Greg_W Posted January 24, 2003 Posted January 24, 2003 I like both. I always seem to find a placement for my TCU's and/or my two Aliens on multi-pitch climbs. I have large hands and sometimes I find the TCU's difficult to work the trigger on; don't have this problem with Aliens. Quote
dberdinka Posted January 24, 2003 Posted January 24, 2003 I was long a doubter, but Aliens rule! They can be completely bomber in a placement that you couldn't even get a TCU to fit or stick in. I think for the most part it's due to there single stem design, allowing them to be placed it constrictions where a TCUs stem would bind up against the rock. Only downside is that the action seems to get mucked up a little faster than TCUs. Regardless, when I have to get more or replace old gear I will definitely be picking up Aliens. Quote
snoboy Posted January 25, 2003 Posted January 25, 2003 Uhh, what Greg W said. Sometimes one works and the other don't. Carry both if the route demands that many pieces. If not, take the aliens and leave some draws behind. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 get a selection of both. Aliens are really a treat sometimes. Quote
rr666 Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 I think I would love aliens, but unfortunately I do not have any The few that I have used were great. someday I will own some.. I do have metolius TCU's, and I think they are great. Overall I would go for a combo, they complement each other well. Quote
Lambone Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 (edited) Sometimes one works and the other don't. I disagree, I've never seen a placement that a TCU would work in and an Alien would not, but have seen many circumstances where Aliens worked when TCU's blew out while bounce testing. In otherwords, Aliens allways work. Just my experience, usually obvious in pin scars... Edited January 26, 2003 by Lambone Quote
cracked Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 Weren't the Splitter Gear cams specifically produced for pin scars? At least, that's what one of the guys who started the company said. Quote
Lambone Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 The Splitter gears work ok for pin scars, but they don't even compare to Alien offsets. The best advantage to the Splitters is that they work good in shallow placements. I have one small one on my wall rack, but haven't used it much at all. Quote
mattp Posted January 26, 2003 Posted January 26, 2003 Lammy- In my opinion, the stiffer stems on the TCU's help when you are trying to stuff a piece into a tight crack at the end of your reach. This is a situation where I might be able to place a TCU and be unable to do with an Alien. Otherwise, I agree with your comment and I prefer the Alien's but I DO think they bung up faster. Quote
plexus Posted January 27, 2003 Posted January 27, 2003 Lammy- In my opinion, the stiffer stems on the TCU's help when you are trying to stuff a piece into a tight crack at the end of your reach. This is a situation where I might be able to place a TCU and be unable to do with an Alien. Otherwise, I agree with your comment and I prefer the Alien's but I DO think they bung up faster. Whatcha ya doing putting gear in way over yer head...you're supposed to put it at chest level always, and never, ever give somebody a hip belay I never cared for Met's cams that much, especially for the price. I own two Aliens, and I must admit, I never thought there was a whole helluva lot difference in cams (ease of contraction, trigger type, etc), but it seems like you can't make a bad placement with the Aliens. I've used them in spots I wouldn't thing a cam could work and hold a proper fall, but after testing them, they held. So another check for Aliens Quote
IceIceBaby Posted January 28, 2003 Posted January 28, 2003 I have them both and use them both however I do use the Aliens more Quote
Matt Posted January 28, 2003 Posted January 28, 2003 I have 5 aliens-- blue, green, yellow, red, orange. All are awesome. My favorite alien placement is the green alien at the very end of godzilla-- it always makes me feel warm and happy inside. Is that sick? Quote
Scott_J Posted January 30, 2003 Posted January 30, 2003 Metolius TCU's and ALiens: it took some time but I eventually own both and use them when the situation warrents. Aliens seem to be my friend when I am gripped. TCU's took some using before I liked them and then it was like a new girl friend...couldn't get enough of them. Quote
fleblebleb Posted February 2, 2003 Posted February 2, 2003 If I bring up Wild Country Zeros and DMM TCUs, is that thread creep? I need to get a set of small cams before the next season and I've been thinking about these four options... Quote
catbirdseat Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 Here's a newbie question. What are the circumstances under which an Alien or a Metolius TCU would work and something like a Flexible Friend, or a Camalot would not? Quote
JoshK Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 cat, aliens are great for horizontal cracks, where you have the stem loaded over an edge. you can get away with this due to their flexible stems. I ghetto-aided up so shit this past weekend by placing aliens in this way. I was daaaammn happy to have them. Quote
erik Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 CBS IN THEORY THEY ALL WORK. BUT SOME WORK BETTER THEN OTHERS.... IN THE SMALLER CAMS MET AND CCH JUST SEEM TO HAVE A BETTER FEEL FOR THEM. I DONT LIKE TO REALLY USE ALIENS FOR FREE CLIMBING. AS THE CAM ACTION GUMS UP PRETTY EASYILY. AND SINCE THE MAJORITY OF MACHINCAL CAM FALIURE COMES FROM POOR SPRING ACTION ON THE CAM. Quote
Fence_Sitter Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 catbirdseat said: Here's a newbie question. What are the circumstances under which an Alien or a Metolius TCU would work and something like a Flexible Friend, or a Camalot would not? i find that TCU's and aliens are great for pin scars because of their short axle length and their ability to be placed in shllow placements. I like aliens for their ease in placement and i like the TCU's for their ability to walk without walking (they can be tilted, but they dont seem to really walk in or out). that is just something that i noticed. my 2 cents. Quote
catbirdseat Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 JoshK said: cat, aliens are great for horizontal cracks, where you have the stem loaded over an edge. you can get away with this due to their flexible stems. I ghetto-aided up so shit this past weekend by placing aliens in this way. I was daaaammn happy to have them. Are the stems of Aliens more flexible than the stems of Flexible Friends or (in my case) the Clog knockoffs? I think that Aliens uses 7x7 wire, whereas, and I am not certain of this, the Clogs use 1 x 19 wire, which is stiffer. Quote
MysticNacho Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 Cams are for sissies. I like to put big knots in slings, and then wedge them in. Bomber! Quote
erik Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 MysticNacho said: Cams are for sissies. I like to put big knots in slings, and then wedge them in. Bomber! I WANT TO SEE YOU DO THIS. Quote
dalius Posted May 22, 2003 Posted May 22, 2003 Anybody feel like taking a whipper on one of these? (Wild Country Zero Cam Z1 - smallest cam ever) Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.