EDITORS' CHOICE

Ask any seasoned Valley climber to name his favorite small-crack cams, and more likely than not his response will be the Alien. The super-narrow heads and unique cam shapes helped them slip into piton scars and other awkward placements like a hand in a silk glove. When Colorado Custom Hardware ceased production of the treasured piece in 2009, climbers everywhere gasped. But now Spain’s Fixe Hardware has bought the machines and relaunched the Alien with virtually the same design. Meanwhile, Totem, another Spanish company, has come out with a slightly modified version of the Aliens called the Basic Cam. Both are worthy replacements for the originals.