The Best Climbing Cams: Add Them to Your Climbing Gear [2022 Update]

If you enjoy outdoor climbing adventures, then only the best equipment and gear will do, and this includes an investment in the best cams you can buy.

Cams are one of the most important purchases you, as a climber, can make, and it is this form of active protection that helps in keeping you secure during your climb. So how do you go about finding cams that are suitable for your needs?

First, this article will discuss their various parts and features of cams that will help you in the shopping process.

Reviews of the Top Cams for Climbing

Many types of cams are on the market, including branded and non-branded selections.  Below are some of the best choices available today, all of which prove affordable.  The cams listed below are considered best based on the materials they are made of, style, design, durability, and function as well.

Reading the reviews shared here can help in narrowing down your choices when you shop, and, at minimum, can give you a clear idea about cam features, function, and availability.

Note: We get commissions for purchases made through links in this article

Black Diamond Camalot C4 Set

Black Diamond Camalot X4 Set

Sizes: .3 to 5 (7 Cams); .5 to 3 (5 Cams); .5 to 4 (6 Cams)

Colors: Dark Green, Purple, Gray, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Slate Gray

Weights: Vary

Specifications: Colored slings; variety of cams; double axle design; wide range; great expansion; colors are coded; free DVD sold with the units.

Best Use: Outdoor climbing and rock climbing

Description: The Black Diamond Camalot C4 is available in a whole host of colors, and comes with a Blu-Ray Climbing DVD free. Double axle design allows for a good degree of range when using the cams, and you get far greater durability out of the cams because of the C-loop continuous cable stem structure.

The color coding of the cams make your climb a breeze as you can instantly spot the cam you need based on color.

The range of sizes in the Black Diamond Camalot C4 units varies, so you can find just the right sizes for your comfort and use during your next climbing adventure.  These units are highly portable because of their super light design.

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Metolius Master Cam

Metolius Master Cam

Colors: Black, Gray, and Green

Size: Varies 0 to 6

Sling Size: 13 mm

Range: Varies

Weight: 2.2 to 3.9 ounces

Specifications: narrow head profile; flexible single stem; thumb piece with molded features; large sling made of a hybrid mix of nylon and Dyneema; cam angle optimized.  CE/IUAA certified and tested by manufacturer before sold. Solid lobes; burly feel; rugged design; and very little walk issues.

Best Use: Granite wall climbs, outdoor climbing

Description: The Metolius Master Cam is available in a variety of colors. These single stem flexible cams have a super narrow profile for ease of fitting in cracks and crevices. The thumb portion has a molded, ergonomic design to ensure ease of use and your comfort.

The cams feature a 0.51-inch sling made out of 64% nylon and 36% Dyneema materials to ensure the long term durability of the thick webbed materials.

The cam angle has been intentionally optimized for better angling when inserted in tight spots between rocks.  Depending on the size of the cam, the units can handle between 1100 and 2250 pounds of weight.

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Related product: The Metolius Ultralight Master Cam is an affordable alternative by the same maker.  The color-coded cams make for ease of quick selection and come in red, purple, gray, blue, yellow, orange, and black.

Additional colors include green, light blue and light purple, with each color serving as a separate cam size.  These cams are single stem flexible options with incredible holding power.

DMM Dragon Cam

DMM Dragon Cam

Colors: Green, Gold, Blue, Red

Dimensions: 9” x 4” x 2” inches

Weight: 85g

Sizes: 1-6

Maximum Strength: 12kN

Specifications: Single Stem; Dual axles; unique thumb grip; trigger bar; light design.

Best Use: Outdoor climes, granite walls.

Description: The DMM Dragon cams come in a whole host of colored coded option for easy spotting of the cams you need without having to think about it.  The cams have a light design; dual axle for superior durability and single light stem for ease of use.

The chief advantage of the DMM Dragon Camp cams is they have superior range, great holding power, and exceptional balance. Hot forging process used in design leading to lighter weights.

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Wild Country Helium Friend Cam w/ Extendable Sling

Wild Country Helium Friend Cam

Colors: Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, Red, Gold, Purple, Blue, and Silver

Sizes: 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4.

Weights: Vary, according to size; range 87g to 221g.

Ranges: Varies, from 14mm to 101.8mm

Specifications: Forged cams, extended reach; lengthy sling; trigger stops; single axle design; single stem; independent triggering mechanism; short termination.

