Rock Empire Cams

[Zenolith]

The prices ($160 for a set of 8) sound way too good to be true, and yet I've handled just such a set. The three small cams are quads and are similar to Aliens but not as fancy. The larger ones (Robots) are just like Trango's with a different sling. They say that they are UIAA cert. and have strengths similar to cams of the same size in other brands. They are no as durable-looking with plastic triggers and what not, but they are made w/ the same materials as any other cam where it counts (cam, axle, cable, spring). I have heard mumblings about how "scary" they are but not by anyone who would qualify their comments. Has anyone actually used them? I fell on a small one (it held), but that is not much to go on. If durability is the only drawback one could afford to replace them for that price. Thoughts???

[mmcmurra]

This was discussed on rec.climbing not too long ago; here's a long link to the thread: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&ic=1&th=d83c5ef0ddbc1112&seekd=950219941#950219941

The consensus seemed to be that they were a great deal on sound gear. I'm thinking Rock Empire is to Trango what Clog Cam is to Wild Country.

Michael

[Yossarian]

I have a set of the Robot cams as well as a set of their microcams. The design and manufacturing looks solid and they are strength-rated the same as simular products. Of course I've yet to take a whipper on them yet so for what it's worth...

[dbb]

Rock Empire is made by HUDY Sport, the same people who make trango's cams.

I have a set of the "microflex" cams, and they are good pieces. The trigger is actually aluminum (though it looks like chinchy plastic), and the action of it is pretty smooth. The only draw back to these is that their range is nearly 1/2 that of aliens or metolious 4-cams. They say that the microflexes cover roughly 4-5 mm, where as most cams are 7-8 mm.

The larger "robot" cams look solid too, total metolious ripoffs with one key difference: They have a 1 fingered bar-trigger instead of 3. If you try to use the outside "nubins", you'll grate your fingers on the cables.

overall, I think they're solid gear, but not my first choice for a primary setup.

dave

[mocco]

I have only one of their cams, one of the robots (the red one). I`ve had it for about a year, and so far it has performed pretty well, taking a decent fall at one point. One thing I do wonder about is I saw some in a shop a while ago and all the stop pins were rusting. Just surface rust, but rust nonetheless. I still use mine though.