Reviews You Can Rely On

Black Diamond Camalot Review

These are the perfect workhorse cams for any rack, keeping you off the ground for years
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black diamond camalot climbing cam review
Black Diamond Camalot C4
Credit: backcountry.com
Price:  $85 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Matt Bento ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 11, 2019
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 10
  • Free Climbing - 20% 9.0
  • Weight - 15% 6.0
  • Range - 15% 10.0
  • Horizontal Cracks - 15% 6.0
  • Tight Placements - 15% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 10.0
  • Walking - 5% 7.0
  • Aid Climbing - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Black Diamond C4 makes up the backbone of many a climber's rack. On any given October weekend, there are heaps of these things in Indian Creek, holding hundreds of falls and keeping everyone off the ground and out of the hospital. Their durability is unparalleled. We've had our racks of C4s endure years of hangdogging and bounce testing their way up valley granite and desert splitters. A flexible stem makes this workhorse of a cam bomber in horizontal placements, while the ergonomic thumb loop makes them easy to place when you're pumped silly. Check out our article on the best climbing cams to see how it ranks versus competitors.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Wide range
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy compared to Camalot Ultralights and Metolius

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line These are the most popular cams at Indian Creek due to their great range and durabilityThese cams are awesome for long Yosemite free climbs and Indian Creek splittersA top choice for smaller sizes due to the widest range and incredible ease of useVery fine tuned design that integrates into a rack very well due to matching sizes and colorsThe super light, narrow headed Ultralight Master Cam have you covered in small cracks and flares
Rating Categories Black Diamond Camalot Black Diamond Camal... Black Diamond Camal... Wild Country Zero F... Metolius Ultralight...
Free Climbing (20%)
9.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
Weight (15%)
6.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
10.0
Range (15%)
10.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
Horizontal Cracks (15%)
6.0
6.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Tight Placements (15%)
6.0
6.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
Durability (10%)
10.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
Walking (5%)
7.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
Aid Climbing (5%)
6.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
Specs Black Diamond Camalot Black Diamond Camal... Black Diamond Camal... Wild Country Zero F... Metolius Ultralight...
Weight (1 inch size piece) 3.28 oz 2.6 oz 2.8 oz. 2.7 oz 2.3 oz
Range (inches) .54-7.68" .61-4.51" .29" -1.66" .32 - 1.62" .34-2.81"
Sling Length (inches) 3.75" 3.75" 3.75" 3.75" - 7" 3.75"
Stem width above trigger
Single or Double Axle? Double Double Double down to .3 Single Single
Extendable Sling? No No No Yes No
Sling material Nylon Dyneema Dynex Dyneema Dyneema
High Clip in for Aid? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Cam Stops? Yes Yes Yes down to .3 No Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

In the past several years, BD added an awesome trigger keeper feature on the larger sizes, so they'll remain in a compact, retracted position when racked on your harness. Then, bam! They automatically expand when you pull the trigger. This feature is super useful, as we used jam sticks into the lobes of our larger cams to make them less bulky to carry around. Hopefully, somebody got a raise for that one. Additionally, a 10% weight reduction brings the C4 up to snuff with the competition from Wild Country and DMM.

Performance Comparison


black diamond camalot climbing cam review - though only four sizes are shown here, bd c4s are available 10...
Though only four sizes are shown here, BD C4s are available 10 sizes, covering more crack sizes than any other brand.
Credit: Matt Bento

Weight


Weighing in at 27.97 ounces, a set of C4s from .3 to a #3 doesn't have the mind-blowing weight savings as theCamalot Ultralights (21.79 ounces without the .3 size), the Metolius Ultralight Master Cams(23.3 ounces), and the Wild Country Friends (22.79 ounces, but without a .3 or .4 size). A set of Totem Cams will add 22.5 ounces to the load on your forearms, but doesn't include the #3 size. The same size run DMM Dragons weigh almost the same, but the extendable sling feature can potentially save you some weight, as you may not need to carry as many extendable draws. The advantage of the Camalot Ultralights is apparent when you grab a #2 off your harness and think you accidentally grabbed a .5.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - the new c4 (right) features the same lightweight lobes as the...
The new C4 (right) features the same lightweight lobes as the ultralight c4. The new C4 weighs 10% less than the older version.
Credit: Matt Bento

Range


The original double-axle design allows for a wider range than single-axle cams like the Fixe Alien Revolutions and the Metolius Ultralight Master Cams. A wider range also lets you carry fewer cams to protect the same range of sizes so that you can lighten your load, and you've got more room to carry more cams. We recommend carrying more cams. The Totem Cams have a single axle design, and they don't have quite as wide a range as the C4s, but they get pretty close (within a millimeter) in the larger sizes range due to the unique oblong shape of their lobes, which also makes them harder to remove if they get over cammed. C4s have the same range as their lightweight cousins, the Camalot Ultralights.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - the double axle design increases the range of the c4s and gives you...
The double axle design increases the range of the c4s and gives you a better chance of sinking a bomber placement on your first try.
Credit: Matt Bento

