What is the most common type of soft cam?

• A. Prusik
• B. Hyper Cam
• C. Spider
• D. Becket

Answer: (A)

Soft cams grip rope by friction rather than using hardware, and the Prusik hitch is the classic example. A Prusik is a loop of cord tied around the working rope that tightens and grips when loaded, yet releases when not loaded. This simple, rope-on-rope device works with a wide range of rope diameters and can be tied in the field with common cord, making it incredibly versatile for ascending progress capture, backup belays, and lowering. That combination of reliability, simplicity, and broad applicability is why it’s the most common soft cam. The other terms refer to mechanical devices or different concepts that don’t function as the classic friction-based hitch used for this purpose.