Solo, Version A	Solo, Version B	Solo 2

Overview

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Solo, Version A
(#150)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this pair of ascenders from K&R Adventure Gear in February 2001.

The shell is an irregular shaped anodized stamping made from 3.5 mm. aluminum alloy sheet metal. The ascender is right-handed, as are similar ascenders made by others. The stamping has a reinforcing rib below the cam. A rope channel is formed in the left side and a smaller cam channel lies to the right. A hole drilled through both sides of the cam channel accepts a 4 mm. pin which enters from the rear and is expanded in front. The cam, cam spring and a spacing washer are mounted on this pin. A 15.8 mm. sling attachment hole is punched below the cam. A 14.6 by 18.3 mm. oval hole through both sides of the rope channel provide an attachment point just above the cam. An arc-shaped slot is punched below and concentric with the cam pivot. This slot is enlarged at both ends and narrow in the center. The cam safety rides in this slot.

The cam is a skeletonized steel casting. The cam has seventeen small conical teeth, all of which have their axes approximately parallel to each other. The central teeth have their axes in line with the cam pivot. The tooth pattern is (2)(1D1)^7(1) where D is a shallow depression that does not penetrate the cam face. Unlike some other ascenders, the inner cam face radius appears to be constant. A spring-loaded manual safety passes through the cam and the arc-shaped slot in the shell. The head of the safety forms a 15 mm. diameter round-headed button. The safety shaft is 6 mm. in diameter, then increases to 8.5 mm. where it passes through the shell, and finally to 11 mm. Normally a spring pushes the safety toward the front of the ascender, and the enlarged 8.5 mm. portion fits into one of the large areas of the slot. Depending on which end of the slot it is in, this either keeps the cam from opening enough to release the main rope or keeps the cam from closing. Pushing the head of the safety aligns the 6 mm. shaft with the shell, allowing the cam to move through it’s full range of motion.

The front of each ascender has the C.A.M.P. Logo, the "Sieg Heil" icon, "EN 567," "CE0123," "ROPE," "min ø 8" and "max ø 13" printed onto the rope channel . "Italy" and "3D" are printed on the cam channel.

Comments

This is another well made ascender. All sharp edges have been removed. The cam teeth are very well done. The attachment points are simply holes in the shell, and though beveled, I would prefer not to tie directly into them. Considering the proximity of the attachment points to the main rope, I would recommend using a small maillon for most attachments in order to reduce the risk of sling abrasion. The upper rope attachment hole is located very close to the main rope. A carabiner through the upper attachment hole will probably drag on the main line. Note that such a carabiner will prevent putting the ascender on or off rope, so one’s climbing system must be designed accordingly.

I found the safety took a few minutes to get used to, but after minimal practice I decided that this is one of the easier safeties to operate for ascenders of this type. Single-handed operation of this ascender is fairly easy with the either hand. Closing an locked open ascender is accomplished with a simple push on the button. The cam is very well made.

C.A.M.P. makes a handled Version of the Solo, the C.A.M.P. Pilot.

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Solo, Version B
(#2125)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this ascender in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.

Version B is 116 mm. tall, 75 mm. wide, 31 mm. thick, and weighs 157 g. The shell is an irregular shaped anodized stamping made from 3.5 mm. aluminum alloy sheet metal. The ascender is right-handed, as are similar ascenders made by others. The stamping has a reinforcing rib below the cam. A rope channel is formed in the left side and a smaller cam channel lies to the right. The rope channel is 13 mm. wide. A hole drilled through both sides of the cam channel accepts a 4 mm. pin which enters from the rear and is expanded in front. The cam, cam spring and a spacing washer are mounted on this pin. A 15.8 mm. sling attachment hole is punched below the cam. A 14.6 by 18.3 mm. oval hole through both sides of the rope channel provide an attachment point just above the cam. An arc-shaped slot is punched below and concentric with the cam pivot. This slot is enlarged at both ends and narrow in the center. The cam safety rides in this slot.

