It works great, but we suspect that this will be a potential durability concern over time, although our testing has not yet produced any problems. That said, most of the "Alien" style designs, which have single axle heads, single wire stems, and a woven trigger sheath, are a fair bit lighter. But their most epic feature … $79.95. They range from #0 up to .75, with the .3-.75 overlapping with standard Camalot C4s and .4-.75 overlapping with Camalot Ultralights, so prospective buyers will need to decide which types of units they want in these sizes. These stems also bend equally well in all directions, so it's not only pure horizontals where the flexibility proves to be an advantage. Also, Black Diamond is not selling trigger repair kits, and is also not authorizing third party repairs, and so if you experience a blown trigger wire, you must send the unit back to them for repair, for a fee. We tested these cams extensively for three months immediately after they were released, and had no issue with their durability during that short time. 1.9 Stars out of 19 Reviews. Most notably, the green 0, with a 7.5mm bottom range, is now smaller than the smallest C3, and adds a fair bit of range on the bottom end below the .1, which used to be the smallest size. They have a flexible stem, which allows them to bend over edges like this one at Smith Rock, without deforming. The Z4's replace the X4s in BD's lineup, which have been discontinued, and also overlap with the size range of the old C3s, which were discontinued a while ago. Black Diamond Z4s present an upgrade over previous versions by unleashing new and innovative technology while also addressing the concerns raised by both athletes and consumers. Aliens are slightly lighter, but the difference is negligible. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Der Camalot Z4 ist unser neuer Standard im Bereich der Camalots mit einem Mittelsteg. While there is no perfect micro cam, these units are a vast improvement over their predecessors and have quickly become our favorite small cams. Black Diamond … When free climbing, you want to be able to quickly identify the cam you need, remove it from your harness and place it properly and effectively — and you may need to do this very quickly! Black Diamond Camalot Z4 4.9 out of 5 stars 21 ratings. This feature does work, although it is a lot more effective in the smaller sizes than the larger ones, where the weight of the head works as an effective lever to induce some stem floppiness. A wider range means you can far more easily shove a slightly mis-sized unit into a placement. $69.95. Check back later for our opinions and experiences as we manage to use them for this use. The new standard when it comes to single-stem cams, the Camalot Z4 features our game-changing RigidFlex stem design, which as the name implies, stays rigid while placing them, yet flexes when you … Extending such a placement with a sling can also help direct potential fall forces downward without loading the stem over the edge. The engineers at Black Diamond created two patents for the Z4: the OmniFlex twisted dual-cable stem and the RigidFlex Stem. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Black Diamond Equipment, European Headquarters. Stoppers. $69.95. The Black Diamond Camalot Z4 Cam is a revolutionary piece of gear for trad climbing. Got feedback? Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Add to cart to see price . Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! However, placed poorly or not extended properly, these cams can walk just like other Camalots do. A rigid stem is preferable when placing and removing cams, because it transfers the movement of your hand into the camming head, making it easy to wiggle in or out. The RigidFlex stem allows … … In the two larger sizes shown, the purple and grey, the cams are roughly the same width, whereas the two smaller sizes, blue and yellow, the Z4s actually have a narrower head. Black Diamond … This is a great example of where a cam that walks could get pushed deeper into the crack to where it would become very difficult, or impossible, to get out. Camalot™ Z4 Offset. Aid climbing can take you to the tops of giant big walls, and while we think these cams will work relatively well for this purpose, especially in the offset sizes, we don't see them becoming cult classics like totems or aliens. After nearly 100 prototypes, Black Diamond’s new Z4 cams will replace two cam lines, the C3 and the X4, with this ideal notion that a cam that can be both stiff and flexible at the right time. Due to the shutdown of national parks during the Covid-19 crisis, specifically Yosemite, we were not able to test these cams while aid climbing before publishing this review. The flexible stem helps to cut down on the walking action, as the movement of the sling from the rope can be mitigated by the stem flexing. Black Diamond Camalot Z4 £76.50 £85.00 Save 10% The idea behind the Camalot Z4 is to have a single-stem micro-cam that stays rigid … Hiker Hunger 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles –Ultralight & Collapsible with Quick ... Liberty Diamond 2 Bolt Oversized Scooter Clamp (Black), VZ Grips Smith & Wesson