Black Diamond's Description

Perfect for fast-and-light missions and smash-and-grab ascents where weight really matters, the Black Diamond Camalot C4 Ultralight presents a 25% weight savings over the Camalot C4. The Camalot Ultralight features sculpted lobes and a Dyneema cord in place of a cable, while maintaining all of the same strength you rely on. A double-axle design allows for the widest placement range possible for each cam size, and color coding makes for easy identification when quick placement is paramount. When light is right, the Camalot Ultralight is essential.

Camalot Ultralight Features

Double-axle design offers wide range for each size
Dyneema core stem design is strong, durable and low-profile
14mm Dyneema tape sling
Ergonomically optimized stem and thumb loop for surgically precise placements
Color-coded for easy identification
Wide range of sizes

Our Content

We got to not only test these, but test them IN Black Diamond’s lab WITH the people who designed them. It’s insightful how they are made, where they shine, and where they don’t.

Ticking Clock

Ultralights have an expiration date!? Technically all soft goods do since UV, dirt, and time all eventually degrade their strength. Cams have slings that can be redone after 10 years, but the Ultralights have Dyneema in their stems where it can’t be replaced. BD gives a lifespan of 10 years which is concerning for a very expensive cam. While we can’t say that you should use it for more than 10 years, we do believe that is conservative estimate based on our experience with Dyneema. Lifespan is VERY dependent on usage. Leave them in a closet for 13 years and I’ll give you my address to “dispose of them properly”. On the other hand, you can definitely trash them in under 2 years with enough use.

Ultra-Ultra Light?

When these came out, they were 25% lighter than C4s. BD still says “...than the Camalot”. Then they redesigned C4s so the ultralights are now only 16.6% lighter. Lets stop and get specific though. A #4 is ONLY 9.3% lighter because most of the cam’s weight is in its lobes, and a #4 has quite large lobes. A 0.4 is actually 22% lighter because its lobes are much smaller. So when they say the Ultralights are 16.6% lighter, that is on average, so the greatest weight savings cam to cam (percentage wise) is in the smaller cams. With that said, you'll still save the most weight overall with the largest sizes!

Climbing