UKC Forums - REVIEW: Wild Country Big Friends: Sizes 5 and 6

REVIEW: Wild Country Big Friends: Sizes 5 and 6

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UKC Gear 10 May 2012

Craig Smith reviews Wild Country's new 'Big Friends': Sizes 5 and 6.

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/review.php?id=4590

PeteH 10 May 2012

In reply to UKC Gear:
Off-topic a bit, but relates to the photos in the article: does that E3 go straight up the crack of The Senate after starting in the chimney?

Cheers,
Pete.

climb the peak 12 May 2012

In reply to UKC Gear: what about the size 4 dragon 4cu cam, It's almost as big as the wild country size 5 and you can pick one up for less than £30

Craig Smith 14 May 2012

In reply to PeteH:

Yep. Start up Birthday Crack (the chimney) and climb for about 15ft until you are just below a jammed rock in the crack. Step right into the senate and run for the top.

Cheers,

C

Craig Smith 14 May 2012

In reply to climb the peak:

Hi,

I think you are mistaken, the Dragon 4 has the same camming range thereabouts as a Friend 4

DMM 4CU 4.0 Silver 64-100mm 224g

Friend 4.0 SILVER 63.25 - 101.83 mm 208 g

Best wishes,

Craig

popebenedictus 15 May 2012

In reply to Craig Smith:

However Rock Empire Pulsar cams do come in similar large sizes at 1/3 of the price (as advertised on everything-outdoors.co.uk)

Rock Empire Flexible Pulsar Cam size 6
Size 6 - Weight 258g, Strength 12 kN, Size Range 73-115 mm.
Price: £28.99 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Rock Empire Flexible Pulsar Cam size 7
Size 7 - Weight 322g, Strength 12 kN, Size Range 90-145 mm
Price: £29.99

54ms 15 May 2012

In reply to popebenedictus:

I've found that Rock Empire cams not to last as well as the more popular makes. That said I guess for sizes you don't use often, that's not the end of the world.

TobyA 15 May 2012

In reply to popebenedictus: I have the 6 and 7 Pulsar http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=47986 I don't think they are quite as big as the big friends. The 6 is the same size as a silver Camalot (dragon 6 I think) but with less range. The 7 is a bit bigger but not hugely. They are light and cheap, but the slings on them are rubbish (too short doubled) and they walk a lot more the more expensive models - probably to do with spring strength. I don't trust them to stay in place in the same way I do with my other more expensive cams.

Overall I'd say they are MUCH better than nothing, but not as good as the BD/WC equivalents.

jimtitt 15 May 2012

In reply to TobyA:
I use the big Rock Empire Comets which have a normal sling and are lighter, certainly the doubled slings on the Axels seem a bit short. For something I use about once in five years they do nicely at the price!