Nuts & Cams

Nuts and cams are essential types of climbing protection devices used to create anchor points on rock walls. They’re commonly used in trad (traditional) climbing, aid climbing, and big wall climbing to protect climbers from falls by anchoring the rope to the rock. Each works differently, but both help climbers tackle natural rock faces safely.

NUTS

Nuts, also known as stoppers or chocks, are simple, passive protection devices that are wedge-shaped and made of metal. They are placed by wedging them into cracks in the rock so that they resist being pulled out.

Design: Typically, nuts are metal wedges with tapered shapes, connected to a loop of wire.
Placement: A nut is inserted into a crack or constriction in the rock, then set by pulling on it slightly so it locks into place.
Advantages:
- Lightweight and simple to use.
- Reliable for holding body weight and falls when properly placed.
- Durable and suitable for reuse over many climbs.
Use Cases: They are ideal for narrow cracks and constrictions where there are no other options for protection.

CAMS

Cams, also known as spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs), are active protection devices that use an expanding mechanism to grip the rock from within a crack or fissure.

Design: Cams consist of spring-loaded lobes attached to a central stem, which are connected to a trigger. Pulling the trigger retracts the lobes, allowing the device to fit into the rock crack.
Placement: Once the cam is inside a crack, releasing the trigger causes the lobes to expand, gripping the rock tightly and providing a secure anchor point.
Advantages:
- Adjustable to a wide range of crack sizes, making them versatile.
- Quick to place and remove, which is especially helpful in challenging or strenuous positions.
- Designed to hold in parallel and irregular cracks where nuts may not work.
Use Cases: Cams work well in wider, parallel-sided cracks where nuts would not fit securely, and they provide a stronger hold on irregular or flaring cracks.

NUTS vs CAMS

Nuts are lighter, simpler, and less expensive, but require a specific type of crack to work well.
Cams are more versatile and adaptable to a range of crack sizes, especially parallel cracks, but are more expensive and heavier.

Both nuts and cams play crucial roles in climbing protection and are often used in combination to tackle varied rock features. Proper placement and knowledge of each type are essential for effective protection in climbing.

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Black Diamond Stopper
Stoppers/Nuts are essential to any traditional rack, designed with a transverse taper that allows for lateral placement in flares and shallow seams. Durable aluminum heads and steel cables.
€ 11,⁰⁰
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CAMP Pro Nut Set - 5 pcs
A set of Pro Nuts / clamp wedges that includes the essential range of clamp wedges for the modern traditional rack. Curved design ensures secure placement and easy removal. Color-coded headings for faster selection.
€ 55,⁹⁵
Wild Country Superlight Offset Rocks 5-10
Subtle, super light and safe. Simple yet incredibly effective, they combine Rocks' proven curve with a radical side taper that adds a new dimension to protection. Intuitive and easy to install.
€ 64,⁹⁵ € 56,⁹⁵
Totem Cam
Totem Cams have a unique design which provides equalised loading onto each of the 4 lobes, this results in a safer and more secure placement by eliminating inactive lobes. This works particularly well in irregular sized cracks.
€ 89,⁹⁵
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Black Diamond Wiregate Nut Tool
With a wiregate for easy racking and a rounded heel for pounding, The Black Diamond Wiregate Nut Tool solves problems encountered during on-route trickery.
€ 19,⁹⁵ € 16,⁹⁹