Lightweight and functional screws that really bites into ice making placements quick and easy, definitely my new go-to screw. However, like the Petzl aluminum screws they bind in green or wet ice so it’s still a good idea to have a few steel screws on the harness.go to full review
If you have used the previous generation of C4s you will be able to pick up a rack of the new generation and jump right on your proj. You don’t feel any negative difference and should be solid placing cams with confidence they will do their job.go to full review
The only real downside to the MIPS version of the Wall Rider is the weight. It’s a bit heavier than the regular version of the Wall Rider, 260g instead of 220g, and heavier than the Petzl Sirroco (185g) or the Edelrid Salathe (215g). However, the extra protection offered by the MIPS makes it quite a versatile helmet that works well rock climbing, alpine climbing and even ski touring (though it’s not specifically rated for it in part due to the large vents holes that are not allowed on ski..." go to full review
Both the Joker 9.1 and its Soft version handle extremely well, however the testers actually preferred the regular version of the Joker for two reasons. Firstly, the Soft version was so soft it curled occasionally when feeding into the GriGri, causing it to jam while belaying. Secondly, when flaking the rope over a hand to throw, the slightly stiffer rope kept the loops separate and were less likely to bind when thrown. These however are very minor points.go to full review
I find that most mountaineering crampons perform well when mounted on a stiff pair of ice climbing boots. However, the softer the boot gets the less performance you can squeeze out of a pair of crampons. Of course this means that soft mountaineering boots appreciate a technical crampon when the going gets steep and icy. And this is where the Alpinist crampons really shine! They feature a unique heel slide design which adds rigidity to the crampon while all but eliminating any play between..." go to full review
As with any boot, there’s a trade-off between climbing performance and walking performance. Generally, stiffer boots climb better, while softer and more flexible boots walk better. As you would expect, the very soft Trango Tech walks quite nicely. However this soft Strobel lasted boot walks well because the toe flexes, which takes away from performance in snow and ice where a stiff platform is needed. The boots are quite stiff laterally though, which allows them to perform reasonably well on..." go to full review
The Taiss Light Mid GTX is a new lightweight mountaineering boot from Mammut which debuted this spring. While the colors may be understated, at least for the 2019 version, this boot is anything but. Exceptionally lightweight but still quite stiff and very dexterous, it walks well and climbs even better. I actually feel faster and lighter just putting these sick new boots on! Definitely one of my favorite boots of the summer and my new go-to for almost any type of summer alpine climbing,..." go to full review
A very cool device that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing with. I especially love the smooth assisted brake when rappelling and often take it with me on routes requiring technical descents or half ropes. However, if I’m using a single rope I’ll also bring a stitch plate so I don’t need the Giga Jul for belaying my second up.go to full review
An absolutely fantastic three season mountaineering boot. If you’re looking for something that does it all well (ice, snow, rock, trails, etc.) then you should definitely be checking out the Ribelle HD.go to full review
The new DART crampons also worked quite well when I tested them out on some dry-tooling. As they’re quite light, climbing steep or overhung sections is bit easier on the core. And the angle of the shortened mono-point made toeing in on small ledges and cracks fairly secure. I’m really quite impressed that Petzl could make the crampon so light without sacrificing either features or strength/rigidity.go to full review