Best cams ever - Totem Cam

Totems are the future of cams! What makes these cam special boils down to a few basic design features that unleash placement potential. First, due to the cam's double axis design, a Totem's safe caming range is between 5% open to 100% open!! Apposed to black diamond c4's, which have the same caming range, but are only safe when 50% open to 90% open safe, meaning each Totem packs twice the placement potential than a C4!! Next, the double axis also allow Totem's to be placed off-set, eliminating the need to own an additional rack of off-set cams, should your projects require. Another feature of the simple double axis design is that that Totems are rated for body weight using a single set of lobes!! While this feature is recommended only for aid climbing, I have not hesitated to place a single set of lobes on extremely shallow placements in the middle of a runout.

In addition to the cutting-edge double axis design, Totems shine in other areas as well. The lobe heads more narrow, which opens up pin-scars and other small placements. The lobes are also made of a softer metal akin to the original Alien cam, providing a more secure catch. Some say this is a downside, because the cam will need to be retired faster. If you think protecting the life of your gear is more valuable than protecting your fall, then that is a valid argument. However I have some old original aliens and time and time again, that soft metal keeps catching without the need to retire. All in all, with totems, I frequently find G protection on R rated routes.

There are a few minor drawbacks--some say differences--to the Totem cam and areas that Totems, like all cams, can improve. The main drawback when compared to traditional BD C4's is that Totems cannot be placed passively, like a nut for instance, where C4's can be placed passively. A few reviewers have said Totem cams rack poorly and are more bulky, which for me, is not really a problem because I am grabbing carabiners off of my harness, that are ordered and color coordinated, so I have never had a problem with the form of Totems in terms of their function. The only real drawback I can think of is the difficulty in buying Totem cams because they are sold out everywhere. Luckily, I already have a double rack from Blue to Red, and own one black and orange...