REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Tough
REASONS TO AVOID
Relatively heavy
Requires an additional carabiner to attach to harness
CAMP USA Nut Tool Review
This basic tool is up to the task even if you're short on cash
Credit: CAMP USA
RELATED: Best Nut Tools for Climbing
Our Verdict
The Camp USA Nut Tool takes a basic nut tool design and adds some ergonomics. The result feels like holding an ice tool made for babies. The rubberized handle feels nice, but our testers didn't find themselves actually holding the tool in its intended position and prefer a tool with a more rounded end for hammering on to bash out stuck nuts.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
CAMP USA Nut Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | | ||
| Price | $14.00 List $15.95 at Backcountry | $17.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $20.00 List $19.95 at Backcountry | $20.00 List $19.95 at REI | $19.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This tool will do the job, but we prefer models with a built-in carabiner | If it ain't broke, don't fix it; but you could probably fix a few loose bolts with this classic design | Simple and effective for saving your stuck nuts and cams | Any lighter and we'd have some serious reservations about this tool's durability | The only tool that comes with its own keeper cord |
| Rating Categories | CAMP USA Nut Tool | Metolius Torque | Black Diamond Wiregate | Metolius Feather | Wild Country Pro Key |
| Nut Cleaning (35%) | |||||
| Cam Cleaning (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | CAMP USA Nut Tool | Metolius Torque | Black Diamond Wiregate | Metolius Feather | Wild Country Pro Key |
| Weight | 2.64 oz | 2.30 oz | 1.62 oz | 0.74 oz | 3.84 oz |
| Length | 20.5 cm | 20.5 cm | 20.5 cm | 20.5 cm | 20.5 cm |
| Leash | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Clip-in Biner | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rounded End | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Aside from the unique handle, this tool is a bit of throwback to the days before nut tools had their own clip-in biner, so you'll need to dedicate an additional biner to attach it to your harness. We recommend our Editors' Choice award winner, the Metolius Torque, as it scores better than the camp tool in every metric.
Performance Comparison
This tool will require an additional carabiner for attaching it to your harness.
Credit: Matt Bento
Nut Cleaning
This steel tool is tough enough to take a serious beating but compared to the thinner Metolius Feather, it can't remove micro nuts from ultra-thin cracks quite as well.
This tool is ergonomic in one position, but not necessarily the position we always want to hold the tool when finaggling out placements.
Credit: Matt Bento
Cam Cleaning
The hooked end of this tool is adequately curved for hooking trigger bars and holes of the larger-sized cam lobes. This tool is too thick to get into the lobes of smaller cams and can't weasel in behind the lobes for wiggling and prying as well as a thinner tool.
Depending on the size of the carabiner you pair this tool with, you could run into some trouble getting it far back into cracks to retrieve cams that have walked.
Credit: Matt Bento
Ease of Handling
The handle of this tool has an ergonomic rubberized grip. If you hold it in its intended position it's comfortable for pulling and hooking things, but we feel find ourselves hammering with a tool if when we can't easily remove a nut by hand, so we didn't find the shape of the handle to be all that useful.
This is the shortest tool in our review by about a 1/4 inch.
Credit: Matt Bento
Durability
You probably won't find a tougher tool out there than this one. It's thick and heavy. During our testing period, we didn't notice any wear or degradation on the rubberized handle.
The head is plenty curved for fishing out cams and nuts, and stainless steel construction ensures that this tool can take a beating.
Credit: Matt Bento
Weight
The Camp Tool weighs 2.64 ounces according to our scale plus the weight of whatever carabiner you use to attach it to your harness, making it one of the heavier tools in the line-up. We found it curious that Camp doesn't offer a lighter option since they're known for their commitment to fast and light gear.
This is one of the heavier tools we reviewed and whatever carabiner you use to attach it to your harness will add additional weight.
Credit: Matt Bento
Value
This is one of the less expensive tools on the market, so if you're strapped for cash and don't have a nut tool, you might as well pick one up, because you can't afford to lose gear.
Conclusion
Don't go trad climbing without a nut tool. That being said, we feel you can do better than the Camp USA Nut Tool, specifically, our favorite nut tool, the Metolius Torque.
—
Matt Bento
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