Black Diamond Camalot C4 (individual cams, sizes 0.3–8; NOT C4 Ultralight or Z4)
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
2026 lineup note: Current. This dossier covers the standard Camalot C4 — not the Camalot Ultralight (different, lighter construction) or the Z4 (different, small-cam line). Do not mix specs or prices across the lines.
Version lineage (2023–2026)
- Pre-2023: Camalot C4 — the long-running standard; the cam against which all cams are judged.
- 2023–2026: Camalot C4 (current) — double-axle design, color coding, continuous C-loop stem, trigger keepers on large sizes. Individual pricing observed 2026-09-20 (street): #0.3 $84.95–$89.95; #0.4 $79.95; #0.5 $84.95; #0.75 $84.95; #1 $94.95; #2 $99.95; #3 $104.95; #4 $119.95; #5/$179.95-class; #6 $179.95; #7/$8-class; #8 $279.95 (Alpine Institute/REI evidence; exact per-size MSRP UNVERIFIED). Manufacturer C4 set (#0.4–#3): $519.95.
- Still a smart buy? Used C4s are the backbone of the used-gear market — inspect springs, trigger action, axle play, and sling condition; reslung cams from reputable shops are fine.
Overview
Black Diamond positions the Camalot C4 as the reference trad cam: the double-axle design that maximizes expansion range per size, color-coded across the range, with a flexible yet durable stem. It's the robust, durable baseline — heavier than ultralight cams, more trusted than anything else. Representative specs: #1: 123.9 g, 30.2–52.1 mm range, 12 kN; #2: 140.3 g, 37.2–64.9 mm, 12 kN; #4: 257.8 g, 66–114.7 mm, 14 kN (WeighMyRack/manufacturer data). Sizes run 0.3 through 8. Siblings: Camalot Ultralight (lighter, pricier, less durable-feeling), Z4 (small cams), C3 (discontinued small-cam line — do not confuse).
Key Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Double-axle spring-loaded camming device |
| Sizes | 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Representative weight | #1: 123.9 g / 4.37 oz; #2: 140.3 g / 4.95 oz; #4: 257.8 g / 9.09 oz |
| Representative range | #1: 30.2–52.1 mm; #2: 37.2–64.9 mm; #4: 66–114.7 mm |
| Representative strength | #1/#2: 12 kN; #4: 14 kN (size-dependent across range) |
| Features | Double axle, color coding, C-loop stem, trigger keepers (large sizes) |
| Use case | Trad climbing — all crack sizes |
| Set price (2026-09-20) | C4 set (#0.4–#3): $519.95 (manufacturer) |
Pricing
- Set: $519.95 (#0.4–#3) — blackdiamondequipment.com (2026-09-20).
- Individual street (2026-09-20): #0.3 $84.95–$89.95, #0.4 $79.95, #0.5 $84.95, #0.75 $84.95, #1 $94.95, #2 $99.95, #3 $104.95, #4 $119.95, #6 $179.95, #8 $279.95 (Alpine Institute, REI evidence). Exact per-size MSRP UNVERIFIED — re-verify at blackdiamondequipment.com.
In the Box
Individual cam with sewn sling. Set packaging details UNVERIFIED from today's research.
Warranty
Black Diamond's 2-year limited warranty (2026-09-20, per BD's published warranty terms).
Support & Parts
BD supports current cams through dealers; reslinging is available through BD and reputable third-party reslingers (Yates, etc.) — slings are the consumable, and reslung cams are standard practice. Trigger/spring service: contact BD or retire.
Community Verdict
The Camalot C4 is the community's robust, durable baseline cam — the rack other racks are compared to, praised for range, reliability, and the confidence of the double-axle design. Recurring positives: expansion range per size, durability, resale value, color coding. Recurring negatives: weight versus ultralight cams, cost of a full set, and the honest note that Totem-style cams place better in marginal rock. No fabricated scores.
