Black Diamond have taken the old C4s and improved the overall unit again. This time the most noticeable steps forward have been in weight saving, and the addition of the very innovative trigger keeper on the larger units. The solid feel and build quality has been maintained, so long term users of the C4s will probably like this new version too. Aside from the small but significant upgrades, the C4 is recognisably still a Camalot... well if it ain't broke, don't fix it! The new C4s range from..." go to full review

The updated QUARK is a superb tool, that will climb equally well on ice, mixed and snow. Petzl seem to have ironed the key durability issues of the previous model. Whether you are an experienced winter climber looking to upgrade your existing tools, or an aspiring mountaineer looking for your first pair, the QUARK would be an excellent choice for a mid-range do-it-all winter tool. Whilst there are other cheaper tools available, the RRP of £210 per axe is comparable with heavier tools from..." go to full review

Warm, supportive and protective, these solid B3 boots are far from lightweight, but thanks to their excellent flexible collar they still feel surprisingly nimble for climbing. Compared to some aggressively techy boots their more generous fit may particularly suit wider-footed users, and personally I've found them really comfy on long walk-ins and snowy Munro days. Quality mountain boots don't come cheap, so I think the £360 price tag for the Vultur Vertical GTX is quite a bargain. I'll be..." go to full review

In my five years of ice climbing I have climbed with my own first set of straight shaft tools, borrowed friends new state of the art tools, and demoed a handful of different brands and styles. When I got the Carbon North Machines for an upcoming ice climbing trip to Norway I assumed that they would be good tools and left it at that. Upon my first time swinging them, however, my opinion quickly changed. They genuinely made ice climbing easier by making solid placements with ease on the first..." go to full review

The Black Diamond Offset Micro isn't durable enough for every day trad climbing because they aren't as durable due to the soft metal of their heads and their wires being more prone to kinking. For a smaller everyday nut, we'd recommend the still offset but aluminum DMM Peenut coupled along with the DMM Alloy Offsets. However, for thinly protected routes that require tiny protection along with any big wall or aid route, these things are undoubtedly the ticket. After extensive side-by-side..." go to full review

The Cypher Huevos are the winner of our Best Buy Award because they are the best nut you can buy for the price. They are solidly designed and perform equally as well as the Black Diamond Stoppers and the CAMP Pro Nuts but for significantly less money. We still like models like the DMM Alloy Offsets, Black Diamond Offset Stoppers, and DMM Peenuts better for all-around and particularly harder trad climbing. But we really appreciate the utility of the Huevos, and their price means you are less..." go to full review

The CAMP Pro Nuts are produced in the most commonly used sizes that, because of their greater-than-average curve and rounded edges, give them excellent bite, stability, and makes them easy to clean compared to most others. While their size run means they aren't quite a stand-alone set, they offer enough advantages for use as an alpine set or to complement other nuts already on your rack.go to full review

The versatility, durability, and weight of the Canary 8.6 is almost unmatched which allows it to excel as an alpine rope. With a triple certification, this rope is also highly versatile and can be used in many different ways.  Since I tested this rope over the summer months I was only able to get miles of rock climbing out of it, but come winter and spring I will be pushing the Canary 8.6 into mixed, ice, and snow climbing.  With my experience with the rope up to this point, I predict the..." go to full review

All in all, the Zone has proven to be a great climbing shoe. If you are looking at a shoe for steep and hard climbing that won’t break the bank, the Zone is the shoe for you. My only reservation would be for any of my flat-footed friends out there, as downturned shoes are rough on flat feet. Regardless of the shoe you buy, make sure you try it on to get the right size and fit for your feet. Happy sending!go to full review

All in all, this was a perfect shoe for my intro to the climbing world. I am so stoked to push my Kiras to the limit as I improve my skill. Whether you’re starting from zero prior knowledge (like myself) or already know what you’re doing, give the Evolv Kiras a shot!go to full review