Black Diamond Camalot C4.75

793661-262307

Climbers might have Ultralight and Offset Camalots these days, but Black Diamond hasn't upgraded the original C4 in over a decade. Or at least, it hadn't. The new Black Diamond Camalot C4 is now lighter and more convenient than ever before. This generation is 10% lighter than the previous, and while the Ultralights weigh 17% lighter than last decade's C4, this new generation didn't forgo the strength that Ultralights did. The shape, camming angle, and placement ranges are all the same as the original Camalot—because if it isn't broken, don't fix it—Black Diamond simply removed as much weight as possible without inhibiting strength.

This Camalot generation isn't just lighter than the last generation; it's also more convenient than any cam Black Diamond has ever made. For starters, Black Diamond made the larger cams with stiffer stems and the smaller cams with more flexible stems so they all have the same flex; the 6 no longer feels wobblier than the .3. The larger cams have unique trigger keepers that lock the Camalots in a camming position to reduce racking volume, and the keepers detach with a simple pull of the trigger when you're climbing. Cams with the same color (5 and .5, for example) now come with bi-color slings for easier identification, and the sling's tags are tucked underneath the shorter bar-tacks for a cleaner look. Black Diamond also redesigned the tread pattern for a new look to commemorate a brand new generation of Camalots.