherneck wrote: Viamont wired tricams Anyone using these and if so, what do you think? Any advantage over the slung tricams? I see they carry a CE certification but I don't see anything about UIAA. They seem more legit than Gear4Rocks.

I don't know if it was those but I've placed something similar... a wired tricam. It was tougher to place because the wire is too stiff to wrap around the curvature of the cam lobe. They were also harder to get into tight flares because of the shape... more metal.

A stiff wire would actually make the current ones easier to place and remove if it were wrapped around the curve, but that might take away the possibility of placing it in passive mode.

"Wired tri-cams are CE certified (CE 1015)."

Thats posted right under the description. Whether it's legit or not is for you to decide I guess.

There used to be something similiar called a Kirk Cam.

I don't have any personal experience, though.

Looks like their combi cam is more comparable to standard lowe/camp tricam. Definitely interesting.

I've seen these sold in shops in NZ and Australia. While I haven't actually used them, I have played with them in the shop - They are legit and seem well made.

I actually have 4 Viamont Tricams, 2 of the wired ones and 2 of the combis. I have mixed feelings about them. Sometimes i like them and sometimes I don't. They are nice to place because they are kind of spring loaded, however the wires on the smaller ones seem to be really stiff and can be tricky to place sometimes. This wire also makes them much more difficult to clean for the second. The wired ones tend to snag on the rack a little. The wired tricams can only be placed in "active" mode. I like to combi's the best, they can be placed both in "active" and passive modes. The sizing between the combis and the wireds are different (a #1 wired is smaller than a #1 combi). The fulcrum on the smaller wired tricams is very small so if you plan on climbing in softer stone steer away from the smaller sizes (#1 and #2). The Combi's have a larger fulcum and I feel better about setting them in sandstone than the small wired tricams. The fulcrum on the CAMP Tricams have more surface area than any of the Viamont ones. I've yet to fall on any of them so I can't tell you how they do in a fall. They are fun to place and I use them every once in a while (I used them more before I purchased small cams). If you have any questions about them feel free to email me @ jarobinsoned@hotmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

They're also on;y rated to 10kn max, even the biggest ones. Something to think about.

drpw wrote:They're also on;y rated to 10kn max, even the biggest ones. Something to think about.

Only?

The only thing sketchier than quirky no-name/off-brand gear is used quirky no-name/off-brand gear.

That said, last night I saw an ad on the 'For Sale' board at the BRC for a full set of these things. They were either $7 for the set or $7/piece. As long as you're building your rack of questionable gear, the ad also had a bunch of HB cams and some *Gasp* black Aliens.

Is it just me or are there an awful lot of forum posts about tricams these days?