Climbing Gear Reviews UK

To summarise – the Ribelle Tech 3 HD is my go to boot for summer alpine climbing and guiding. It is filled with technology, particularly the DROP6 which aids comfort and movement efficiency and my favourite feature, the Velcro power strap, where you can easily tweak support. The boot is wearing well, climbs brilliantly and feels like a step up from the previous version despite a slight weight gain. Not just for the fast and light elite, this boot has a lot to offer anybody looking for a..." go to full review

Having used the new Vapor all summer for my personal climbing and my work as an IFMGA Guide, I have to say, I couldn’t be happier with it. It’s comfortable, light, well ventilated and I barely notice I’m wearing it. It’s definitely my go to helmet for all my climbing and after a packed season of abuse, it’s not looking remotely trashed. If you’re still thinking of reasons why you shouldn’t wear a helmet, the new Vapor eliminates them all. Get one!go to full review

So, the Mammut Togir 2.0 Slide 3 Harness is a great all-around harness that will perform great for many climbing activities. It may not be the lightest harness out there but it is comfortable, has some great features and should prove faithful for many years of adventures.go to full review

Think big multi-pitch sport and trad climbs such as those found around Chamonix and the like. A rack of Mission Set draws will seriously lighten your load whilst still giving you that delightful clipping action that a solid bent gate provides. The short 15/22mm sport draw is also wide enough to grab reliably with pumped arms unlike skinny 8mm draws that shave weight but may leave you unable to ‘cheat’ in extremis! Unfortunately last summer my set of Mission Set quickdraws arrived too late..." go to full review

So, the Mammut Wall Rider MIPS helmet is a worthwhile investment, it has all the features you will need for climbing and mountaineering. It comes in a lightweight and compact package and the latest MIPS technology means that you will be as safe as you can be. If you are going to wear a climbing helmet you have decided that the risk of head injury is worth the money. You may as well have the best technology that is currently offered and that is currently MIPS. Be very careful as there are..." go to full review

Finally, the Generator Mid is a stiff boot, I’ve worn them a few times now and I still don’t feel like I’ve worn them in yet. That stiffness means you lose a little sensitivity but for the type of climbing I’ve been using them for that hasn’t mattered. If you’re planning a multi-pitch 8b then these may not be you. But for intermediate Alpine use, they are perfectly fine. The rubber is Vibram XS Edge, developed specifically for edging and the same as for the Maestro and Vapour. More durable..." go to full review

So, the Scarpa Vapour S are an excellent addition to the popular Vapour range of climbing shoes, the fit is excellent and they performed straight out of the box. They have great features that are suited to bouldering and indoor climbing and the XS Grip 2 rubber is awesome. The combination of a pair of Vapour V and Vapour S shoes in your pack would serve you well for most types of climbing for many years.go to full review

I’ve used the Capitan for trad, summer alpine a Scottish winter and been thoroughly impressed throughout. I am the proud owner of three high end helmets that are all lighter than the Capitan yet if truth be told I didn’t notice much real difference in my somewhat ‘average’ use. In Chamonix the temperatures were hitting the mid 30s, and everyone was sticking to rock routes, the Capitan felt totally comfortable. I wasn’t yearning for a lighter or more ventilated helmet, it remained perfectly..." go to full review

So, in conclusion, the Scarpa Ribelle HD is a great mountain boot. The comfort of the upper and sole unit offer all day comfort. They are lightweight (722g/boot for a UK8.5) although if you want lighter the Ribelle Light HD will shave a few grams off and the premium suede off increased durability. the 37.5 inner will help regulate the temperature and the HD liner will keep your feet dry. The Ribelle HD would be suitable for all mountain use including winter hiking, glacier travel, technical..." go to full review

The Couloir UL is everything I like from a ‘less is more’ design philosophy. It’s light, simple and faff free. It works perfectly for the activities that it is designed for – namely ski mountaineering, glacier travel and glacier skiing as well as some basic mountaineering. It has zero padding and I wouldn’t wanna hang in it for hours, but I’m never going to. When it’s on, I forget it’s there. I can put it on over crampons or whilst wearing my skis (although I prefer to plan to be wearing it..." go to full review