Climbing
The Tiger has been a sport and trad climbers’ favorite for years, but the addition of Unicore means big wallers, alpinists, and even route developers can find peace of mind and extra durability in high-rockfall arenas.go to full review
A durable, reliable, basic rope with one very important safety feature that’s excellent for beginners and veterans alike. The fatter diameter means a longer lifespan, even for toproping, and the price is more than budget-friendly.go to full review
A cut sheath on this skinny and super-light cord doesn’t mean disaster anymore with the added protection and stability of Unicore, and its rating as a single, half, and twin means you can use it almost anywhere.go to full review
“This harness looked too svelte to offer any real comfort on hanging belays and big falls, but when I weighted it for the first time, I forgot I even had it on,” one tester said, after a weekend of projecting Wind and Rattlesnakes (5.12a) in Wild Iris, Wyoming. “That’s the sign of an easy-to-wear harness.” Beal is using what they call Web Core technology, which bar-tacks two smaller pieces of webbing (the straps you pull to adjust) on either side of a wider, mesh-lined, laser-cut piece of..." go to full review
Whether you’re a 5.13 sport climber or first-time trad leader, the Jay will fit your needs—and budget. This all-around harness scored above-average marks for comfort (7.5 out of 10) and durability (8 out of 10) during single- and multi-pitch days across Colorado’s Front Range. Mesh padding keeps the waistbelt and leg loops cushioned but breathable; testers didn’t sweat out even in sweltering gyms. A large, automatically doubled-back waistbelt buckle with a wide webbing strap makes the..." go to full review
Wide straps and monster gear loops make this a trad climber’s dream, according to our Southeast testers who used it for six months on the granite and quartzite of Looking Glass Rock and Linville Gorge, both in North Carolina. “It’s sturdy, comfortable, and racks a lot of gear,” one smitten user said. The Blaze felt stiff on the first couple wears, but after that, it softened up and “molded to my specific body shape like a high-quality insole.” Two testers gave it a 9 out of 10 for comfort...." go to full review
This harness forgoes traditional webbing for the internal structure and instead uses Vectran fibers. This adds stability to the shape of the waistbelt and leg loops; it was comfortable even when one tester hung for 15 minutes to analyze moves. Packability was top-notch, with the Ozone scrunching down to slightly smaller than a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle. Testers were able to use it for trad climbing, but preferred to rack on a gear sling instead of the gear loops. More than a few pounds on the..." go to full review
Attention ladies: This is the be-all, end-all harness for women. Whether you’re a sport climber taking huge falls, a traddie carrying pounds of gear, or a big waller hanging for hours, you won’t find a more comfortable, durable, or versatile setup.go to full review
Because the original design was so successful, it has seen very little updating, other than losing a few grams in 2009; the current weight is 3.1 ounces. There are plenty of competitors, but the ATC-Guide leads the category in performance and durability. Climbers we polled prefer this model over others because it’s beefier, lasts longer, and loads ropes easier. “Ultra-top-notch-deluxe sums it up right there!” is what one psyched gear expert had to say. Another called it “the device that all..." go to full review
In 1997, the Meteor was the first helmet on the market to use expanded polystyrene (EPS) as its primary means of absorbing impact. The big benefit for climbers? Comfort gains and weight savings—two key influencers for climbers wearing a helmet. It’s been through several evolutions since, and remains one of the best-performing and most popular lids out there. While the original version looked like a child’s bike helmet, the current version is sleek and easy to wear, with more than a dozen..." go to full review