K/L-Frame Tactical Diamond Round Bottom (Black Gray), VZ Grips Smith & Wesson N-Frame Tactical Diamond Round Bottom (Black Gray). Designing and constructing the world's best climbing, skiing & mountain gear since 1957. The convenient thumb loop makes it easy to quickly grab the cam and pull the trigger, with no adjustment needed. Four independent trigger wires parallel the stem on the inside of this black plastic sheath that is cut like a slinky so it can accordian back and forth as the cam bends. Climbing gear is put under incredible strain, and as of publication, there simply has not been enough time and use in the community in general for us to comment on what true durability concerns, or advantages, there are. The flexible stem, shown to great effect here, allows the rope to pull in various directions on the cam without it necessarily walking deeper into the crack. There was a problem completing your request. The new line-up of Black Diamonds Z4 … Stopper Set Pro #1-13. They also use a double-axle design down to the .3 size, which allows for a wider range per cam. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. The new standard when it comes to single-stem cams, the Camalot Z4 features our game-changing RigidFlex stem design, which as the name implies, stays rigid while placing them, yet flexes when you climb past, ensuring easy handling and less walking for a solid placement you can rely on. Black Diamond Z4 Camalot. Black Diamond Camalot Z4 0.75. Other complaints against the X4 were that the stems were easily kinked, they were too heavy, and the heads were too wide. Wired Hexentrics. Features of Black Diamond Camalot Z4. REI Members get … Our only complaint is that on our yellow .2 sized unit, which has a single axle rather than the double axle in the larger units, it was possible for the cams to become aligned crookedly. With grippy, sandblasted lobes and a narrow head width, the four-lobed Z4s sunk reliably deep in thin fissures and pin scars. All trademarks property of their respective owners So let's get to the speculation! GearLab is reader-supported. In short, these are narrow-headed cams that fit well in shallow cracks. https://blog.weighmyrack.com/2020-black-diamond-z4-cams-z4-offset-cams The Black Diamond Z4s are much lighter than X4s and Dragonflies. Black Diamond designed the Z4 range of Camalots with BD's top trad athletes to ensure everything any climber could ever want in a cam. Black Diamond. Please try your search again later. Black Diamond Z4s present an upgrade over previous versions by unleashing new and innovative technology while also addressing the concerns raised by both athletes and consumers. The head of the new Black Diamond Z4 cam, which will be available in February 2020. Featuring seven different sizes and 4 lobes for each, it's all about placement and protection. ... Hier bei Black Diamond … $10.95. This is achieved through the use of independently floating trigger wires. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. This item ships for FREE! Designing and constructing the world's best climbing, skiing & mountain gear since 1957. Stopper Set #4-13. How can we improve GearLab? The full range of Z4s includes seven different cams that go from the smallest currently made (7.5 mm, .29 in.) Please try again. Black Diamond Equipment. Climbing magazine just posted this article outlining the new black diamond Z4 micro cam.Seems like it will be a replacement for the x4's and the C3's with the same head width as the c3 … Please try again. Black Diamond is releasing a new line of small cams called the Z4 expected out at the end of 2019 or start of 2020. There are 0 customer reviews and 22 customer ratings. With the Z4's dual twisted wire stem, it should be much harder to kink the stem, and these units are also considerably lighter and have narrower heads — in line with the old C3 head width. Learn what customers are saying about this ring. Write a Review. Features of Black Diamond Camalot Z4 RigidFlex stem stays rigid in-hand for easy placement, but flexes once placed to reduce walking Dual twisted cable construction for uniform flex … DMM dragonflies have a … The Camalot™ Z4 is a revolutionary piece of kit, Black Diamond has created a single-stemmed cam that is ridged in the hand but flexes once placed, this is because of the independently floating trigger wires, … We think both new and experienced climbers alike will appreciate having them on their rack, and will benefit from their many advantages over other small cam designs. They use the same color scheme as other BD cams, but the sewn Dynex sling comes in a checkered pattern (white/cam color) so that they can be easily differentiated on the harness. This is pretty light, especially considering how many wires are used to make up the stem, that it's a four cam unit, and that many of the units have double axles in the heads. Das revolutionäre RigidFlex-Stegdesign bleibt beim Platzieren starr und geht beim Vorbeiklettern in einen leichten Flexmodus über. Black Diamond presents the new and revolutionary Camalot Z4. They are currently the only micro cams that BD makes. The Z4s include new technology including the RigidFlex stem, and use the same