
The original Solution appealed to many climbers and became an exceedingly popular shoe at the gyms and boulders. The subtle adjustments introduced in the Solution Comp should only add to this appeal. It provides the same precision at the toe while adding lots of sensitivity to the heel. The only drawback is a slight increase in price. We believe the improvements are easily worth the few extra bucks.go to full review

The C-Quence is the newest harness in Arc'teryx's lineup, and we would agree with their statement that it is their most comfortable. It is a very versatile choice and makes for a great all-around harness for the climber who likes to do it all, but only wants to own one harness. If you are just as likely to plug cams in Yosemite or Rocky Mountain National Parks as you are to get in an after work session at the local gym or sport crag, then the C-Quence is an ideal choice for you.go to full review

The Wild Country Zero Friends are, in our opinion, the best version of the "Alien" style camming devices, which include a long trigger sheath and cam springs recessed inside the lobes. They match up sizes and colors to many other popular small cams, so are easy to integrate into the rack, and have a nice wide range that makes them easy to place. We think they are ideal for free climbing, and would be a worthy addition to almost any traditional climber's rack.go to full review

The Petzl Sm'd Twist-Lock is our favorite offset-D shaped carabiner, which makes up the bulk of the selection we would carry on any given day of climbing. Offset-Ds tend to be lightweight, and this one is more versatile than most due to its wide, flat basket shape. The twist-locking gate adds security and peace of mind, and is very easy to manipulate to open quickly. If you are looking to bulk up your locker selection, you can't go wrong by adding a few Sm'Ds.go to full review

The Black Diamond Vision MIPS is an excellent climbing helmet that offers more protection than any other currently on the market. It combines EPP foam on the sides for impacts when falling, with EPS foam on top for impacts from falling objects, with an ABS shell for increased protection and durability, and pairs it with the MIPS BPS system, which can reduce rotational forces on your brain from an impact. This is the best technology you can buy in a climbing helmet. It is also comfortable and..." go to full review

Gill found the harness to be ‘really comfortable’ for climbing, belaying and even falling. He also found that ‘it doesn’t get in the way of anything’ whilst climbing and moving about. However he did note a downside in that it needed ‘more (gear) loops to hold gear on’. With two gear loops the Finn has adequete racking for most sport climbing routes but if like Gill you do more trad climbs and/or your dad places lots of gear then you may find that a makeshift bandolier becomes neccessary...." go to full review

A good car won’t fix a bad driver, but it’ll certainly make it harder for the bad driver to mess up. Likewise, the La Sportiva Testarossas will arguably improve your footwork. Their Goldilock construction makes them top-notch at edging, while still managing a soft, responsive feel. They’re branded as best on steep routes and hard bouldering, but I’d argue they’ll be your go-to pair for hard sport climbing on any route that requires precision, with a few exceptions.go to full review

I wore the Eiger XT EVO in just about every condition down to zero, and my feet were never cold or wet even when water gushed over the boots without my permission. I’ll qualify, I used the Eiger mostly on routes where I was either in constant motion, or the belay sessions were short. I would hesitate to lace on the Eiger for very cold, long routes where you spend significant time immobile at belays, or it’s just really damn cold. For those conditions, I’d opt for a more insulated boot, and..." go to full review

Beal says the Ghost is for “expert climbing and mountaineering,” which I’m not so sure of. If by expert you mean a thoughtful, well-designed harness, then yes, but the Ghost is a fine entry-level harness as well as a project harness, when weight really matters. At 8.8 ounces, it is in the lightweight category, and yet after all the whips I’ve taken on it, it ranks high on my durability scale. There are less expensive harnesses out there, but there are more expensive ones. At $110, Ghost is..." go to full review

Despite being marketed for indoor bouldering, the La Sportiva Theory is excellent for sport climbing on slippery limestone, and to some extent, pockety sandstone. After six or so pitches, you’ll be psyched to take these puppies off, especially if it’s hot and your feet swell.go to full review