Technical Friends

An excellent, highly versatile, cost effective, and lightweight set of SLCDs. I've had the chance to use several climber's racks and am also familiar with the Metolius Powercams, Forged Friends, Camalots, Aliens, and Zeros. Here is how the Friends stack up against the competition.



Metolius Powercams - Similar weight and expansion range. Friends are slightly lighter. Similar price. Similar cam action. Friends have many more intermediate sizes that are used the most.



Forged Friends - Big advantage with price for the Forged. You can get really good deals on these. They are heavier. Similar expansion range. Similar cam action. Requires much greater care while placing then Tech Friends due to the rigid stem, Tech Friends have more intermediate sizes.



Camalots - Camalots are much more expensive. Camalots have a bigger expansion range. The double cam action on the Camalot makes them a little easier to place. Tech Friends have more intermediate sizes. Camalots are much heavier than Friends. You rack will way a lot more.



Aliens - Friends, in the small sizes, do not place as well as aliens. They are slightly heavier. Friends are not known for having the best product for under a #1 Friend. The Alien is a better small cam.



Zero - Wild Country's other cam. Specifically designed for small sizes. Extremely flexible both directions. Won't get a deformed stem like Aliens do after a fall. As easy to place as an Alien. An incredible small cam, much superior to the small Tech Friends.



My perfect, complete rack would have Zeros Z3 through Z6, Friends 1 to 3, including all intermediate sizes, Camalots 3.5 and 4 (where expansion range is critical), and a couple big bros to protect large offwidths.



I would highly recommend Technical Friends sizes 1 through 3 to anyone.

By far one of my favorite cams, tied with camalots. I have a few different brands on my rack and I have no complaints with my friends, just my metolious power cams, dont care for them to much, there small camming range tends to SUCK. But the friends are bomer and the are the best feeling cams in the bigger sizes, others tend to wobble.

I have a double set .5 to 3. Love the flex for horizontal cracks. Over 3 I have the BD. They have a little wider range and seem to grab a little better.