With its soft catch, the Jul 2 is a really nice forgiving indoor and sport climbing belay device that can be used on a wide range of rope diameters, from 8.9-11mm. For less experienced belayers it has an advantage over some of the more complex assisted braking devices with moving parts in that the key action, holding a fall, is basically the same as with standard belay devices, only with the added safety benefit of the assisted braking. There is a flipside to this however, which would be of..." go to full review

The Skwama is a soft, sensitive shoe that offers a good balance between comfort and performance. At home both on projects and circuits, the Skwama is definitely a good all-rounder, albeit in a very different way to the Otaki (i.e. a bouldering all-rounder as opposed to a trad/sport all-rounder).go to full review

If you're after something suitable for a wide range of rock types and disciplines, then the Otaki is a very strong contender. It's built to last, and comfortable, yet it offers a level of stiffness and support that few other boots can match.go to full review

Overall, the Luchador proved to be a pretty decent all-around shoe. The toe box really harnessed the power of the big toe when pushing on small edges and supported the big toe joint well. The heel cup seemed to stay in place on every move and could be snugged tighter with the top velcro strap. As a first impression, the colour scheme didn’t jump out at me as something I would want to be looking down at all the time, but after two sessions, I noticed myself not caring too much. Finally, the..." go to full review

When I first tried them, I was a bit skeptical. I really wondered if a shoe so soft could perform on Squamish granite. Well, they can, and really well at that, but they do take a little getting used to. The VXI isn’t a shoe you very specifically place on a foothold, but rather one you throw at the wall and let stick. Once you get into the groove of using them this way, they are amazing. In fact, for certain things, they are hands down the best shoe the market and a tool I’m excited to have..." go to full review

Overall, the Petzl Djinn Axess Quickdraw is a great new addition to Petzl’s line of quickdraws. With safety at the forefront of its design, the Petzl Djinn gives you that extra comfort when thinking about wear patterns and prolonged-use. The mid-range dogbone sling is just the right size to reduce bulk but still function well for grabbing a draw and during a few situations, made it easier to clip far away bolts. For those concerned about weight, the Djinn does weigh more than its counterpart..." go to full review

Overall, the Scarpa Booster S is an impressive shoe that excels when climbing both overhanging and vertical terrain. The sensitivity of the rubber combined with strong design features in the toebox create a shoe that is very precise. The downturned shape of the shoe is perfect for creating power on small holds and provided a strong foundation for toe-hooking. Although relatively comfortable, the shoe does have some hot spots on the top buckle and the top of toes after climbing, however, the..." go to full review

Overall, the Team 5.10 is an excellent shoe for steep rock. For the purpose of pulling in with one’s feet, they perform exceptionally well. I’d recommend them as primary shoe for sport climber and boulder who want to climb a variety of steep terrain. I believe them to be the best all-around steep rock shoe on the market. Because of their versatility, the Team 5.10 does lack in some specialized areas. I don’t recommend this shoe for climbing terrain less than vertical. This shoe is also not..." go to full review

Overall, we really enjoyed the Hirundos harness throughout the testing process and would highly recommend this harness for the purpose of single route sport climbing.The Hirundos delivers when finding the balance between comfort and freedom of movement. It’s clean and lightweight design reduced a noticeable amount of bulk from previous models and made a huge difference when moving on the rock. It was also the first harness that was light enough to wear all day long despite moving from crag..." go to full review

Overall, the Scarpa Furia is a welcomed addition to Scarpa’s long line of technical climbing shoes. Its sensitive nature makes it a top choice for technical bouldering, climbing overhanging terrain and especially when climbing indoors. Although the Furia does well when edging despite the lack of a mid-sole, we would not recommend this shoe for vertical or slightly vertical climbing. Although we would recommend this shoe for the advanced climber as an addition to your climbing shoe inventory..." go to full review