Bottom line is that if you want some added safety features, climb on skinny ropes and want a device that will last longer, the GriGri + is worth a look. It’s also an excellent choice for guide services, schools and any other setting where it’s going to see intense use and the added safety features will be a benefit.go to full review
The Ultralights are the only cams in this review that sport single axles. Having one axle lets the Ultralights achieve smaller sizes than dual-axle models—better for small cracks and weight savings. Of course having one axle gives the Master Cams less range per unit than dual-axle cams, meaning you need more cams to fill your rack for a given range. And so goes the decades-old debate: Is it better to carry more pieces of pro or fewer pieces that fit a wider range?go to full review
The individual Dragons weigh a touch more than the comparable BD and Wild Country Ultralight offerings—particularly in the larger sizes—but are by no means cumbersome. The sturdiness, durability and reassuring bite of these cams on the rock are worth a few extra ounces.go to full review
In summary, the BD Ultralights are great for instantly improving your power-to-weight ratio, hauling up big walls and reducing load on long approaches or in the alpine; they are easy to identify with their standardized colors and easy to plug with their thumb loops and wide finger triggers. They do cost approximately $20-$40 more than equivalent cams from other brands, but if cutting weight is your goal, these babies are your pick.go to full review
The new Wild Country Friends are really well-rounded, very smooth to operate, and extremely ergonomic. My only wish is that the company had made a larger range of devices, as I would love to have these guys in very small or very large sizes. As it is, they only go down to 0.5 and up to #4.go to full review
These light, fleet, precise shoes mark one of the Spanish brand’s few forays into softer boots, and their innovation has paid off—the shoes crushed on steep boulders, sport, and the gym. “I dug the soft overall feel contrasted with the stiff, precision toebox,” said our tester. When he brought them on a tech-nasty offset 5.13 granite layback, the shoes locked right into the edging, scumming, and hooking.go to full review
Built for all-day comfort with a bit of downturn, these shoes forced our tester to stand hard on small holds, working well to toe down on steep Yosemite problems. While initially distracting, the two-tone rubber soon added emphasis and made him think about his heel placement and movement more: “From the MoonBoard to the boulders behind Camp 4, these shoes pointed my toes precisely onto holds."go to full review
The Chimera is a cutting-edge redpoint and bouldering shoe with a hypersensitive toe and soft, grippy feel. They were grabbing machines on the steeps, digging into the tiniest of holds with lock-on precision (they force you onto the point of your big toe, which takes some adjustment for edging). Outsized, perforated toe-hooking patch was a dream on boulders and heel cup was bomber.go to full review
The Voltage, which comes in a high-volume and low-volume version, nails precise and aggressive while being comfortable—i.e., minimal on/off. Think of these as a friendlier addition to your redpoint options. The shoes direct power into the big toe, so you do get some wear there. Said our tester, “I used them in the gym for hard, powerful bouldering, and they blew away other shoes in my quiver."go to full review
“If you’re projecting steep climbing that requires you to pull hard with the toes or technical heels, this is your shoe,” said our HV tester, who used them in the gym and on local sandstone. Our LV tester echoed this, saying, “Love the precision for overhanging foot placement and heel hooking. I really trusted the sturdy heel.” She also got lots of compliments on the shoe's colors and looks.go to full review