Brand: Black Diamond
Category: Climbing Protection
Recommended by Clara Maynard, AMGA Apprentice Rock/Alpine Guide & Wilderness Medicine Instructor — Pacific Northwest, USA
Highlights: durable
The Camalot™ Z4 is a revolutionary climbing cam designed for optimal performance and reliability, featuring a unique RigidFlex stem that combines rigidity in hand with flexibility upon placement. This innovative design ensures secure placements that resist walking, making it an essential tool for both novice and expert climbers. 1. RigidFlex Stem Technology: Offers a rigid feel while in hand for precise placement, yet flexes once placed to enhance stability. 2. Independently Floating Trigger Wires: Prevents bending under tension, ensuring consistent performance during climbs. 3. Dual Twisted Cable Construction: Utilized in larger sizes for uniform flex, enhancing adaptability in various placements. 4. Sandblasted Lobes: Four lobes designed for superior holding power, providing confidence on challenging routes. 5. Compact Size Range: Available from #0, the smallest cam ever made, to .75, catering to a wide variety of crack sizes and climbing styles. 6. Lightweight Design: Engineered for minimal weight, allowing climbers to carry more gear without added bulk. 7. Versatile Application: Ideal for both traditional and sport climbing, suitable for diverse environments from desert cracks to alpine routes. The Camalot™ Z4 is primarily intended for traditional climbing, offering climbers the reliability and security needed in various rock formations. It excels in environments where precise placements are critical, such as crack systems and multi-pitch routes. Targeted at climbers of all skill levels, this cam is perfect for those tackling everything from beginner routes to advanced climbs. Its lightweight design makes it particularly advantageous for fast-and-light ascents, ensuring climbers can optimize their gear without sacrificing safety.
Price: $99.95
- Who it's for
- Trad climbers who want small cams (sizes 0–0.75) that fit shallow, narrow, or horizontal placements where a standard C4 won't go. Hosts consistently recommend them as a second set on a double rack in finger-sized pieces, sizes 0.3–0.75.
- What people are saying
- Hosts overwhelmingly favor these as their top small cam, citing the narrow head width and flexible stem as the defining advantages. No notable criticism appears across the notes; praise is one-sided and consistent.
- Worth noting
- Only available in sizes 0–0.75, so C4s are still needed for larger sizes. One host flags trigger wire durability as something to be mindful of, advising against frequent falls on small gear.
Clara Maynard's review
Favorite cams in sizes 0.3-0.75
Recommended by Clara Maynard, AMGA Apprentice Rock/Alpine Guide & Wilderness Medicine Instructor
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Camalot™ Z4 for?
Trad climbers who want small cams (sizes 0–0.75) that fit shallow, narrow, or horizontal placements where a standard C4 won't go. Hosts consistently recommend them as a second set on a double rack in finger-sized pieces, sizes 0.3–0.75.
What do experts say about the Camalot™ Z4?
Hosts overwhelmingly favor these as their top small cam, citing the narrow head width and flexible stem as the defining advantages. No notable criticism appears across the notes; praise is one-sided and consistent.
What should you know before buying the Camalot™ Z4?
Only available in sizes 0–0.75, so C4s are still needed for larger sizes. One host flags trigger wire durability as something to be mindful of, advising against frequent falls on small gear.
What does Clara Maynard say about the Camalot™ Z4?
Favorite cams in sizes 0.3-0.75
Why does Clara Maynard recommend Black Diamond?
Clara Maynard recommends the Black Diamond Camalot™ Z4 for climbing protection. Favorite cams in sizes 0.3-0.75
Is the Camalot™ Z4 a good climbing protection?
Yes — Clara Maynard recommends the Camalot™ Z4 by Black Diamond as their climbing protection pick. Favorite cams in sizes 0.3-0.75
More from Clara Maynard's Alpine Rock Climbing
View Clara Maynard's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
What other hosts are saying
18 experts recommend the Black Diamond Camalot™ Z4.
Cora Hanson, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
With a super flexible stem that prevents walking and a narrow head width that fits in tight placements, these cams fit where many others won't. I normally carry singles in the Z4 including 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.75.
