Zero friends?

I'm thinking of ditching my smallest aliens (blue, green, yellow) and two tiny metolius (00, 0 grey and purple respectively) in favor of Zeros from 3-6. What are peoples EXPERIENCE with the Zeros? Thanks!

I find the #3 zero to be difficult to place in a way that's really confidence inspiring. A black alien always looks better there. However, they have the advantage of controlling either side of the cam independently, which is nice. Zeros have a smaller cam angle than the aliens (which is really part of the aliens' charm, they have a really big range so its hard to find a place they really won't fit), but a larger cam angle than TCUs. The smallest cams are still relatively wide, so keeping the TCUs (or maybe picking up some C3s) might be worthwhile for some pinscars. Overall, I'm very pleased with them. The first generation (and the smallest two) have kind of a lousy trigger, but they've fixed that. Also, initially the action will feel a little crunchy, but this is because the stem has some kind of coil around it, and the trigger rubs on it, giving that washboard feel. The Z6 is perfect fingers for me (about a yellow alien), Z5 is about a green alien, Z4 is blue. Those three I use the most of, and I'll be doubling them up later this summer.

I ditched my Aliens a couple of years ago with all the controversy surrounding the recall. I Really like the Zeros and trust them completely. I currently have a double set from 3-6 and never leave the ground without at least one set. I also have a single # 1 and # 2 but I find them just to hard to place reliably so don't often carry them. The # 1 makes a really cool key chain tho.

I have the largest 3 (red, blue, yellow) and love em. I never use my Metolius TCUs any more. Get some and you won't regret it.

If only they made offset versions...

-Tristan

Tristan Higbee wrote:I have the largest 3 (red, blue, yellow) and love em. I never use my Metolius TCUs any more. Get some and you won't regret it. If only they made offset versions... -Tristan

Are Mastercams part of your mix, Tristan, or do the Zeros cover it for small stuff?

Shawn Mitchell wrote: Are Mastercams part of your mix, Tristan, or do the Zeros cover it for small stuff?

Shawn, I use the Zero's # 3 to # 6 and then the Master Cams from # 1 to # 6. this gives me some overlap and a good light rack. For my larger cams I tend to use Tech Friends.

Robert 560 wrote: Shawn, I use the Zero's # 3 to # 6 and then the Master Cams from # 1 to # 6. this gives me some overlap and a good light rack. For my larger cams I tend to use Tech Friends.

Thanks, Robert. Why Tech Friends over Camalots?

Disclaimer: Though I've climbed 30+ years, it's been seasonal and sparce since college. I have the same motley rack, evolving as pieces get lost or replaced, but haven't had enough frequency of diverse use to form any strong preferences, except one: I love the way Camalots seem to contract a ton from big to tight. It it feels like the range will let a quick, rough eyeball grab a piece that works every time.

Shawn Mitchell wrote: Thanks, Robert. Why Tech Friends over Camalots?

Back in the "Day" all we had were Forged Friends. I just got used to the sizes and the way they place. I do have a set of Camalots, just don't use them much (tho, I do like and use the big Camalots 3-6)

Thanks for your input guys. Appreciate it. Wondering if anyone else out there has any experience with the WC Zeros and would care to share?

I have a set of Aliens and a set of WC Zeros. I love the zeros and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. A friend of mine took a pretty good fall on my grey Zero(really small unit)and it held with no problem and no visible damage to the unit what so ever. They are much more durable then one would think at first glance. The only problem I have encountered is that if you need to replace the trigger wire it is darn near impossible to do it yourself (which I do on all my other cams) because it is so small. You may have to send it in and when I did so, the WC people did send me back a new unit as a replacement. Same thing happened to a friend of mine. All in all- great units with nothing to fear and no guessing about brazing etc.
I love my Aliens too but I am starting to wonder, and I hate that. Alan-

Alan, may I ask where you sent your zero for repair ? I'm wondering if / when the time comes I will have to ship it to the UK ..

I have #4-6. I don't lead all that hard and they seem to work reasonably well. The heads are a little wider than aliens.

Another consideration when reading people's opinions of zeroes is that the older ones were shorter and had smaller trigger bars, which made them easier to get stuck.

Love them, although I would rather have more long stem ones. Also you can get them for like $40, check spadout. Not sure if they are long or short stem.

I have fallen on 3, 4, 5, and 6 in good placements. They all held. I have absolutely no complaints.

Love my Zeros. Light - easy in my hands - uber flexible. Totally sold on 'em.