TrippleB - sounds like you've had a lot of experience with smaller cams, so maybe you can voice an opinion about this.

I like the old BD .1 and .2 cams, too, and certainly trusted them. But I also found the difference between an easily removed cam and an overcammed placement to be rather small. Perhaps it's my poor technique, but I've had fewer problems with stuck TCUs. So I'm wondering what you've found with the C3s in this regard.

Ya gotta love some gear talk early in the morning before a climbing weekend...

You mean after a climbing week, don't you?

Frank,

I have found the c3s to be an improvement over the old .1 and .2s in that regard for 3 reasons...and I will sound like a commercial here but...

1. the lobes are more rounded like the TCUs, allowing them to securely fit without as much overcamming...

2. the lobes overlap...really a HUGE amount of surface area for a cam of this tiny size, again helping with bite in a regular closed position

3. also more importantly the trigger and stem design put more spring action, more than any other cam that size, onto the lobes...this really helps with the fit and security. also these spings independently drive each cam head...A BIG deal if the crack is flared...it really helps with any wiggle issues which are magnified at these small sizes...all other cams use the same spring design of their larger brethren, but the c3s are the first to really pack on the pressure. This sping pressure is typically overlooked in larger cams as a critical protection component, but in the micro sizes is so important since the lobes are very light thin and have a small amount of "play"...basically it really helps you place them better and faster.

I find that they slot with similar ease to the blue and black aliens...and tbh the stiffer stem helps when slotting at F'ing awkward angles which is a common occurance on a climb where you actually need to use these guys.

warnings:
1. the 000 is not for lead...you need brassys for slots that small
2. these are not great for vertical pin scars(where the cam stem will be perpandicular or slightly perpandicular to the direction of fall)...the stem is very stiff laterally, so the torque on a placement will be extreme...and if you must place a cam in such a spot..(The flaring fingertip crack on the winter comes to mind)...the more alienesque design of the 0's may suit you...though again I prefer brass...another topic.

I find the new UL Metolius TCU's do very well. The C3's take some getting used to, as they are a tighter spring tension, and they have more lateral stiffness. That said, I have a set of each.