Horizontal Cracks


The stem on the C4s is flexible enough that they will bend when weighted in a horizontal placement and effectively engage the cam in the right direction of pull. However, cams with more flexible stems such as the Fixe Alien Revolution, the Black Diamond X4, and the Metolius Ultralight Mastercam perform much better in horizontal placements. The more rigid stem of the C4 is more prone to damage when you whip on them in horizontal slots, as the less flexible stem will bend under stress and won't be able to return to its original alignment. In finger sizes, we recommend the super flexible Fixe Alien Revolutions for when you need to plug some pro in horizontals. For larger hand sizes, Metolius Ultralight Mastercams and the Totem Cams are better suited for horizontal placements.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - while these cams are flexible enough to adequately protect...
While these cams are flexible enough to adequately protect horizontal cracks, we feel that a bendier cam like the Fixe Aliens works even better.
Credit: Matt Bento

Tight Placements


The C4's head with is the widest in the lineup, making them our last choice for weird, funky tight placements. The narrow-headed Totem Cams take the cake for these types of situations, even offering narrower cams in the hand sizes. In the finger size range, the Fixe Alien Revolutions are narrower and more flexible, increasing their performance and durability in pockets and weird holes. If you're a BD loyalist, the X4s are narrower and more flexible than the C4s and are available in sizes .1 to .75.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - would you fall on that? we wouldn't. in flares offsets and totem...
Would you fall on that? We wouldn't. In flares offsets and Totem cams work way better than C4s.
Credit: Matt Bento

Walking


When placed in their optimal camming position, these cams walk minimally. Sling them long, and walking isn't even an issue. The Fixe Alien Revolutions, Wild Country Friends and the DMM Dragon Cams all have a leg up on the C4 when it comes to walking because they have their extendable sling.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - in the larger sizes (4,5, and 6) bd has added a trigger keeper to...
In the larger sizes (4,5, and 6) Bd has added a trigger keeper to keep the cams in a more compact retracted position while they're on your harness. They release when you engage the trigger and spring out of the way.
Credit: Matt Bento

Durability


We love the C4s for their durability. Ropes and shoes wear out in a matter of months, vans break down, girlfriends leave after the vans break down, but the Black Diamond C4s keep on saving our butts season after season. The updated version has lighter lobes and a slightly wider trigger, but this doesn't affect their durability, and in our experience, they hold up to plugging, bumping, and whipping as well as the last design, and they still have solid cable loop, as opposed to the Ultralights Dyneema core. Keep them clean, lubed and save the more flexible cams for horizontal placements and these cams will last for years. When the nylon webbing starts looking shabby, get them reslung. BD recommends re-slinging every 2-5 years for cams with frequent use.

Aid Climbing


The thumb loop adds precious inches to every placement, and every inch adds up when you're crawling up El Cap, one piece at a time. It's also another place to Fifi into besides the sling or the biner. Regarding strange aid placements, like flares and pin scars, Totem Cams outperform the C4s every time because each side of the cam can load independently, essentially making it an offset cam, and the heads are narrower. More Flexible small cams like the Black Diamond X4s and the Fixe Alien Revolutions also hold better in flared placements. The Metolius Ultralight Mastercams have narrower heads and more flexible stems than the C4s, but our testers are disappointed with their lack of a thumb loop.

black diamond camalot climbing cam review - odd flaring pockets are not the camalots' forte. while this...
Odd flaring pockets are not the Camalots' Forte. While this placement held bodyweight, it wouldn't protect an actual fall.
Credit: Matt Bento

Free Climbing


Though not the lightest, Black Diamond C4s are awesome for free climbing! The low profile single stem design makes for plenty of room on your gear loops, and the color scheme for size identification is so well known among climbers that Wild Country and DMM have opted to used the same size/color combinations. The thumb loop makes a huge difference when placing gear under duress. While climbing at Indian Creek, our testers would strategically place cams without thumb loops down low, saving their C4s for higher when they had to contend with the mega pump. The stems on the C4 are also rigid enough that in a pinch, you can just shove them in a parallel crack without even pulling the triggers.

Best Applications


For their durability, ease of placement, and overall value, we recommend these cams to any climber looking build their first rack. Down the line, you're likely to pick up more specialized pieces like Aliens, Totem Cams or offset sizes, but the Black Diamond C4s will last pitch after pitch.

Value


C4s are durable, reliable, and our testers have used them for years. We think they are an excellent investment in your climbing future, especially compared to their more expensive, less durable ultralight cousins, the Camalot Ultralights. They are also more affordable than the DMM Dragon Cams and the Wild Country Friends, though these cams feature an extendable sling, which could save you a little bit of cheddar since you won't need as many alpine draws.

Conclusion


The Black Diamond C4 is an Iconic piece of equipment that has revolutionized the way we climb. We use BD sizing to describe crack sizes instead of inches. They are completely deserving of their veneration and popularity. The recent update only makes them better with the 10% weight reduction and the trigger keepers. If money is of no concern or you're weight obsessed, check out the Camalot Ultralights.

Matt Bento