I really think the biggest question on everyone's mind is, "is there potential in these to revolutionize traditional climbing?" Is the first person on the block who gets a set of these going to be able to put up a slew of FAs, or are the funky placements that Totem cams will hold in too rare to make a big difference?

I don't think the lack of cam placements has limited the real leading climbers out there very much. I expect the people in this thread are curious, and want to make easier climbs safer.

Well, I'll do my best at throwing these things in funky placements, setting good gear below, and jumping off... Maybe I can answer some of those questions, but I don't think there is the revolutionary potential you're imagining. You're talking about marginal placements suddenly becoming bomber and I don't think that's going to consistently happen with these things. I also think someone would get hurt if they made that assumption and pushed the cams limits assuming that these things would hold everything. That said, I can't wait to get these out on the rock to see what they can do!

Josh

Does the width of the stem force you to place them in a more horizontal orientation than a similar sized alien in pin scars that bottom out? That sort of placement is the main reason I think C3s suck. Also, how did the compare in terms of range to your aliens? Did they seem to place nicely in comparable spots? The metolius cams are nice, but never seem to go in like they should because of their terrible cam angle...

I'll try to write something up next week. I'm busy this week, and I'm hoping to get them out on the rock again this weekend at the Needles. I was planning on doing a preliminary post on them with specs and observations last weekend, but I was sick and just couldn't concentrate enough to accomplish the task.

Hopefully I'll get the chance to take some whips on them in various placements. I've also lined up a much more experienced aid climber than I to take them up a route. They might be able to provide a better comparison to aliens, but I haven't used aliens much in my climbing career. I've got a couple that I can compare things like head width though...

Josh

Anyone found photos of the smaller ones? The two smallest sizes might actually, if they're as good as they promise, someday kick the green and yellow Aliens off my primary rack.

GO

I've got the whole set- the smallest is nearly identical to the green alien- in range and head width, looks very similar from above with the direct loading cables looking a lot like the internal springs on the alien.

I'll see if i can find a friend with a decent camera to get some pics uoloaded at some point.

First Impression: Definitely bulky, the "double U" sling set up and the flaring nature of the main wires make these things about 3.5" wide when racked. Racking a whole run on one harness loop is pushing it. (3 out of 5)

Quality control seems high (5 out of 5), the anodization on the cam lobes is top notch. I worry about the small pins used to anchor the wires in the grooves on the cam lobes being popped out if you were really digging at it if it were overcammed and stuck.

Cam action is not quite as smooth as other cams due to friction in the trigger/ main wires (you can feel them moving past eachother) but that isnt a big deal at all in my opinion, (4 out of 5) on trigger action.

I think the falls were closer to 15+ feet as we were frequently landing next to the fixed pin on the face as you move out of the flare from the jug near the top. As Price said we expected them to hold just fine, its a cam, so, after confirming that they held just fine in a good placement, I placed a few marginal placements, and backed them up with (what else) a BD cam, and started ripping them out. Several placements I thought were marginal yet sufficient ripped, I do not believe this is do to the design aspects of the cam, as many other factors play into when a cam will or will not hold.

From an aid only standpoint, when loading two lobes is desired, the design elements of this cam really shine through. With the main wires attached directly to the lobes, the loaded force is in a much more parallel plane than with a main hub/ axel design such as a BD cam where the force is shifted several centimeters out from the cam lobes, making the cam want to twist out of the placement. (5 out of 5)

Overall: Again, Quality. The attention to detail and quality control on these things is outstanding. A little too bulky for my taste, I cannot see a whole lot gained over what is already on the market especially at the price unless you are consistently placing with only two lobes in the rock in an aid scenario.

Ill give em 4 out of 5