Climbing friend They were invented by aerospace engineer and climber Ray Jardine and manufactured by Wild Country in 1977. Al's has totems on sale for $71 bucks a pop right now. 3) up to 3 and haven't felt the need for anything more (stoppers and tricams fill gaps for me). Steve Levin, in Climbing No. It is light and flexible (you can bend it on itself easily) and it features Totem's patented Direct Loading Camming Device system, which allows for the loads to be equally applied on each lobe. Either solo or as a group of lost nature scouts, your only hope of rescue from a mysterious island is to scale the mountain at its center. It is a high-end friend suitable for the most demanding climbers. Subscribe to our Feb 12, 2024 · When Friends hit the market, some climbers denounced them as unethical, saying they made climbing too easy. The clamping mechanism (4) is retractable, mobile and formed by a central block, unique or divided into two symmetrical parts, articulated with at least one cam on each of the sides thereof, said cams having curved toothed edges A cornerstone of climbing since 1987, the Camalot C4 is the standard for trad climbing. I picked up a few to fill in some spots between friend sizes and avoided anything (green/purple) that matched up current sizes. Featuring light sculpted lobes and our innovative trigger keeper for compact racking with sizes #4-#8. 4, 0. The key to his design was using a constant cam angle, of 13. climbUnity wants to help you to build a community by Shop Wild Country Climbing Friend Set | 5 Star Rating on 7 Reviews for Wild Country Climbing Friend Set + Free Shipping over $49. I was curious how long the actual body of the cam should last. Cams Climbing cams (A. The Totem Cam allows for two sling Nov 22, 2021 · Now it’s time to find good climbing partners. In this game, players must climb out of a deep pit while tied to a friend. These active protection devices use springs, cables and cam lobes to lodge in cracks in the rock. 5, color Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. Rock Climbing & Trad Climbing: Gear, Hardware & Equipment What are the rock climbing gear and hardware essentials you will find here? - Rock climbing friends/cams: they are placed in the mountain rock, holding the rope. Friend climbing in dreams often signifies a need for support, a desire for connection, or a challenge in a relationship. Nov 25, 2024 · Visit Coeur Climbing to experience it for yourself! We're beginner-friendly and offer an Intro to Climbing class to help you get started. Usually it’s easy to walk into a climbing gym and make friends, but for many that option was not on the table. They Friends represent the most revolutionary protection device ever created in the climbing community and history. On my way to the top, I stole someone’s beer and held it out in front of me. Friend for climbing. Apr 4, 2025 · If you plan on trad climbing, cams are essential. The New Friends features a two-axis construction and single stem, is available in three sizes, and takes inspiration from the first friend invented in the 1970s by the genius of Mark Vallance. Oct 29, 2025 · If you’re buying your friend a chalk bag, they’re going to need some climbing chalk to go in it! Friction Labs chalk is some of the best quality chalk you can get, providing better performance and drier hands for less chalk – ideal for sending long routes on sunny days! Nov 12, 2025 · 60 of the Best Gifts for Climbers (2025 Gift Guide) Let me help you out! If you’ve got a friend, relative, or partner who really loves climbing, and you are stumped on what to get them, I’m going to separate my gift ideas for rock climbers into 7 core sections for you: Gifts for Rock Climbers Under $25 (for those of you on a budget) Gifts for Boulderers Gifts for Sport Climbers Gifts for Wild Country rigid Friend cams: two from 1980s and one from 1990s. Tested and proven by decades of climbers, the Wild Country Friend 6-cam set (#0. From the Black Diamond Camalot (C4, X4, C3 and the Ultralight) to the Alien Cam, Kouba, Wild Country, Totem and many other brands. “And to girls that break your heart. In our online store you can find both single friend of all sizes and complete friend sets. The company is based in Tideswell in the English Peak District, close to some of the UK's most popular climbing areas. My throat tightened. At GearLab, our roots are in rock climbing, as the website started as an offshoot of SuperTopo. Jan 12, 2025 · Looking for a gift that the rock climber in your life will really use? Here are the best gifts for rock climbers, from an avid rock climber. Wild Country Friends is the new friend designed by the English brand and intended for traditional climbing. Many people who only boulder will just go whenever, on their own, and either project solo or find buddies at the gym. From creating the Friend, the first modern spring-loaded camming device, to the Revo, the first automatically locking belay device, we’re dedicated to crafting gear that lets climbers pursue the art of pure climbing in their Aug 24, 2017 · The camming device is one of the greatest pieces of climbing gear ever made, just try to imagine a world without them. After grabbing them I'm starting to Aug 3, 2022 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. What