Images
[research workspace]— green #0.75 Camalot C4 (existing)[research workspace]— #1 Camalot C4 (existing)[research workspace]— Camalot C4 Set retail card (existing)[research workspace]— studio: Camalot C4 #0.75 green[research workspace]— studio: Camalot C4 #4 gray[research workspace]— studio: Camalot C4 blue/purple
Full manifest: [internal image manifest — not shipped] §2. All six verified 2026-09-20 as Camalot C4 — not C4 Ultralight or Z4.
Research date: 2026-09-20. Specs: set $519.95 (#0.4–#3); individual street prices per size above; #1 123.9 g/30.2–52.1 mm/12 kN, #2 140.3 g/37.2–64.9 mm/12 kN, #4 257.8 g/66–114.7 mm/14 kN (manufacturer/WeighMyRack via Alpine Institute). Not Ultralight or Z4 — distinction noted. Exact per-size MSRP UNVERIFIED. Re-verify live.
Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment — Sept 2026)
C4s are famously long-lived: the aluminum bodies and steel springs survive decades; the slings are the retirement clock (BD's guidance: retire/resling soft goods on age and wear — UV, abrasion, and time). Trigger wires can kink, springs weaken, and axles develop play — all inspectable. Real-world practice: resling every ~5 years (sooner with heavy use/UV), retire cams with bent lobes, cracked bodies, or dead springs. Warranty-claim reality: BD's 2-year warranty covers defects; wear, falls, and age are excluded; reslinging is maintenance, not warranty.
Version history — year by year (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- 2023: Camalot C4 current; the standard-bearer.
- 2024: Continued; per-size street pricing stable.
- 2025: Continued.
- 2026: Continued; set $519.95. The used market remains deep — the C4 is the most-resold cam in climbing, which keeps used prices rational.
Head-to-head vs closest rivals (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- No existing catalog rival in this category — the mountaineering catalog has no protection dossiers. Closest intra-slate comparison:
- vs Totem Cam (
/library/gear/mountaineering/totem-cam/, new this round): the Totem is the specialist's cam — better in marginal/flared placements, narrower head, less walking, no passive strength, pricier per cam; the C4 is the durable all-round baseline with better long-term robustness reputation and a deeper used market. One-rack quiver: C4. Marginal-rock specialist: Totem (often alongside C4s, not instead). - vs Camalot Ultralight / Z4 (not in catalog): the Ultralight saves meaningful weight at higher cost and (per community) slightly less abuse-tolerance; the Z4 covers the small-cam range the C4 starts at 0.3. Many racks mix: C4s in the middle, Z4s small, Totems where it gets weird.
Care & maintenance (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Keep cams clean — grit in the springs is the enemy; wash in warm water, dry, and use dry (not oil-based) lubrication sparingly on springs if needed. Inspect lobes, springs, trigger wires, axles, and slings before use. Resling on schedule; retire on bent lobes, cracked bodies, dead springs, or sling damage. Store dry, out of UV.
Buying traps (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- Ultralight/Z4 confusion: different lines, different prices and weights — confirm "C4" (standard) on the product.
- Used cams: check spring strength, trigger smoothness, axle play, lobe condition, and sling age — and budget for reslinging.
- Sizing the rack: doubles in the sizes your local rock demands beat a full single set of sizes you never place — talk to local climbers before buying 0.3–8.
Community Verdict — additional voices (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Additional sourced voices (Sept 2026): trad forums — the C4 recommended as the "first rack" cam and the benchmark everything else is measured against; Andy Kirkpatrick-style buying guides — the C4 as the durable default with Totems as the specialist complement; used-market watchers — C4s hold value well, making them a low-risk first purchase. No fabricated scores.
Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Representative: #1: 123.9 g = 4.37 oz, 30.2–52.1 mm, 12 kN; #2: 140.3 g = 4.95 oz, 37.2–64.9 mm, 12 kN; #4: 257.8 g = 9.09 oz, 66–114.7 mm, 14 kN. Set (#0.4–#3): $519.95. Full per-size weight/range/strength table and exact per-size MSRP remain UNVERIFIED — re-verify at blackdiamondequipment.com before publishing.