BD color coding, thumb loop, and easy trigger pull that make them a favorite choice for free climbing. While it seems this sheath may be a durability concern, we have yet to hear of, or experience, any issues. Black Diamond Equipment - Trekker Gloves - Denim - Small, Black Diamond Quickdraw Probe Tour, Fire Red, Black Diamond Equipment - Vapor Helmet - Envy Green - Small/Medium, Black Diamond Equipment - Shadow Climbing Shoes - Black - Size 4.5. Black Diamond Camalot Z4 4.9 out of 5 stars 21 ratings. The most notable feature on these cams is the new RigidFlex stem, which uses two twisted cables as a stem in the larger sizes, and claims to be flexible when placed, but rigid when the trigger bar is pulled, thereby aiding in placement and removal. Born from a heart-to-heart with Black Diamond's top trad-climbing BD Athletes Hazel Findlay, Carlo Traversi, Sam Elias, and Babsi Zangerl, the Camalot Z4 is the realization of a dream: to have a single … Black Diamond Camalot Z4 0.05. Even more pertinent, however, is the individual cam range, which means how much space a single unit can fill in a crack. 5.0 (2) View the 2 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars. Black Diamond designed the Z4 range of Camalots with BD's top trad athletes to ensure everything any climber could ever want in a cam. The Z4s on the right compared to the X4s, which they replace, and are no longer in production. John Schaefer not aid climbing as he seconds a pitch on the 8-pitch Savelli Express in Ophir while testing Z4 cams. The Black Diamond Camalot Z4 cams have been designed with input from the company's top trad climbers, the result is a single stem cam which stays rigid when in your hand, but has flex when placed. The individual size range for Z4s is as good as all Camalots, and far better than any of the single axle competitors, which greatly adds to both their ease of placing, as well as their versatility. Despite the color coordination, the BD have larger range per unit, and so the two brands do not match up exactly for ideal placements. Courtesy Black Diamond The Climbing staff recently had the opportunity to preview Black Diamond's … At 2.8 ounces for a 1 inch piece, this unit is lighter than predecessors in the BD lineup, but is not in competition for the lightest finger sized piece you can buy. Get big deals on new & used Black Diamond gear at Geartrade.com. An entire set of these seven cams would end up weighing 14.82 ounces, according to BD's weights, or slightly less than a pound. These units retail for the same price, regardless of which size you choose, and are only a few dollars more expensive than comparably sized Camalot C4s, but are significantly less expensive than Camalot Ultralights. The Black Diamond Camalot Z4 cams have been designed with input from the company's top trad climbers, the result is a single stem cam which stays rigid when in your hand, but has flex when … Finally, climbers can now squeeze a single-stemmed camming … Climbing magazine just posted this article outlining the new black diamond Z4 micro cam.Seems like it will be a replacement for the x4's and the C3's with the same head width as the c3 units. $74.95. RigidFlex stem stays rigid in-hand for easy placement, but flexes once placed to reduce walking; Dual twisted cable construction for uniform flex on larger sizes; single … Placing cams into tight, shallow cracks requires a narrow head that won't bottom out before all four cam lobes have the opportunity to make contact with the rock. Designing and constructing the world's best climbing, skiing & mountain gear since 1957. RigidFlex stem stays rigid in-hand for easy placement, but flexes once placed to reduce walking; Dual twisted cable construction for uniform flex on larger sizes; single cable construction on smaller sizes to avoid buckling and reduce trigger profile Find answers in product info, Q&As, reviews. A close up of the flexible trigger wire mechanism. Building a rack of cams can be confusing and expensive... A camming device is often referred to as a "camming unit"... the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Super light, durable, easy to place while free climbing, great range, Great individual cam range, very narrow heads, stiff yet flexible stem, extendable sling, Fantastic design, smallest cam in the world, great strength, extendable sling, flexible stem, Expensive, need for potential early retirement, Pricey, not the lightest, soft aluminum alloy in cam lobes can be damaged easily, Heavy compared to Ultralight C4s and Metolius, Not available in offset sizes, smaller individual cam range, action on smaller cams not as smooth as larger cams, A Top Pick for smaller sizes due to the widest range and incredible ease of use, These cams are awesome for long Yosemite free climbs and Indian Creek splitters, Very fine tuned design that integrates into a rack very well due to matching sizes and colors, These are the most popular cams at Indian Creek due to their great range and durability, Worthy of our Top Pick for small cams due to their excellent design and performance. These cams have relatively short slings (3.75"), making it more likely that the rope may pull on the unit if you don't