Valhallas Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Silly little question: how do you all mark your tricams? I use those premade trango gear tags for all my biners, cams, etc. I'm skeptical that they will remain affixed to the webbing portion of a tricam and there's not really any space on the metal part that won't be in direct contact with rock at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanb Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Most experienced climbers seem to choose one of the three options: Â 1) Leave the damn things at home. 2) Give the useless things away. 3) Never buy them in the first place. Â (PS go get some paint markers at your local art supply store and use those on the metal ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmatt Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Like ryanb, I rarely use these things (unless I am in the desert where they are fantastic), however, Â the tape will actually stay on the webbing if you tape it tightly (the same tape has been on mine for a couple of years now). Â Finger nail polish also works fairly well. Â . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaidman Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I have not marked mine because no one else uses them. So they never get mixed up with anyone else's gear. Â Plaidman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchuck71 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 You could use the paint markers as suggested. Paint the part of the tricam that has the slight indentation for the webbing to run through and it should stay bright, shiny and new for a long time. How often do any of you guys use these? I have one I have been bringing along for a few years and I think I have placed it once or twice. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valhallas Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thanks for the responses. I just bought two of them for $12 total last weekend at the used gear shop in Winthrop, mostly because I just want to learn how to use them. I feel like I've seen more fixed tricams out there than any other type of gear, so 1) they are either hard to place well and easy to fix, or 2) people don't know how to place them. I've heard that some people love them, so I'd like to give them a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchuck71 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I bet they are left as fixed gear because people are more interested in getting rid of them than leaving gear they actually prefer to use. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Ignorant buffoons, tricams, at least in the smaller sizes, are splendid devices that work in the damnedest places. I knew folks in Tucson who'd always bring three each of pinkie & red when climbing on Mt Lemmon. Of course, that was before they bolted the bejesus out of things and the rack list got simpler. Â Tricams require craft, I don't leave home without 'em. Your second better have a nut tool and an ability to visualize in 3d though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanb Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I learned on the things and carried the small and big ones for years as I worked my way from 5.6 to 5.8 and slowly bought cams. Â Then I got serious and decided it was time to cut the crap and concentrate on the stuff that worked well, was easy to use and fit in the the most placements. Now I lead 5.11 on nuts and cams. Â There is an art to the perfect tri cam placement, but it usually involves finding the perfect odd pod next to a good stance where you can hang out and fiddle one in and there is a high probability you will get them stuck or have them fall out entirely while you are learning...they are the MG's of climbing pro (fun only if you enjoy fiddling with them). Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchuck71 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Ignorant buffoons, Â Why yes....yes I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Silly little question: how do you all mark your tricams? I use those premade trango gear tags for all my biners, cams, etc. I'm skeptical that they will remain affixed to the webbing portion of a tricam and there's not really any space on the metal part that won't be in direct contact with rock at some point. Â Maybe you can use some rainbow brite paint so it matches your purse, princess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valhallas Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Silly little question: how do you all mark your tricams? I use those premade trango gear tags for all my biners, cams, etc. I'm skeptical that they will remain affixed to the webbing portion of a tricam and there's not really any space on the metal part that won't be in direct contact with rock at some point.  Maybe you can use some rainbow brite paint so it matches your purse, princess  Yeah, wow, I really feel burned by you there. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaidman Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Ignorant buffoons, tricams, at least in the smaller sizes, are splendid devices that work in the damnedest places. I knew folks in Tucson who'd always bring three each of pinkie & red when climbing on Mt Lemmon. Of course, that was before they bolted the bejesus out of things and the rack list got simpler. Â Tricams require craft, I don't leave home without 'em. Your second better have a nut tool and an ability to visualize in 3d though. Â WORD!! WORD!!! You are brilliant. A master I would say. I just love Tri-cams. They require you to use you head. And in the right place they are bomb proof X10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJaso Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Laser Etch em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketparrotlet Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I've placed the #0.5 a few times, it's the only piece of pro that has its own webpage devoted to it!  http://www.swarpa.net/~danforth/climb/sinkthepink.html  I also placed the #1 and the #2 once each. I've been leading for 3 months now, and I see more use out of the pink one.  -Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froodish Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I don't mark my gear... Â "That piece marked?" Â "Umm, no" Â "Must be mine" Â Oh, and Tricams rock. I carry in most areas and place them alot. Really like 2 of them them active and opposed at anchors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCoastBastard Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I usually mark my tricams with a little bit of appropriately coloured tape in the recessed area that the webbing runs through. Works okay, but not great. I just keep an eye on them and make sure my sketchy partners don't swipe them. Â I thought tricams were pretty decent until I stiffened mine with some plastic strips from milkjugs and duct tape - and now I LOVE them. Stiffening them makes it possible to place them one handed. If you're on the fence about tricams, try stiffening them and you'll be firmly in the "I love tricams" camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denalidave Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Pinky rules! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Yount Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I met a couple, 40 years climbing between them, they used 2 or 3 pieces of chopped coat hanger wire, taped to the webbing of each Tricam. Told me made cleaning them a breeze, and aided in placing them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Beatard Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 I have not marked mine because no one else uses them. So they never get mixed up with anyone else's gear.  Plaidman  Dude that's BS - You used my #7 to build an anchor just a few months ago. and don't forget the aid traverse on the oh so scary .25 white tricam.  (I use Bill Coe's idea to mark my gear - enamel model paint to mark all my metal, 2 colors, I make a green eye - big green blotch with a black pupil. Sometimes a climbing partner will bring me some random piece I didn't even know I lost - thanks dudes. Don't forget to mark your pitons as those fuckers all look alike.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_e Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Never climbed in the Gunks or any where with a lot of pockets eh? Tri-cams are still very useful, but can be difficult to place and remove, however they're light and cheap! Â Most experienced climbers seem to choose one of the three options:Â 1) Leave the damn things at home. 2) Give the useless things away. 3) Never buy them in the first place. Â (PS go get some paint markers at your local art supply store and use those on the metal ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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