are rock climbing friends? Like other climbing devices such as belays, carabiners and quickdraws, harnesses, a climbing friend or cam is also an essential safety piece used for secure holds when climbing. In 1977, Jardine made the first free ascent of The Phoenix, which was the first-ever consensus route at the grade of 5. The name “Friends” is often used for Set of friend for climbing. Wild Country Friends are one of the most important inventions in climbing. Our expert team has a combined 40 years of climbing experience and has field-tested the best climbing gear since the inception of our site 🧗♂️ The Kouba Friend Manta is a durable and versatile camming device, ideal for trad climbing, crack protection, and multi-pitch routes. Friends represent the most revolutionary protection device ever created in the climbing community and history. Available in six Together is betterWhether you’re into bouldering or sport climbing, prefer the indoor gym or the thrill of outdoor crags, finding the right climbing partner has never been easier. “To douche bags!” I said gesturing to Brad. 75 degrees, which “is ubiquitous in nature, from seashells and pinecones to swirling barometric pressure gradients and the great spiral I would really like to make some climbing friends at my local gym, so I don't have to climb on my own. In order to give you the best experience when out climbing, we've got cams in Original Vintage Wild Country Friends Russian Mountaineer, Vitaly Abalokov, is credited with inventing the first spring loaded camming device though it was American climber, Ray Jardine, who perfected the idea and invented/ created the 'friend' in 1978. Wild Country was founded in a small shop in U. Jun 9, 2023 · Friends are devices made up of cams that can be used both as anchoring points during a climb in a crack, and as auxiliary protections during an aid climb: each situation requires differently designed equipment, which is why we give you some advice on how to choose the most suitable one for your type of climbing. Do you have what it takes to reach the PEAK?WORK TOGETHERNeed a Hand? You’ll need to rely on your friends to have any hope of scaling the mountain, which changes every Jan 8, 2012 · Friends Eight Signs a "Friend" Is a Social Climber Social climbers use friendships to enhance their own status. Nov 9, 2020 · The Wild Country Zero Friends have been newly redesigned and re-released in 2020, and are one of the best smaller camming devices you can buy today. Cams use a spring system that presses the jaws into the sides of the rock crack to hold their position firm. 5, 0. ” I bowed to Abby. Discover the hidden meaning behind this common dream symbol and learn how to interpret its messages. The story goes that whilst he and his climbing partner were experi Jun 19, 2018 · When Trad climbing be placed mobile backups like Friends or wedges in rock tears. Size 0. Climbing cams increase your safety, acting as anchor points in cracks and crevices where bolts are lacking. I heard that they are technically ok for a lifetime as long as the teeth are there and the cam generally functions as it should. Ray Jardine (born in 1944) is an American rock climber and rock-climbing equipment innovator, who specialized in traditional climbing and big wall climbing. Scale daily-changing mountains with friends, manage stamina, and survive the ascent. 51 (1978), wondered whether Friends’ use should lower a climb’s technical grade, and whether it would be poor style to repeat a climb originally protected with chocks while using cams. ’s Peak District, but it all started when Ray Jardine met Vallance in 1972 in Jan 30, 2018 · The Wild Country Friends takes old single axle, thumb loopless design, and updates this classic to compete neck and neck with modern cams. May 27, 2020 · The cam is a wonderful invention that almost singlehandedly ushered in the modern free-climbing era by making parallel-sided splitters safer. Looking to team up at your local spot? Or maybe you’re exploring new climbing Jul 17, 2017 · Jardine constructed the first Friends, “the ultimate climbing anchor,” with Kris Walker in gear manufacturer Bill Forrest’s machine shop. The review below is for the old Friend. K. There is a good reason for this. Wild Country is a major manufacturer of rock-climbing equipment and is most noted for introducing the Friend, a spring-loaded camming device. Cams are classed by climbers as active protection as they have moving parts. camming devices, also known as climbing friends, or more correctly Spring Loaded Camming Devices) are pieces of rock climbing equipment that fit into parallel-sided or even slightly flared cracks to provide protection. I don't want to disturb someone while they are doing a project, and when I have tried to speak to people in the gym the conversation doesn't continue. May 3, 2011 · The Technical Friend has been replaced by the new Double-Axle Friend Cam. Tres números en un solo friend (De 27 a 60 mm) Mar 13, 2018 · Since 1977, Wild Country has been at the forefront of product development in the climbing world, with a design philosophy that puts originality and practicality first. 