The cam is a skeletonized steel casting. The cam has seventeen small conical teeth, all of which have their axes approximately parallel to each other. The central teeth have their axes in line with the cam pivot. The cam radius increases from 33 to 50 mm. over an angle of 44°, giving a 28° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (1)(2.3)^4(2.1). Unlike some other ascenders, the inner cam face radius appears to be constant. A spring-loaded manual safety passes through the cam and the arc-shaped slot in the shell. The head of the safety forms a 15 mm. diameter round-headed button. The safety shaft is 6 mm. in diameter, then increases to 8.5 mm. where it passes through the shell, and finally to 11 mm. Normally a spring pushes the safety toward the front of the ascender, and the enlarged 8.5 mm. portion fits into one of the large areas of the slot. Depending on which end of the slot it is in, this either keeps the cam from opening enough to release the main rope or keeps the cam from closing. Pushing the head of the safety aligns the 6 mm. shaft with the shell, allowing the cam to move through it’s full range of motion.

The front of each ascender is stamped with "CAMP," the "Sieg Heil" icon, "ROPE," "min Ø8" and "max Ø13." The inside is stamped with "CE," "0123," "EN 567," and the Reading-Is-Dangerous icon. The rear is stamped with "Italy" and "1-L."

Comments

This is another well made ascender. All sharp edges have been removed. The cam teeth are very well done. The attachment points are rounded holes in the shell, but I would prefer not to tie directly into them. Considering the proximity of the attachment points to the main rope, I would recommend using a small maillon for most attachments in order to reduce the risk of sling abrasion. The upper rope attachment hole is located very close to the main rope. A carabiner through the upper attachment hole will probably drag on the main line. Note that such a carabiner will prevent putting the ascender on or off rope, so one’s climbing system must be designed accordingly.

I found the safety took a few minutes to get used to, but after minimal practice I decided that this is one of the easier safeties to operate for ascenders of this type. Single-handed operation of this ascender is fairly easy with the either hand. Closing an locked open ascender is accomplished with a simple push on the button. The cam is very well made.

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Solo 2
(#1988)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my C.A.M.P. Solo 2 from Expé-Spelemat in 2014.

My C.A.M.P. Solo 2 is 93 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 24 mm. thick, and weighs 92 g. The shell is an irregular shaped anodized stamping made from 3.5 mm. aluminum alloy sheet metal. The ascender is right-handed, as are similar ascenders made by others. The stamping has a reinforcing dimple below the cam. A rope channel formed in the left side is 14 mm. wide. A hole drilled through the shell supports a 6 mm. pin which enters from the front and is riveted over a bushing in the rear. The cam, cam spring and a spacing washer are mounted on this pin. A small pin riveted below the cam axle acts as a cam stop. A 14 mm. sling attachment hole is punched below the cam and a second 14 mm. punched hole provides an attachment point just above the cam. The shell surrounding the lower hole is offset to the rear in the fourth quadrant.

The cam is a skeletonized steel casting. The cam radius increases from 37 to 55 mm. over an angle of 42°, giving a 28° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)(1H1.2)^2(1H1.2.3). A spring-loaded manual safety mounts on the bottom inside of the cam. A small cord and tab resembling a zipper pull is tied to a hole in the safety.

The front of the ascender is printed with the C.A.M.P. Safety logo, "SOLO 2," and "Ref.2257." The inside of the shell has a printed book-with-an-"i" icon. The rear is printed with "Made in Italy," "CE0123," "UIAA," the C.A.M.P. Safety logo, "EN567:2013¡¤8<ø13," a book-with-an-"i" icon, "EN12841B:2006•10<ø13," another book-with-an-"i" icon, "Max 140 Kg," "2 14," "0517," and the Sieg Heil icon. "Camp" is cast on the outer side of the cam.

Comments

C.A.M.P. certainly made this a small, light ascender. I have large hands and this ascender’s small size makes it rather difficult for me to operate, especially if I'm wearing gloves. I don't normally climb Frog and I would not make this my normal chest ascender, but folks who place a premium on weight might find it attractive.

Unlike most chest ascenders, this one does not have the shell bent to form a channel to support the outer end of the cam axle. I have some concern about the bending moment placed on the axle, and wonder if, over time, the axle might loosen.

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