The Nicros Spectre Assembly offers a unique and refreshing take on a classic shape. At first glance, you might think, “Another incut edge line of holds,” but the beauty and utility of this shape lie in its simple but effective design. This assembly offers a wide range of sizes, from two extra-large feature holds to super small screw-ons. This family of holds provides both intensity and complexity. An overlapped incut edge means climbers not only have to manage the intensity of a small incut edge but also the complexity of being accurate. Hit this hold wrong, and you will be in trouble. When oriented horizontally as a pull-down, the raised crimp edge becomes a great foot later in the route. Oriented horizontally as an undercling or vertically as a side pull or gaston, the complexity increases, and the nice foot disappears. You are left with a low-profile sloping blob, great for forcing and limiting the feet to intricate and complex movements on added volumes or small feet or leaving them to commit to smears on the Spectre itself. Side pulls can be set to force tricky and committing heel hooks when paired with limited feet. Within the Spectre Assembly, you will find subtle variations in the overall design. Most of the holds offer a tapered edge, which prevents climbers from getting their thumbs on and pinching the hold or using a thumb catch. Since holds in the gym bolt on and stick out away from the wall, almost everything can be pinched to a degree. The tapered edge allows setters to force different moves and limit just how much their climbers can pinch and pull through, really forcing the climber to engage in a crimp or open position on this hold. Some of the holds do allow for a thumb catch, enabling climbers to pinch. The variety of holds means that as a setter, you can dial the intensity up and down, all while remaining in the same hold family to keep the aesthetics.
Aesthetically, the Spectres have a lot to offer. With a wide range of sizes, from small screw-ons to two extra-large feature holds, the simple and elegant design will look great on any wall in any color. The extra-large holds will draw eyes from across the gym, and the wide range of sizes will allow your setters to set not only a challenging route but also an aesthetically pleasing one.
The holds will be fun on any wall angle, but given the small and challenging nature of incut edges, the difficulty will dramatically increase the steeper you go. On slabs, where the incut edge will feel nice, you can easily up the difficulty by changing the orientation and taking away the option of the positive edge as a foot. In higher-risk comp-style boulder problems, the Spectres provide not only a small hold but also one that requires accuracy to hit. On steeper walls, the difficulty increases; not only do you have to crimp hard, but you cannot effectively pinch the hold with its tapered edges, forcing you to climb in a stricter crimp or drag position (no thumb catch). You also need to conserve some strength so you can move more accurately; miss the raised edge, and good luck staying on. The bigger holds are matchable, leaving a little mystery as to where the sweet spot is.
Climb on the Spectre Assembly today! A great addition to any home wall or gym!
