Outdoor Gear Lab

This boot is optimized for light and fast mixed and rock climbing. It's very light, and the uppers are built for mixed climbing performance. When it comes to colder days and steep ice, it's certainly functional, but not ideal. It's the analog to the Nepal Cube, a boot built for ice climbing that also works for mixed and rock climbing.go to full review

With its fancy materials and design, this boot is like a message from the future of what mountain boots will be. It's light, it's warm, and it's quick to put on and adjust. One thing it isn't, however, is water resistant. For some climbers that won't be a deal breaker. If this boot fits your foot and you think you won't be fording any streams or jumping in any puddles this could be the boot for you. Our testers found that this boot felt wider/higher volume in the forefoot than the Scarpa..." go to full review

Looking to try climbing but don't want to pay $200 for a pair of foot torture devices? The Momentum is a solid choice for those starting out. That 4.3mm of rubber will come in handy when you're dragging your untrained feet all over the wall, and these shoes will support you weak toes as they develop into strong, edge crushing steel talons. Does your partner train obsessively in the gym and then put his/her stinky climbing shoes in the back of your car? These could make a great gift for that..." go to full review

Our testers prefer a softer downturned shoe for steep climbing, and a more sensitive flat lasted shoe for slab climbing, and the Focus didn't really hit it out of the park for any of us like classics from Scarpa and La Sportiva. If it's a stiff shoe you're after, this could be the one; just remember to size up from your street shoe if you're ordering online and can't try them on in a shop.go to full review

These sleek looking race car shoes are a great choice for your next Euro limestone odyssey, where they will help you flow up steep limestone by day and send-celebratory cheap wine flow down your satisfied gullet at night, along with snails or whatever. For the blue-collar all-American trad warriors out there, do yourself a favor and buy a stiffer pair of climbing shoes.go to full review

The Petzl Frieno is a very unique belay locker that includes a friction spur that enables one to loop the brake end of the rope over it for increased braking control. It must be used with a gri-gri on a single rope to be effective, and costs a lot of money for a single locking carabiner. For these reasons, it is not our preferred, or recommended, choice for a belay-specific locker.go to full review

The Edelrid Pure Slider is a light and compact auto-locking carabiner that is designed, and thrives, while being used on the sharp end. Traversing climbs or pitches where the crux comes above only a single piece leaves one exposed in the random event that the rope comes unclipped from the protection, something which has happened to countless people. A very easy to open and deploy locker like the Pure Slider can nullify these risks, and is a useful tool for lead climbers, whether on sport or..." go to full review

The Edelrid HMS Bulletproof Triple FG has many unique features not found on other lockers we tested, or many other lockers at all, and which add value. It is our Top Pick as a Belay Locker, and the one we would recommend buying if that is your primary purpose. For the security conscious, or those who simply don't want an aluminum locker that will wear out in the desert really fast, it also presents a great value.go to full review

The DMM Phantom Screwgate is the best light and compact locker you can buy, but comes with a larger price tag than most in this category. We appreciate how light and small it is, and especially how much easier it is to quickly open and close the gate compared to other lightweight lockers. As our Top Pick, we highly recommend carrying three to four of these on your rack for multi-pitch climbs.go to full review

The La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX is a boot that could be absolutely perfect or absolutely rubbish, depending on your objective. In the hiking and climbing realms of mountaineering, this award winner crushes! It has excellent edging capabilities and is comfortable to wear on those uber long days in the mountains. That being said, this was the only model tested that doesn't work with step-in crampons. It is the lowest performing boot when it comes to straight ice climbing. Designed with a..." go to full review