Recommended in Top Rope Anchors
Ben Lim, AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Assistant Ski Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide
A nice refinement over the the C4 cams, the Z4's have smaller heads which allow them to fit in more placements. Love them.
Recommended in Rock Climbing Essentials
Teddy Dondanville, AMGA Assistant Rock Guide & Certified Single Pitch Instructor
In my opinion, nobody makes better spring-loaded camming devices than Black Diamond. So, if you want to get into building trad anchors, go for some Black Diamond Z4 cams. They’re strong, durable, and reliable.
Recommended in Top Rope Anchor Kit
Ryan Harris, Mountain Guide and Ski Patroller
my favorite cam in the smaller ranges
Recommended in Traditional rock climbing
Spencer Huffman, Rock and Alpine Guide | Climbing Instructor and Coach
Excellent cam head widths. Perfect for shallower cracks and horizontal placements. Hard to go to anything else in these sizes once you've converted!
Recommended in Trad Climbing Gear
Dan Morley, Rock Climbing Guide
The Z4's are my favorite cams on the market. Since they are only available for the small sizes (0 to 0.75), I would recommend buying Z4's in all the sizes available, then get C4's for the larger sized cams. For full-rack quantities, you'll want two of each for size 0.3 to size 3. Only one cam needed for sizes 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 4.
Recommended in Trad Climbing Gear
John Willard, Founder & Lead Guide @ Willard Mountain Guides
These are my cams of choice for small cams. I have a full double rack of these and I really love the sizing & color matches for my brain to know what cam I have. The smaller heads and flexible stem are a huge pro.
Recommended in Rock Climbing
Z4s are a great small cam. Their narrow head and flexible stem allow them to be placed in small pods, and tight spaces. In my "standard rack" I carry two each in 0.3-0.75, occasionally supplementing with the smaller sizes
Recommended in Trad Climbing
The Z4 cams are some of the most versatile cams around. Their narrow head width and large camming range lets them fit in places where a standard C4 or equivalent just won't. I carry a single rack of these from .1 - .75.
Recommended in What's in Cal's Gunks bag?
Owen Duda, Climber, Guide, Craftsman, Writer
The Z4 Cams are incredible BD Cams that follow the same sizing as the traditional C4's, but have a more narrow head. The smaller head of the cam allows you to place cams in certain cracks/pin scars that a C4 can't fit. Z4's serve as an incredible second half of your "double rack" in your finger sized pieces.
Recommended in Trad Climbing
Michael Murphy, Rock Climbing Instructor and Business Owner
If you have the $$ then pick these up in the smaller sizes instead of the Camalot C4s. These go into places that the C4s wont fit, and feel just as bomber.
Recommended in Guide Kit
Jay Black, AMGA SPI-Splitboarder
Can’t go wrong with a rack of these
Recommended in Climbing gear
Joe Kalis, Oncology Pharmacist / Aspiring Guide
My preferred small cam due to the flexible stem and consistent sizing. I haven't had any issues with trigger wire durability but do my best to not fall on small gear.
Recommended in Rock Climbing
Brent Smith, AMGA Rock Guide and Apprentice Alpine Guide
The Z4's are my favorite small cams; they have a flexible stem to allow for horizontal placements, and a more rigid flex when placing and removing them in cracks. The narrow head width means they fit almost anywhere!
Recommended in Trad Climbing
I think these are the best small cams. I use these for sizes 0.75 and smaller.
Recommended in Rock Climbing
The narrow heads on these cams allow them to fit into tricky placements. They are flexible when you want them to be and rigid when you need them to stay in place.
Recommended in Rock Climbing Mentorship Program
These are great cams that come in smaller sizes. I think they are among the best small cams out there. They do have one downside though - The trigger wires aren't particularly durable. The trigger wires on mine usually only last a year, although that's with heavy use. Luckily, the trigger wires are not a load bearing piece of the cam, so there are plenty of easy DIY ways to replace the trigger wires for pennies and about 10 minutes of your time. Alternatively, you can send them to Black Diamond to be repaired,
Recommended in Rock Climbing
