Brand: Black Diamond
Category: Climbing Protection
Recommended by Ben Lim, AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Assistant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide — Pacific Northwest, USA
Highlights: lightweight
The Black Diamond Camalot™ Ultralight is an essential piece of protection gear designed for fast-and-light missions, offering a remarkable 15% weight savings over traditional Camalots. With its innovative design and durable materials, this cam device ensures reliability and ease of use when every ounce counts. 1. 15% Weight Savings: Lighter than standard Camalots, enhancing your climbing efficiency. 2. Sculpted Lobes: Designed to reduce weight without compromising strength or performance. 3. Dyneema Cord: Replaces traditional cable, maintaining high strength while minimizing weight. 4. Double-Axle Design: Provides the widest placement range, ensuring versatility in various climbing scenarios. 5. Color Coding: Facilitates quick identification of sizes for efficient gear management during climbs. 6. Durable Construction: Built to withstand rigorous use in challenging environments, ensuring long-lasting reliability. 7. Compact Size: Easily fits into your climbing kit without adding unnecessary bulk. The Camalot™ Ultralight is ideal for climbers seeking lightweight protection during fast-paced ascents and alpine missions. It performs best in rocky environments where quick placements are crucial, making it suitable for both novice and experienced climbers. This product excels in scenarios such as multi-pitch climbs, sport routes, and trad climbing, particularly in spring and summer conditions where weight savings can significantly impact performance.
Price: $119.95
- Who it's for
- Climbers who prioritize weight savings on long approaches, big wall days, or trips involving travel, and have the budget for a premium cam. Hosts consistently recommend the standard C4s as the better starting point for those on a tighter budget.
- What people are saying
- Hosts favor these in sizes #1–3 (and up to #4) for the noticeable weight reduction, calling it worth the extra cost. The trade-offs are clear and agreed upon: higher price and shorter usable lifespan than the standard C4s.
- Worth noting
- One host flags that sizes #0.75 and smaller have a stem large enough to make placement cumbersome, so the ultralight versions are less practical in those smaller sizes. Notes cover sizes .4–4, with a .4–2 range cited as sufficient for most mixed and alpine routes.
Ben Lim's review
If you can, treat yourself to the ultralight version of the beloved C4. Stay away from the smaller sizes, #0.75 and smaller. The stem is large enough that they become cumbersome to place.
Recommended by Ben Lim, AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Assistant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Camalot™ Ultralight for?
Climbers who prioritize weight savings on long approaches, big wall days, or trips involving travel, and have the budget for a premium cam. Hosts consistently recommend the standard C4s as the better starting point for those on a tighter budget.
What do experts say about the Camalot™ Ultralight?
Hosts favor these in sizes #1–3 (and up to #4) for the noticeable weight reduction, calling it worth the extra cost. The trade-offs are clear and agreed upon: higher price and shorter usable lifespan than the standard C4s.
What should you know before buying the Camalot™ Ultralight?
One host flags that sizes #0.75 and smaller have a stem large enough to make placement cumbersome, so the ultralight versions are less practical in those smaller sizes. Notes cover sizes .4–4, with a .4–2 range cited as sufficient for most mixed and alpine routes.
What does Ben Lim say about the Camalot™ Ultralight?
If you can, treat yourself to the ultralight version of the beloved C4. Stay away from the smaller sizes, #0.75 and smaller. The stem is large enough that they become cumbersome to place.
Why does Ben Lim recommend Black Diamond?
Ben Lim recommends the Black Diamond Camalot™ Ultralight for climbing protection. If you can, treat yourself to the ultralight version of the beloved C4. Stay away from the smaller sizes, #0.75 and smaller. The stem is large enough that they become cumbersome to place.
Is the Camalot™ Ultralight a good climbing protection?
Yes — Ben Lim recommends the Camalot™ Ultralight by Black Diamond as their climbing protection pick. If you can, treat yourself to the ultralight version of the beloved C4. Stay away from the smaller sizes, #0.75 and smaller. The stem is large enough that they become cumbersome to place.
More from Ben Lim's Rock Climbing Essentials
View Ben Lim's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
What other hosts are saying
6 experts recommend the Black Diamond Camalot™ Ultralight.
Carol Viau, AMGA Certified Ski Guide/SPI, PSIA L3 Ski Instructor, Via Ferrata Guide
Ultralight cams come in sizes 1-4. If you have the budget, I recommend springing for it. If your budget is limited, go with the regular cams in the next link I share.
Recommended in Climbing Gear
A standard rack goes from 0.4 to #3 (0.4, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3). Most people also buy a number 4. You can save a little money, add a little weight, and add a longer shelf life by purchasing the Camalot C4's instead of the ultralights but I prefer the ultralights. It's worth it in my opinion. You can feel the difference. I appreciate that lighter weight on trips that involve flying, long approaches, and long days on the wall.
Recommended in Trad Gear
The BD ultralight cams have become my favorite in the larger sizes, and are what I use in #1-3 most often. The increased price and shorter useful life make them less attractive as a starter set, where I would recommend the standard C4s instead.
Recommended in Trad Climbing
Brad Burns, PCGI Single Pitch Instructor, La Sportiva Athlete
A small rack of ultralight cams from .4-2 covers the protection for most mixed routes. Great cams that are durable and super light.
Recommended in Ice Climbing
Philip Burnett, Weber State University Rental Manager
~4 depending on the alpine objective. I like the .4-1 for most alpine adventures unless I know it'll be wider.
Recommended in Winter Alpine Climbing