1, 0. A friend or cam is a safety device used for securing alpine and sport climbing routes. Mar 13, 2018 · From creating the Friend, the first modern spring-loaded camming device, to the Revo, the first automatically locking belay device, we’re dedicated to crafting gear that lets climbers pursue the art of pure climbing in their everyday lives. Their short history began in 1977 when British climber Mark Vallance founded the company Wild Country, which would go on to produce the Friend. It looks like a dramatic improvement over the outdated single-axle Technical Friend. Rock Climbing Friends, Friend-Sets & Cams Rock climbing friends, or cams as they are also called, are some of the most popular climbing devices that we sell here at Wild Country. Friends are considered to be active protection as a result of their moving parts and the spring-loaded nature of these safety devices. If used for aid climbing the Totem Cam can be loaded only on two lobes, read the instructions for more information. A toast” I yelled, climbing onto a chair. Sep 13, 2022 · Rock climbing is a great way to make friends, but when all of your friendships are based on climbing, an injury can end your social life. Life expectancy of a cam I have a friend who was given a double rack of Black Diamond potato mashers from the 90s. Extraordinary holding power and unique capabilities with the patented Direct Loading system. Sep 14, 2025 · Totem Cam, the state-of-the-art cam for climbing. In 1979, with Bill Price, he became the first to free climb the West Face of El Capitan Best way to make friends is to do toprope/lead climbing so you actually have to coordinate to go climbing together, as partners. Connecting with other people that climb is the best way to integrate into the local climbing community, find people to join you on your next rock climbing trip, or have a regular group of new friends to meet up with. It’s an active camming device, which the term "active" also distinguishes it from other securing devices. I know some people don't want to socialise while they climb but I keep trying with no success. 2, and 0. While dating apps are helpful to meet fellow climbers, these meetings usually come with romantic expectations. Posted January 8, 2012 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader Dec 6, 2018 · Want to introduce a friend to climbing? Here are five ways to help make sure they have a great time—and want to come back for more. Here you can find both complete sets and the central sizes, the smaller ones or the larger ones. Team up in the PEAK game, the hit co-op climbing adventure. Friends, also known as “cams” are spring-loaded camming devices (SLCD). 75, 1, 2, 3) has wide, rock-friendly cam lobes, high-friction machined faces and light yet stiff hollow axles. Featuring a dual-axle design for What are rock climbing friends? Like other climbing devices such as belays, carabiners and quickdraws, harnesses, a climbing friend or cam is also an essential safety piece used for secure holds when climbing. Make sure you get the right rope size for your discipline! Oct 15, 2025 · If you have friends who are as obsessed with climbing as we are, here's our list of the best practical gifts for rock climbers they'll actually use. Based on the original Friend, Wild Country's Technical Friends features solid construction and a classic design. 13a (7c+) in climbing history. In this video, we are going to be playing Altitorture on Roblox. PEAK - PEAK is a co-op climbing game where the slightest mistake can spell your doom. “And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her. If you're already part of our climbing family, bring a friend on your next visit—you’ll expand your climbing community and perhaps even inspire them to fall in love with climbing, too!. Jun 18, 2021 · Despite their differences, climbing’s most famous besties get along because they share the same convictions, support each other’s harebrained schemes, and, of course, engage in some good When used for aid climbing, the Totem Cam allows the use of only two cams, greatly expanding the range of possible uses: READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. I've got a whole double rack of WC friends (except singles in the 0. The Totem Cam has the ability to be clipped in two points, allowing for two different lengths for the sling. A. Robust and reliable this Friend combines classic features and significant additions to create an intriguing mix of old and new. Any advice? The invention relates to a climbing friend comprising: a clamping mechanism (4) joined to a stem (1), a trigger (2), an anchoring belt or sling (6), and an axle (3). 75 constant cam angle provides the axis around which future climbers will place their trust. Over almost fifty years, though technology has evolved, they’ve kept their essence intact. From the well-known Black Diamond Camalot to many other brands. The operation of this tool is enhanced by the hot-forged lightweight alloy 6082 construction Totem's premier camming device is Totem Cam. At its core our 13. Our platform connects climbers of all levels, helping you find the perfect match based on your preferred style, location, and goals. climbUnity was born out of trying to find a better way to meet climbers and recreation buddies during a pandemic. How friends work and what you need to know when laying these clamps is explained by Andreas Trunz from Wild Country Central Europe.