extend them with a quickdraw or extendable runner. Black Diamond’s new, highly anticipated Z4 cams came out earlier this year, much to the pleasure of many trad climbing enthusiasts. Featuring a similar head-width as our old Camalot C3 design, but with 4 lobes that are sandblasted for better holding power, the Z4’s are not only an upgrade, but are also available is smaller sizes—starting … Black Diamond Equipment, European Headquarters. Offset Stoppers. Let us know! Black Diamond 2" x 60' Clear Safety Griptape Non Skid Grit for Stairs & More Anti S... VZ Grips Smith & Wesson N-Frame Tactical Diamonds Round Bottom to Square Conversion... Black Diamond 2" x 30' Caution Safety Griptape Non Skid Grit for Stairs & More Anti... VZ Grips Smith & Wesson K/L-Frame Tactical Diamond Square Bottom (Black Cherry). The Z4 help accomplish all of these tasks and are a fantastic choice for free climbing on all types of stone. up to the green .75 size (42.1 mm, 1.66 in.). First there was the original Camalot, which still continues to be regarded as the gold standard of camming devices everywhere, and then the C3, X4, and current Ultralight models lightened up trad racks over the past few seasons. Item # 169038. Furthermore, the double-twisting cable design in the .3 and above sized units means that if weighted over an edge, the two cables can actually shift somewhat dynamically in relation to each other, lessening the chance of a catastrophic kink in the cable that would necessitate retirement. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. It weighs about 0.4 ounces less than the old X4, so weight has been cut. Black Diamond redesigned Camalot C4 is 10% lighter with our classic, cornerstone cams, and feature a more modern design. Diamond Z4 is a cubic zirconia ring that is advertised to simulate the look of more expensive diamonds. Price: $69.95 & Free Return on some sizes and colors Select Size to see the return policy for the item; Color: One Color Size: Select. The double axle design allows for a greater range of placement per unit, which means that when you grab a grey .4 and shove it into a changing and constricting crack like this one, it is more likely to sit within the ideal range, a very handy feature for free climbing near your limit. Close. By pulling the trigger like this the stem becomes more rigid, which makes it easier to slide out of the crack, especially in a funky placement where it needs to be wiggled around a bit. NewDoar Climbing Gear Downhill Equipment, Descender Rappel Rock Climbing Descending... Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes - Kid's Macaw 3. Here at Black Diamond it's all about climbing and skiing. Your question might be answered by sellers, manufacturers, or customers who bought this product. Following an awesome trad corner in Ophir, what crack climbing dreams are made of. They lack two features that are a boon while aid climbing: the ability to independently manipulate individual lobes, a large reason why Totem Cams are the top choice for aid climbers, and round shaped lobes, common among the "Alien" style designs, that often fit into blown out pin scars a bit better. The Black Diamond Z4 is an exception, and is a great middle ground between these two previous cam designs. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear, Our favorite small cams are a breeze to place and effectively incorporate innovative technology. The lobes are made out of a harder aluminum alloy than many other small cams, so they should see less deformation with repeated use, and are both sandblasted and not annodized in order to improve the grip against smoother rocks. For small cams, this is a very wide range, and the flexible stem design is not practical for any larger head size. The Black Diamond Camalot Z4 & Z4 Offset cams. This feature directly addresses one of the principal complaints against the X4 — that they were too floppy — and in this regard is an improvement. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. 5 Star: 21% 4 Star: 0% 3 Star: 0% 2 Star: 5% 1 Star: 73%. Finally, climbers can now squeeze a single-stemmed camming … Save up to 80% or more on new Black Diamond Camalot Z4 Camming Devices. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Wide range per unit, light, rigid when placing but flexible when placed, narrow head width, thumb loop, smallest unit currently made, Not the most affordable, smaller units lack double axle and aren’t as smooth, trigger wires can’t be replaced at home. Black Diamond is claiming that the new Z4’s combine the best of both … Testing cams on some of the awesome parallel sided cracks of the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock, Alon Dahari reaches for the Z4s, the perfect tool for this finger sized splitter. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. The new standard when it comes to offset single-stem cams, the Camalot Z4 Offsets feature our game-changing RigidFlex stem design, which as … In general, narrow cam heads, flexible stems, very small sizes, and offset units are all great advantages when aid climbing, and the Z4s have all of these attributes, so we expect them to function pretty well, at least on mellower clean aid routes.