Splitter Choss

Since I first wore the Half Dome that week at Red Rocks, it’s come on all my climbing adventures this summer, from big walls in Yosemite to single pitches at my local crag in Boise. It’s changed the way I think about helmets, and I can happily say my skateboarding one has been sitting at home, gathering dust.go to full review

From granite cracks, to basalt and sandstone seams, they tend to work where nothing else will. The smallest sizes are recommended for aid climbing only, but I like to think of them as my “it’s OK, just put them in and keep climbing till you find something better” pieces. Also, the folks who frequent the big walls of Zion and their copious flaring pin scars will likely find them an indispensable part of their rack.go to full review

I’ve only got one complaint so far, and that’s how kinked the cord was/is. It’s taken a long time to work out 262 feet of twists, which gets to be a pain after a while. I’m also a little concerned about the durability, as it’s such a skinny line, but so far I have no complaints. If you spend much time in the desert or anywhere with long pitches, or just want a light and long rope for multipitch routes, be sure to give this thing a look.go to full review

This is called speed dating because you two only have 5 minutes to get to know each other and see if you are match. The session starts and stops when the bell rings. Rock Climber, meet Edelrid Boa DuoTec. Boa, this is Rock Climber. The session starts now. You guys have fun.go to full review

The Fraggle is contoured to fit kids well, just as we expect our adult harnesses to be built for comfort and function. Instead of flat webbing sewn together, the Fraggle has wide, contoured leg loops that offer support for long climbing or other roped activities, like swinging. The chest harness is similarly contoured to fit a real body.go to full review

In climbing, it’s easy to be complacent about safety, especially when you’ve been doing it for a long time, but make one mistake and you can die from it. Metolius has always had our respect for fully acknowledging that and creating products designed to keep us safer out on the rocks, in spite of ourselves. Some have shied away from their products, claiming them to be overbuilt, but if you are looking for an excellent harness that combines comfort, functionality and best-in-class safety, it’s..." go to full review

I’ve been using it all year, and can say it’s by far the most comfortable and well ventilated helmet I’ve ever worn. A couple things to note, this is not a good choice for alpine climbing, as it’s not designed to take a repeated, large impacts. For sport and trad cragging however, it’s hard to beat. Also, it’s a bit pricier than other models, at $140, so you’ll have to decide if the added cost is worth giving yourself one less reason to not wear a helmet. Retail is $139.95,go to full review

In all seriousness, this is a great rope. It feels thicker than other 9.4′s, but the handling is great, and there wasn’t any break in period. It also came kink free, which is always a joy. My last 80m was a nightmare of kinkage from the start, and I was concerned this would be a problem with all longer cords, but this rope has put my fears to rest. Also, the sheath wasn’t overly slick like it is on some new ropes. In fact, I’d have to say one of the best things about the Roca 9.4 was how it..." go to full review

I always try to look for what could be improved in the gear I use, maybe the spots where the design team missed something, but in all honesty there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this carabiner. It’s not too heavy, it’s not too small, it feels good in your hands. The only complaint might be that it costs $13 more than the standard VaporLock ($27.95 versus $14.95), but since you’ll likely only want a couple, I don’t think that’s too big of a deal. Also, I never had a problem with the..." go to full review

With a bigger size and larger gate opening, they feel great in hand and are super easy to clip. More metal also means these should take longer to wear out. Available in 12 or 17 cm lengths, the dogbone isn’t as stout or wide as the one on the Spirit draws, but it’s rigid and easy enough to grab onto, should the need arise. The difference in cost compared to other high end draws is also significant, as for a set of twelve you’ll save $60 over the Spirits, which is no small amount.go to full review