Reviews You Can Rely On

Black Diamond Talon Review

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black diamond talon climbing hooks
Black Diamond Talon
Credit: BlackDiamondEquipment.com
Price:  $20 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Apr 14, 2010

Our Analysis

The Black Diamond Talon is one of the best hooks made for hard granite. Sandstone edges small edges are generally too weak for it and will crumple under weight and destroy delicate features of the route. It is definitely not a hook you would likely place blindly like you could potentially do with a big hook. It gives three different options including the sometime crucial BAT hook option. This and the Black Diamond Grappling Hook and the Black Diamond Cliffhanger are the only three hooks I take on 95% of big wall climbs. The three prong design gives it great stability.

Chris McNamara