The Black Diamond Half Dome may be the single most popular climbing helmet in the United States. This popularity is surely due to the low price and the catchy name. We think it presents excellent value for beginners looking to get into the game without spending a fortune on equipment and is thus worthy of our Best Bang for the Buck award.go to full review

The Mammut Wall Rider MIPS wins our Top Pick award because it's the first climbing helmet to incorporate the potentially brain protecting MIPS technology. We expect to see many more companies follow suit soon to offer this technology as well. While it costs more than any other climbing helmet we have tested, we think its potential to prevent a potentially disastrous injury is worth the small bump in cost, and highly recommend you give this helmet a shot.go to full review

The Petzl Meteor wins our Best Bang for the Buck award for lightweight helmets because it offers good value while still cutting down on weight as much as possible. While it is more affordable than our Editors' Choice winning Petzl Sirocco, it's also heavier and scores a bit lower in our overall ratings. If you need a new helmet, want something light, but don't want to buy the most expensive one you can find, then the Meteor is an ideal choice for you.go to full review

You may be asking, with all of its drawbacks, why it even gets an award, to begin with, but the fact is, this shoe is a perfect design for so many kids out there. This innovative new shoe may not have the best performance in cracks or pockets, for instance, but it was given an award because it has rewritten the rules for what makes a good young kid's climbing shoe. Ask any new climber to try this on next to any of the other intermediate climbing shoes; there is no doubt, most of them will..." go to full review

The Stickit is a good option for most kid climbers. Its performance is comparable to the other intermediate kid's shoes but has a slightly better price on average. Its comfort and user-friendly design make it a good choice for new climbers and casual intermediate climbers alike.go to full review

The Five Ten Mini Mocc is a good all-around intermediate rock climbing shoe for kids. The soft leather and thin sole ensure comfort, while the Stealth S1 rubber has good grip on all types of rock and holds up well. However, the use of less (thinner) rubber means that they will wear down over time and may not last for more than one kid.go to full review

As far as all around kids climbing shoes go, the Evolv Venga takes the cake. It's a comfortable, flat, slightly asymmetric shoe that has great sensitivity, edging, and crack climbing performance. At $50 we have no complaints at all. This shoe was a contender for best buy because of the value, but because it performed so well well and is so durable, we gave it the Editors' Choice award. In this case, Editors' Choice doesn't necessarily represent the highest performance in our test group,..." go to full review

The new Evolv Ashima is a shoe for the specialist - a kid who is pushing his or her limits in the gym, crag, or boulder field. Those who are just out to climb casually might find them overkill and expensive, but to the climber who needs high performance, this shoe should fit the bill. The downturned La Sportiva Maverink slipper, with its no edge technology, is another great choice worth looking into if high performance is an important characteristic.go to full review

When it comes to climbing style, these technical beasts are a one trick pony. High performance in the steeps means the Furias do not exactly shine on lower angle terrain where edging and smearing are required. Their hefty price tag also makes them a bit of a commitment, so we would only recommend these to experienced sport climbers who know what they are getting into.go to full review

The La Sportiva Otaki excels at overhanging climbing where heel hooking and precision footwork come into play. The Otaki breaks in to be fairly comfortable, but are designed with performance in mind rather than all-day comfort. If you can take them off in between burns, the Otaki may be the ticket to rock climbing glory.go to full review