No seriously, there are a few spots where hexes would conceivably be the best (or even only) protection options, but in 15 years of climbing in many different places I've not found those spots. Your time and money would be better spent learning about and buying stoppers, cams, and tricams.

I have my opinions on this, but I'm curious to hear others. Do you think it's important for someone new to trad to learn how to place hexes before learning how to place cams?

I also think you can tell an experienced climber because they carry Hexes.

Shit, I´m a noob!

6 beers in (<=me, right now)..."damned right you punter, you don't know 'nothin 'bout passive pro!"

Hey. I placed a hex in 1998! Nowadays I´d just bolt it.

I always try to use a nut or a hex 1st. I learned to climb with cams but after climbing for a while I took a step back and now only use I cam when nothing else will work. The cams are so forgiving and can be placed in a wide range of spots. I think it takes more skill to use a nut or hex in place of a cam. I almost feel like cams are cheating when I throw it in.

that being said I still bring them with me and I still use them. But learn the rock and use the right tool for the job.there is no right or wrong answer here.

A climber should be competent at using all the protection options available, then fling their hexes into box to gather dust along with that fig.8 warthog and bulldog until the first hoarfrost hits.

I agree with everything Cracklover said

---I also think you can tell an experienced climber because they carry Hexes.

Hexes are... more secure than cams. I can tell you in the last 30 years of guiding here at Seneca and 40+ rescues we've helped with many were from cams pulling always

The cams are so forgiving and can be placed in a wide range of spots. I think it takes more skill to use a nut or hex in place of a cam. I almost feel like cams are cheating when I throw it in.

no

It's kind of a weird question the way you ask it - Should climbers learn to place hexes before they learn to place cams. As though placing hexes might, somehow, help you learn to place cams. So the answer to that question is no. There is nothing about placing a hex that will help you place cams.

The more experienced a climber becomes, the less likely they are to carry hexes on any given route.

- not once - did I stop and think, "I wish I had hex."

I disagree with all this anti-hex talk. They're cheap (have you ever bailed on a cam?), lightweight and bomber. They're perfect for long alpine routes.

The OP asks the question as though learning to place cams and learning to place hexes is somehow a mutually exclusive proposition. I teach students the strengths and weaknesses and methods of placement on the same day. And Although we all mostly will place cams instead of hexes most of the time because they're usually a better protection option, hexes are in fact sometimes a better, safer protection form on alpine routes or anywhere the rock has loose blocks. Cams multiply the downward force of a fall into an outward force that is greater than the downward force applied to begin with, and can blow loose blocks out and get you killed. Passive devices (hexes) don't work that way, and as such are often a safer option in loose or blocky environments. And hexes weigh much, much less than an equal size cam, especially in the larger sizes, so supplementing your cam rack with a few hexes can save you some weight. Lastly, when you have to do a series of rappels on a remote route, which would you rather leave behind? a pair of ten dollar hexes, or a pair of 75 dollar cams? To pretend that only one of these tools should be used exclusively just shows people's lack of knowledge and experience in a wide variety of environments. I'm seeing a lot of lack of experience in these posts. Especially the ones who say "I've climbed X number of routes and never place hexes anymore, blah blah blah". They don't have any clue what they're talking about. There are plenty of dead people from cams blowing out a loose block and causing system failure. Back when cams first came out, there was an old kiwi guy called Dennis who used to hang out in the Valley. His was the first death I heard of due to cams causing an expando situation; he placed a couple cams under a boulder and lowered off, unleashing the boulder down on top of himself. fatal. The have been many, many other accidents and fatalities due to cams expanding things and either ripping out or causing rockfall that injured someone. So, kiddies, learn how to use all the tools at your disposal. But mostly, learn how to use the most important tool; judgement.

They're perfect for long alpine routes.