In conclusion, the Petzl Sum’Tec is an awesome choice as the terrain gets steeper and becomes more technical. Its sweet spot is really on those long, moderately steep routes or carried as a tool for piton placement on alpine routes, but still has its place on more moderate escapades.go to full review
I first used the rope on a sport climbing day in the Calico Hills. The rope is awesome to lead on, and clips quickly and easily. It is so light to climb with that it feels like the rope isn’t even there. Red-point and on-sight sport climbing might be where it is the most comfortable. The elongation on leader falls is pretty real though, and the Swiftprobably wouldn’t be my first choice on routes near my limit. The Swift takes more attention when holding a fall than a thicker-diameter rope as..." go to full review
The Mega Jul quickly replaced my need for any other tube-style belay device. The lightweight aspect of this belay device (weighing in at 2.3oz, compared to 3.1oz for a competitive brand’s version) paired with its stainless-steel construction is what wins it my go-to vote. No wear and tear marks to be seen after extensive use. Expect the Mega Jul to last you two or more years, even if you find yourself climbing with it 200 days a year. Pair this device with the Edelrid Bruce, a locking steel..." go to full review
The combination of a low profile, hard plastic top with the lightweight EPP body allows the Wall Rider to provide a high level of protection and durability in a comfortable and reasonably lightweight package. Some helmet designs have shaved off a few grams here and there by adding more vents, which also makes them a bit flimsy, or by removing features. This helmet has added features to increase safety and durability but still falls on the lighter end of the spectrum of lightweight helmets..." go to full review
In all, I’d highly recommend this as your “daily driver” tool if you focus mainly on water ice and alpine climbing. It will get the job done in moderate mixed terrain, but if that’s your focus, consider the Cassin X-Dream, another great tool from the folks at CAMP.go to full review
The best camming device ever made. I already want to get a double set of these, and I want my friends to as well. That said, I hope they expand and make Ultralight versions of the #5 and #6, the sizes where you often don’t haul them up a climb because they’re so heavy. Put them on your holiday gift list right now, or get one for someone you love!go to full review
This shoe comes close to being a jack-of-all trades; it performs at a high level on a variety of rock types and angles. It’s a favorite for climbing in places like Eldorado Canyon, where I have to be able to jam cracks, smear on subtle slopers, and stand on tiny edges. Some people like a slightly aggressive, downturned shoe for climbing hard cracks; I’d recommend armoring the outer toes with a little shoe goo for this purpose.go to full review
The Sum’Tec is a bit of a mixed bag for me. It performs excellently and it inspires confidence on most terrain. I grab it without hesitation on all of my ski mountaineering projects. However, in the back of my mind there is this nagging voice saying, This could be better. Unless you are confident that you won’t ever need to buy a technical ice tool, I have a hard time recommending the Sum’Tec. Even though it performs exactly as advertised and I have been quite happy with it, I think there..." go to full review
The FL-365 packs a lot of great features and comfort into a somewhat lightweight package, but all that comes at the price. A price only equaled by a handful of other harnesses out there. If you climb a lot, spend a lot of time in your harness, and need the level of racking storage the the FL-356 provides for trad, aid, or ice, I’d say it’s worth the price. However, you could buy a sixer of nice draws and a brand new harness for the same coin. Or lunch and a day of skiing at Whistler. Or gas..." go to full review