Best Use: Indoor rock wall climbing; outdoor excursions

Description: The Wild Country Helium Friend Cam features an extendable sling made of 12 mm Dyneema materials; this sling promises a better reach when you climb, and the strength of the sling lends to the cam’s durability.

The unit features trigger stops for ease of use, and these hot forged cams also come available in color-coded styles, all of which correlate with product size for quick and easy identification. 

The cams have a single axle and stem making for ease of cam positioning. The independent triggering device simplifies the use of the unit.

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How to Choose the Perfect Climbing Cams

Cams are an investment that is quite affordable, and for the money you spend, you will find the units are durable with a longevity that makes your purchase worth it. 

Cam designs share pretty consistent features across branding.  Understanding the features of cams will help you in understanding the style of the equipment, how they work, and what you are really paying for when you buy them.

Some cam features are listed here below so you can familiarize yourself with them before you start your search for top of the line safety gear to support you during your next climb.

Outmoded Rigid Stem Cams: These cams are crafted out of aluminum materials and are the oldest style cams around.
You are not likely to find this style on the market, however, since it was discovered that these cams did not do well when placed horizontally in between cracks and crevices.

Single-Stem Flexible Cams: These are the type of cams you are most likely going to find when you are shopping for climbing gear; they are made of cable and are far better than their predecessors, since they produce far less walk (this refers to how much the cam moves or shifts when they’re in use).
Walk can prove to be dangerous if the cam dislodges or gets stuck in a position that weakens its hold.

U-Stem Flexible Cams: These cams have the advantage of being stronger when the trigger retracts, and the cams have a cam head that is wider than the single stem variants.
The wider head might put a limitation on where you can position the cam when using it; these units have u-stems that are connected to two different parts of the cam head.

Cam Sling: This is the part of the cam where you connect to your rope; it is a loop of webbing positioned at the end of the cam stem.

Sometimes the slings have a special color which, in turn, is indicative of cam size, so you can identify which ones you’ll need for your climb. Bear in mind, that there is no standard color set and sizing arrangement in the industry.

Cam Trigger: This is a piece that helps in terms of cam operation; the trigger causes trigger wires to make lobes retract. The trigger is found in the cam head’s interior, where it can be pulled against a spring in order to establish tension.

It is important to make sure you can fit your fingers into the device so you can manipulate the trigger without any struggle.

Range & Size of Cams

When you position a cam in between rocks and crevices, it needs to fit properly and lock into position correctly.  There are techniques for placing the cams correctly that you will have to familiarize yourself  with before actually performing any climbs.

The greater degree of cam range, the more utility you get out of the unit. If you opt for cams that feature the largest ranges, you can limit the number of cams you have to tote around as gear while still maintaining cam versatility in terms of usage.

With the diversity of range, there is less likelihood of the cams walking or getting stuck inside the crevices and cracks you place them in, which is something that may happen when you have excessively large cams and they’re place in a crack that is too small.

Bear in mind that the largest cams may not be ideal in every situation, but they are well-liked because of their extra diversity in terms of use.

With this in mind, if you plan to get into the sport heavily, you might want to speak with those you know or plan to climb with and ask them what equipment they are using, as they can give you a good idea about what brands are the best to choose.

There are specific features you will want to give consideration to as you shop.  When looking for the best cams to add to your existing gear, consider the following cam features below.

Cam Expansion Range

The expansion range is exactly that: The amount of expansion a cam is capable of when fully expanding and contracting the lobes.

The smaller the range of the cam’s expansion, the fewer places you will be able to use the cams, whereas the cams with the greatest degree of expansion promise the greatest versatility.

Many climbers prefer the larger cams with the greatest amount of expansion simply because it means carrying less gear without compromising one’s ability to climb or limiting the type of climbing one can engage in during an excursion. Fewer cams mean a lighter rack.

Cam Axles Count

When it comes to cam axles there are different designs to choose from; each style has pros and cons associated with it; the choice of axles is basically between single and double axles.

Double Axle Style Cams: These cams axles permit the greatest degree of expansion range; and because of the dual design, these axles are far more durable than the single-cam counterparts.
You do end up gaining additional weight on these cams because of the double axle style.

Single Axle Style Cams: Due to the structure of this axle, it is evidently a bit lighter than a cam hosting a double axle; however, what you gain in terms of portability, you lose in terms of the durability of the axle, its strength, and the cam’s expansion range.

