Gear Junkie

The Beal Birdie is a serious contender in the assisted-braking belay device wars. The device functions similarly to a Petzl GRIGRI, which is familiar to a lot of climbers. The Birdie does feed slack without special techniques, but for super quick rope feeds, the GRIGRI thumbing method is effective.go to full review

The cams are easier to spot on the harness, as Black Diamond colored both lobes to match the size of the cam, instead of only two out of four on the old ones. Experienced climbers who have plugged gear for years may not notice this. But beginner climbers desperate to spot that No. 1 before they lose grip will dig it.go to full review

These shoes are ideal for climbers with a classic “duck foot” who play on slightly to moderately steep terrain that demands powerful edging. And with the Quantum VCS, they can do it all day in comfort.go to full review

The Bulletproof functions like a high-end quickdraw should — remaining mostly forgotten until it catches a fall. It does weigh more than other options, but the wear resistance is legitimate. And the quality of construction and materials suggests a longer lifespan than quickdraws with all-aluminum carabiners.go to full review

It feels bomber in hand cracks and when wiggling up off-widths. The lacing configuration didn’t create any pressure points, and the leather was very comfortable. I felt very secure and comfortable whenever I’d lock in a good foot jam.go to full review

The 9.4’s weight, diameter, and resulting performance characteristics bridge the gap between a heavy-duty single dynamic cord and an ultralight specialized redpoint line. It stands up to the challenge of daily high-performance use.go to full review

At first, the tools’ lightness made me feel I had to swing harder than usual. But I later realized good sticks came with proper wrist flicking – I had no swing issues afterward. But for pure ice climbing, I believe the added momentum of heavier heads would help bring them around the top of the swing more effectively. For now, Petzl weights will fit, but Elite Climb is working on its own.go to full review

I’ll continue to test the Revo long-term. My initial impressions indicate that I’ll still prefer the convenience of a GriGri+ if hangdogging is on the agenda. For all other uses, I’ll keep using the Wild Country Revo. I like that it keeps my belaying skills intact, even improving them. I’ll keep an eye on durability, particularly the potential for damage from dirt infiltration.go to full review

Before testing, I thought the rubber sole might not function as well as other sticky rubbers. But climbing on these shoes quickly put that concern out of my mind. The recycled rubber sticks admirably on polished and sharp stone alike.go to full review

The point of these exercises was to demonstrate just how important it is to be on your game: Even with an assisted belay device like the GRIGRI, both hands stay on the rope with slack carefully managed at all times. From what I could tell, the improved features of the GRIGRI+ would benefit everyone, especially professionals, guides, and instructors.go to full review