Tricam

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A range of tricams

A Tricam is a type of climbing protection equipment, produced by Italian firm CAMP.

It is a passive or active device consisting of a shaped aluminium block attached to a length of webbing tape. The device is designed to be inserted into a crack in such a way that pulling on the tape makes the block cam against the crack, gripping the rock tighter. This camming action is achieved by the position of the pointed fulcrum of the block relative to the pin on which the webbing is wrapped. As the webbing is pulled, the downward force is pivoted onto the point which can bite into soft rock or ice and increases the holding power of the tricam. Tricams are generally not as easy to place as spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs) but are much cheaper, lighter, and have some of the highest kN ratings out of all rock climbing protection devices. Unlike SLCDs they are less likely to fail in the alpine environment as they have no moving parts to freeze, making them an excellent choice for a mountaineer's rack. They typically work best on sandstone or limestone as the fulcrum is more likely to bite into the soft rock.

Tricams are available in a range of sizes to suit cracks from 16mm to 140mm wide. They are especially useful in horizontal cracks, quarry drill holes, and limestone pockets, where they may be the only type of protection that works. The smaller sizes can also work well in old piton scars. They can also be used passively as nuts.

Setting the a tricam is relatively simple but takes practice to achieve proficiency. Care must be taken so that the tricam does not loosen while climbing above it's placement due to rope drag. Typically, this additional safety is provided by clipping a longer sling to the tricam. In addition to this weakness tricams can also exhibit welding characteristics after being subjected to a hard fall making them harder to clean and more likely to be left behind.

As manufactured they come in the following:

Size / Strength / LengthxWidth / Weight

  • 0.5 / 9 kN / 28mm x 16mm / 26g
  • 1 / 9 kN / 30mm x 20mm / 35g
  • 1.5 / 14 kN / 38mm x 26mm / 50g
  • 2 / 14 kN / 41mm x 29mm / 55g
  • 2.5 / 17 kN / 48mm x 32mm / 77g
  • 3 / 17 kN / 54mm x 38mm / 99g
  • 3.5 / 17 kN / 60mm x 41mm / 117g
  • 4 / 17 kN / 64mm x 45mm / 138g
  • 5 / 22 kN / 89mm x 57mm / 120g
  • 6 / 18 kN / 105mm x 73mm / 200g
  • 7 / 16 kN / 140mm x 92mm / 264g

External links

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