Splitter Choss

During my first outing in the Guide Tennie, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate the stiff, compression-molded EVA midsole and it’s excellent underfoot protection. This shield allowed me to be less concerned about where I placed my foot while hiking, as pointy, irregular rocks no longer threatened the bottoms of my feet. A wide, cushy heal further adds to the shoe’s comfort and helped provide welcome stability while navigating uneven terrain with a pack on. In fact, the Guide Tennie is..." go to full review

The last Scarpa shoe I used was the Furia S, which couldn’t be more different than the Mago. And I would say that the Mago is a much more versatile shoe which should appeal to a broader audience. I’m finding I throw these in my pack more and more these days, and if you’re in the market for a precision edging shoe, these are worth trying on.go to full review

The Furia S is a very specific tool. This will not be the shoe you wear every day, or warm up in, and I wouldn’t want to waste its rubber in the gym (if gym climbing is your main thing, then you may feel differently and these will probably excel at volume hopping). If you climb regularly anywhere with steep rock and small, smeary footholds, these shoes will shine and you should consider add them to your kit.go to full review

Really there was only one thing I didn’t love about the Technician. The leg loops are too big for me, and I have to wonder at some of these harnesses, where size medium is perfect for my waist, but the leg loops open up to gargantuan size. Who are these people with size 32 waists that have legs the size of tree trunks? Definitely not sport climbers. Even with the adjustable leg loops cinched all the way down, they felt a little baggy on my legs. They also would invariably loosen up a little..." go to full review

Scarpa just keeps the hits coming in the high end shoe department, and the Chimera is what we’ve come to expect from them. If you like the Drago but want something with more support for roped climbing, the Chimera might be exactly what you’ve been looking for: a high performance tool that is geared toward sending steep routes with small, smeary foot holds that you really need to be able to feel underfoot to stand on confidently. The only drawback is the steep price tag, but you get what you..." go to full review

I’ve used them in the gym, on local limestone and for the sweet sandstone of Red Rocks. Because they are so supportive, they edge really well, but don’t smear as well as I had hoped. I do find myself reaching for them often, and for an all-around performer, they are an excellent choice. They also buck the trend of all new shoes that are coming out being super expensive, and clock in at a reasonable $165. If you are a fan of the Solutions but want something a little more sensitive, give them..." go to full review

I liked it more than I thought I would, thanks to the smooth, controlled lowers and the ability to easily feed rope quickly, and in my opinion it’s the best of these style of belay devices. For people looking to save weight on big cragging approaches, or those who don’t like GriGris, it’s worth taking a look. For me, however, it won’t be replacing my GriGri anytime soon, but certainly another valuable tool to have in the quiver.go to full review

Bottom line is that if you want some added safety features, climb on skinny ropes and want a device that will last longer, the GriGri + is worth a look. It’s also an excellent choice for guide services, schools and any other setting where it’s going to see intense use and the added safety features will be a benefit.go to full review

Fast forward a couple weeks, and they were ideal for climbing in the Black Canyon, which typically offers a mix of crack and face climbing pitches on sometimes slippery granite. Over the course of six pitches, I never once took them off at a belay and could have easily kept them on for several more hours. The final test for this shoe was a week in Indian Creek. Again, I brought three pairs of shoes with me, but there were only two climbs I didn’t wear the Katakis for. Starting to see a..." go to full review

The new Petzl Volta Guide is touted as an ideal cord for “intensive mountaineering,” certified for single, half or twin rope use. Over the last couple of months, I’ve used it on such cutting-edge mountaineering routes as Glitter Gulch, The Machinist and Velociraptor. Not familiar with these alpine test pieces? Yeah, the truth is these are sport climbs, and I haven’t actually done any mountaineering with this rope, but that’s the thing: it’s also great for clipping..." go to full review