Outdoor Gear Lab
In the mountains, low weight, comfort, and high technical performance are all qualities which are highly desirable. The Lowa Mountain Expert GTX EVO - Women's hits that sweet spot of being comparable to a comfy light-weight hiking boot while possessing technical ice capabilities. The wide tongue-opening makes them slide on to the foot more easily than any other product tested and the flexible ankle cuff and rockered sole allow them to hike very well. The stiff full shank and innovative..." go to full review
If you're looking for a high caliber boot that performs well across the board, look no further than the La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX - Women's. The Editors' Choice award winner features a whole range of qualities we look for in a quality mountaineering boot: front and rear toe-welts, a full shank, and waterproof insulation to keep those feet warm and protected from the elements. It also stands up to the task of kicking and front-pointing into the hardest ice. Increasing our love of this boot..." go to full review
We really like the La Sportiva Trango Ice Cube. It's light and climbs rock, ice, and mixed terrain well. The surprising warmth of the boot, in addition to the integrated gaiter, makes this one of the more versatile lightweight boots on the market. If it sounds like this is the feature set you need for your climbing, you might be willing to overlook the possible fragility of the lace hooks.go to full review
The Scarpa Phantom Tech is a super-gaiter style mountaineering boot, which is essentially a single boot with a permanently attached gaiter. The gaiter of the Phantom Tech is constructed of Elastan and Cordura blend material, which Scarpa calls S-tech Fabric. This gaiter is very durable and seals out the elements effectively. The gaiter is closed with a waterproof T-Zip. The Phantom Tech had the widest fit of all the boots in the review, and will be a comfortable choice for people with wide..." go to full review
The Arc'teryx Acrux is the warmest boot in our review. A removable liner on a boot designed for altitudes less than 6000m is a unique and advantageous feature and gives this boot a level of versatility not found in comparable products. We experienced some serious durability issues but hope that they're not widespread. While this isn't a perfect contender for cold weather ice climbing, it does get the job done, and its other attributes make it uniquely qualified as an all-around cold weather..." go to full review
The BlueWater Ropes Lightning Pro has some good things going for it, including great handling and a not-too-heavy g/m weight. However, the poor falls we took on the line and the excessive sheath fuzz dropped it down in our estimation.go to full review
The Edelrid Pro Dry is a good line for a variety of climbing. It's not too specialized as to be suitable for only sport or only trad, and it didn't feel too spongy for top roping. Because it seemed to attract and hold dirt more than other ropes, it might not be the best choice for people who climb in notoriously dirty or sandy locations.go to full review
The Black Diamond 9.9mm is a great rope and we're happy that BD finally dipped its toe in the rope manufacturing world. This is a solid rope for anyone looking for an inexpensive line, and it's a great choice for beginning climbers who have to buy a ton of gear at once. It handles well and gives a good catch whether you are lead climbing or top roping. It's not the lightest rope, nor the most versatile, but if you're looking for your next line for gym days or TR sessions, this is a good bet..." go to full review
If you're looking to save on weight and bulk, then the Metolius FS Mini II could be the carabiner you are looking for. It's not ideal for those with larger hands or when wearing gloves though, and the small size is hard to get used to. Considering that there are other options that are much larger for about the same (or even less) weight, we don't think this makes a good racking carabiner but it does have other useful applications like holding your extras on a long route.go to full review
While the Trango Phase wasn't the highest scoring carabiner, it did function well and it retails at a great price. Considering how many carabiners you are likely to go through as a climber, from losing them to your partner's rack to leaving them on a descent here or there, we appreciate options that won't break the bank. If you're looking to save a few dollars or just can't shell out so much at once when starting out in this sport, the Phase is a great option to consider.go to full review