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Without doubt Technical Friends are at the top of the SLC evolutionary tree. During 21 years of technical innovation they have become the bench mark, which has often been imitated, but never bettered.
Technical Friends cover the largest crack range of any manufacture, from a diminutive 19 mm to a truly awesome 194 mm. They do this without compromise, every Friend achieving a guaranteed minimum pull out load of 14 kN, when tested in accordance with EN 12276. This is made possible through the use of a lightweight but immensely strong (85 TPSI) single Nickel Chrome Molybdenum steel axle which predictably transmits the load to definitive 13.75 degree cams.
This year we are introducing two new sizes 1.25 and 1.75. These have been developed in response to the new challenges faced by both desert and granite crack climbers. We have also developed a cam stabilization system (CSS) on the giant 5 and 6 sizes as well as introducing new compact and lightweight 12 mm Dyneema sewn slings across the range.
We have extended the trigger mechanisms to give more 'reach' and we have anodized the cams to improve the action and resist corrosion in the increasingly hostile environments sought out by climbers around the world.
1. All Wild Country Friends use a 13.75 degree camming angle which gives the optimum expansion range and the highest pull out loads in low friction rocks and flared placements.
2. Technical Friends have CNC machined cams with integral stops which give passive strength should the Friend 'walk' and the cams become fully opened.
3. Wild Country's lightweight and immensely strong (85 TPSI) single Nickel Chrome Molybdenum steel axles ensure that the stem is free to rotate under load, this predictably transfers the force of a fall to the cams in their plane of rotation.
4. The cam head width of Friends becomes proportionally larger as the cam size increase making Friends more stable than any other SLCD.
5. The long flexible stem retains a lengthened axle termination ensuring that the cams are always loaded in their optimum 'lane of rotation'.
6. Supporting the long flexible stem is a durable impact modified Nylon Frame which provides directional control and leaves the stainless steel wire rope stem exposed, allowing periodic inspection.
7. Our springs are rigorously selected and tested to resist cam 'bounce' which helps the cams seat on gritty or lichenous surfaces and resist 'walking'.
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