Cams Lobes Count

There is only one brand of cams featuring two lobes, and the remaining cams on the market host three and four lobes.

The lobes are spring-loaded and are forced out when you fall during a climb; the downward motion is shifted to the cam’s lobes and these lobes then push outward into the various rocks and cracks they’ve been placed in. So what are the differences between these?

Cam with Three Lobes: The three-lobe cam is one that has a thinner design than the four lobe counterpart; this means the smaller, leaner design slides into crevices and cracks with a greater degree of ease.

They also fit well in areas known as pin scars: rocks that have been marked by pitons that have been pounded into them.  A piton is a special spike rock climber’s use when making a climb so they have something they can grab onto during the endeavor.

Pitons can also serve as support for a climber’s rope. The three lobe cams are far less likely to walk or move out of position once in place.  Of course, the lack of a fourth lobe allows for these cams to feature a design lighter than the four lobe cam counterparts as well.

Cam with Four Lobes: Since there are four lobes in these cams, you end up with a greater degree of lobe-to-surface contact and this promises you a far more secure positioning of the cam. The additional lobe makes this cam heavier, bulkier, and hosts a larger profile, thereby limiting some of the areas the cam can be inserted.

A word on offset cams: The majority of standard cams have lobes that have an even design in shape and size.  However, there are cams you can buy that have a couple of lobes one size and the remaining lobes a different size.

The offset in size is intentional so that the cam can position correctly in cracks of a non-uniform design: Those that flare outward or inward or that feature pin scars.  The majority of the cams you buy will be standard, but you might want to consider offering a few offset cams into the mix for greater gear diversity.

Stem Structure

At one time stems were made with a rigid design, but after discovering this design caused difficulties with cam positioning, the stems were made with a greater degree of flexibility.  When weight is applied to the stems, they can bend, and this makes cams placement a lot easier.

As mentioned earlier, you can choose from single or U-stem cams, both of which have advantages and disadvantages.

Single Cable: Very thin in design, these cams fit easily in very unusually shaped pockets or in narrow crevices and cracks. If you have fairly big hands you’ll likely prefer this option, as they are far easier to handle than the U-stem cams available.

The trigger on these cams takes a bit more effort to manipulate though, whereas the U-stems allow for single finger and thumb operation.

U-Stem Cams: Clearly, the ease of operation makes U-stems ideal for the climber looking for the easiest to manipulate cams, and these units are equally easy to retract. However, these cams do have a profile that is larger than single cams, and this makes it more difficult to use the units inside smaller areas.

People with larger hands have a hard time using the U-stem variants. Thus, sizing cams before buying is incredibly important: It ensures usability and comfort.

So Many Cam Choices!

If you are new to rock climbing endeavors, you might want to limit your investment in cams, at least in the beginning. As you learn and discover you like the sport and you decide to become more serious about climbing, you can then invest in the more expensive variants.

It can be more affordable to invest in off-brand cams earlier on, but you’ll soon have to splurge a bit more for the higher quality cams the more difficult your climbs become.

If you have any suggestions for products that we’ve neglected to mention in this article, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you.

4 thoughts on “The Best Climbing Cams: Add Them to Your Climbing Gear [2022 Update]”

  1. So happy with the Black Diamond. I love how compact the lobes are. They fit in things that nothing else will. From piton scars to fingertip pockets, these thing go everywhere with me now. Cannot wait until they make more sizes in these little beasts. You will not regret getting this cam!

    Reply
  2. Yes, the Black Diamond is a great camera to have! Most of my buddies have this and they enjoyed using them – very easy to hold and use! They are very hardy, too and will last for years!

    Reply
  3. Always went for the Metolius Master Cam but they seem to have been discontinued. Can you confirm this? Switched to the Ultralights (which have replaced the Masters?). The thumb loop is no longer present on this updated cam but that’s not a major issue for me, unlike a lot of climbers on the internet! The way I see it, the only part of the thumb loop that I used was the top of the stem to press against my fingers pulling the trigger. So no great loss! Changes to the colors, sizing and numbering system are bigger issues for me.

    Reply
  4. I don’t think the Metolius has been discontinued but rather the design was updated. A quick check at their site will confirm this. The difference with the Ultralight – well, they are more affordable and some features were enhanced for a greater user experience.

    Reply

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