So, where do I stand on the Taiss Light Mid GORE-TEX?  Well, I can’t overstate how much I love them.  They are a really great performer and their super light weight is simply fantastic.  Oh, and they are so comfortable.  There is nothing at all that I don’t like about them and everything I do!go to full review

The initial fit of the heel was an early concern, as my heel didn’t fall super snug into the bottom of the shoe. That sensation did change a bit after the shoe wore in, but the feeling that the heelcup is a tad shallow remains. Though I have to say, I purposely tried to get the shoe to pop off my heel on multiple occasions by trying aggressive heelhooks, but I wasn’t able to succeed. A thick band of rubber at the back of your heel, however, pays off with precision, as you can dial it in to..." go to full review

The Kronos is a nice all arounder, for use in the gym or outdoor climbing. It’s a simple, clean design. Asymmetrical, it has a pointed toe, just slightly down cambered, and a variable-thickness rand, meaning it is thinner at pressure points and thicker around the toe areas, which get a lot of traffic. It edges well, and I found the bendy midsole and TRAX high-friction rubber feel to be solid on slick, slabby blobs. Good solid heel cup.go to full review

The only complaint in testing these shoes was that they required two or three sessions to break in. The heel cup fits beautifully, but is definitely tight on the Achilles at first. And as with any slipper, you’ll have to pull hard the first few times you put them on. But La Sportiva avoids any real hassle with a touch of extra leather under the ankle bones that expands just enough to get the Skwama on without toppling your chair. A single strap of Velcro tightens across the top of the foot..." go to full review

About the helmet itself, it is very good. It’s so lightweight you barely notice it, it has copious ventilation, holds a headlamp, and is easy to adjust. The only detail I don’t like is the magnetic buckle. It’s fiddliness was tough to cope with when I was wearing gloves, and was almost as tricky barehanded. Impatient, I sometimes let the chin strap all the way out and pulled it off  overhead like a T-shirt. A minor glitch in an otherwise excellent and versatile helmet.go to full review

I’ve tested these new Camalots on hard sandstone—like that of Eldorado Canyon— and some Colorado granite of less-than-Yosemite quality, and they bite just as reliably as my old C4s. The action is also smoother, and the four fully-colored cam lobes (versus only two colored ones on the older versions) help you more readily visually ID the sizes.go to full review

The first thing that caught my eye with Beal’s new assisted-braking belay device was its steampunk aesthetic: The Birdie is all stainless steel, with a gleaming silver body and colored handle. It just looks cool. Weighing 7.4 ounces, the Birdie is 1.2 ounces heavier than its main competitor, the Petzl Grigri; however, the Birdie costs $34.95 less. Both devices use an internal cam to assist with braking and have a similarly positioned lowering handle—if you’re fluent at one, you’ll..." go to full review

I’ve long been a fan of the Acro, a steep-rock/bouldering shoe with a passionate following. The Comp builds on its low-profile last to create a much softer (hence “Comp”) offering with volume climbing in mind—and that excels at its métier, in particular toe hooks, given the enormous scumming patch, which had me glomming around arêtes and under Kilter stalactites as if I had a tail. The Comps have an almost “gummy,” slipper-/sock-like fit and feel, and close with a high Velcro strap; coupled..." go to full review

In the heat of spring, the helmet was well ventilated, light and super comfortable. We climbed a few routes with funny overhangs—I bonked my head on the erratic features as I made my way up, which put the helmet's durability to the test. Overall, I have been incredibly impressed by the versatility of this helmet and would recommend it for anyone who wants one helmet that is comfortable and efficient to adjust, making it well suited for both skiing and climbing.go to full review