Black Diamond – New Gear For Spring 2016
Latest report from the recent OutDoor trade show is a look at what’s new from hardware and clothing specialist Black Diamond with the star turns being a 25% lighter version of the classic Camalot camping device called the Camalot Ultralight and an uprated headtorch line-up including the new, fully waterproof Spot.
New Camalot Ultralight
The clue’s in the name, the new is quite simply a 25% lighter version of Black Diamond’s tried and tested camming device. The new versions’ cams have the same size range and cam angle as the exiting C4, but the steel cable loop used for the standard cams has been replaced with a continuous loop of ultra-strong Dyneema cord.
The cord is spliced to avoid the need for heavy swages and covered by a flexible transparent protective layer. Other weight-saving touches include a low-profile, 14mm Dyneema tape sling, a CNC machined cross bar and shrunken, reinforced trigger wires covered with a plastic coating.
The end result is a 25% weight reduction per Camalot, with the new cams set to be available in seven sizes with weights ranging from 61g through to 225g for the #4. Compared to the existing C4, the Ultralight is also slightly shorter. Finally, there’s no Ultralight version of the #5 or #6 cams, so if you habitually climb massive cracks, you’re out of luck.
New Headtorches – Waterproof Spot
We guessed that the new Spot headtorch was waterproof when we spotted it submerged in a tank of water. Turns out it’s waterproof to IPX 8 levels, which means it’s ‘protected against water immersion down to >1 metre for 30 minutes’.
Oddly very few outdoors torches are rated more than ‘splash proof’, so it’s good to see BD bucking the trend. Other stuff to know about the Spot is that it has a maximum output of 200 lumens, using three LEDs – a great big white one, a smaller white one and a small red one – has PowerTap technology for stepless dimming and runs on 3 AAA batteries.
It’s touted as an all-rounder for general outdoors use for anything from walking and running through to technical climbing use. There’s also a handy three-level power meter, so you can keep an eye on battery levels, though in an ideal world, we’d have liked it to be USB chargeable.
Also for next spring, the existing Cosmo and Gizmo lights are ‘fully redesigned’ with revised headbands, brighter LEDs and battery compartments that are easier to open and close.
New Solution Harness
Finally it’s back to climbing again with the new Solution harness, which uses a new Fusion Comfort Construction, it says here, with a mix of EVA foam for comfortable support and has special ‘triple-weave webbing’ which is reckoned to improve mobility.
La, la, la… bottom line is that it’s reckoned to be light, comfortable and particularly good on warmer days. There’s a dedicated women’s version with a women’s-specific rise and proportions tailored to the female body shape. Choice of sizes from S-XL for men and XS to L for women. Typical weight a very reasonable 330g.
More Information
All the above products available from early 2016. More BD info at eu.blackdiamondequipment.com
