CCH Hybrid Alien Review

Likes

Aliens and the Hybrid Aliens enjoyed a good run as top dogs of smaller camming units for big walls. They didn't have any competition in the past. Over the past decade, though, competing models emerged on the scene. Yet the Aliens still have a large following among big wall climbers.

This is why Aliens are great for pin scars:

• one of the most narrow head widths of all camming units

• the stems are flexible enough to hold in awkward placements

• the utilization of soft metal provides superior purchase on rock

Dislikes

The soft metal we love so much also results in less durability. The lobes won't last as long as on other cams, wearing down fast and eventually turning "mushy." The Aliens are sticky in dicey placements but aren't built to last forever.

Of more concern are reports of Aliens failing even after the 2006 recall. I don't know how much faith to put in these reports. According to CCH's web site, there has not been a recall since 2006 and everything is good. According to some independent testers, there is reason to believe CCH quality control is suspect Read more here