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CAMP Dyneema Tricam Review

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CAMP Dyneema Tricam Review (CAMP Dyneema Tricam)
CAMP Dyneema Tricam
Credit: camp-usa.com
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   CAMP
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Apr 16, 2010
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OVERALL
SCORE
  • Flared cracks - 15% 5.0
  • Horizontal Cracks - 10% 7.0
  • Tight placements - 15% 7.0
  • Walking - 15% 4.0
  • Durability - 15% 10.0
  • Aid Climbing - 5% 6.0
  • Free Climbing - 10% 6.0
  • compactness_lightweight - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The CAMP Dyneema Tricam is different than the regular nylon CAMP Tricam in four ways:
REASONS TO BUY
Simple
Fun to place
Inexpensive
Great in pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited applications
Walk easily unless placed in tight spots in which case they are tricky to clean
  • they use dyneema instead of nylon that is slightly stronger
  • they are annodized
  • they are only available in four sizes (nylon tricams available in 14 sizes)
  • they are $1 more expensive
Overall we feel all these differences are pretty minor. We don't have a preference of Dyneema over nylon.

Tricams offer protection in shallow pocketed placements. Occasionally that is in granite but usually it occurs in limestone or other pocketed rock. Tricams have a strong following from old school climbers.
I don't consider them mandatory for any Yosemite or sandstone routes, but climber in more pocketed areas often swear by them. That said, usually a cam with a flexible stem and narrow head will work in a tricam placement.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


Most of all, Tricams are just fun to place due to three things:
  • it can be hard to find a good placement
  • sometimes they work when it seems nothing else will
  • their is something cool about their simplicity (like a hex)
In pocketed areas, they can sometimes be the most bomber piece. They are durable and relatively cheap compared to a cam.

Dislikes


You really have to be careful about tricams walking. Use long runners. Really long runners or they will take a walk. Ironically, event they they walk easily, they can also be really hard to clean and often get fixed. They are used infrequently, but somehow show up fixed all over El Capitan. That could be because many people use a hammer with them: a big no no.

Best Application


Tricams are ideal in pocketed areas or areas with horizontals. Gunks climbers swear by them.

Value


They are cheap compared to cams. However, when thought of as a specialty piece that will not be used much compared to a cam, they are a bit of an extra.

Other Versions


CAMP Tricam
camp dyneema tricam - camp tricam
CAMP Tricam
Credit: camp-usa.com
  • Cost - $24 per tricam
  • Available in a full spectrum of sizes from micro to massive
  • Nylon slings and no anodization of the tricam

— Chris McNamara
 
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