Blister

The new Petzl Contact 9.8 is a smooth handling and durable workhorse rope for everyday use on everything from top-roping to redpoint attempts.

There are better specialty ropes out there—both on the thicker and thinner ends of the spectrum—but the Petzl Contact 9.8 walks a nice line, providing much of the durability of a thicker rope along with the smooth handling of a thinner line.go to full review

All told, the Luchador does a decent job fitting into the jack-of-all-trades category. It’s a bit stiffer than the La Sportiva Miura lace not as stiff as the Miura VS, nor does it feel quite as aggressive as the latter.

Compared to the La Sportiva Miura or Vapor, it’s a half step less precise, though some climbers will probably prefer the Luchador for its higher volume last and slightly stiffer sole.

While purchasing all-around gear is generally a good philosophy for those just..." go to full review

The Corsa Nanotech is a versatile axe designed for intermediate and advanced mountaineers, or simply for anyone who understands the benefits and limits of a lightweight aluminum axe.
It excels on a summer snowpack when access requires a long approach. I think it can also serve as an emergency “just-in-case” axe—since it only weighs 249 grams, I’m more likely to bring it along on a trip even if I’m not sure I’ll use it.go to full review

These shoes have a place in a serious sport climber and boulder’s quiver. If you are looking for an all-around sport climbing shoe that offers the performance of a highly aggressive shoe while still being comfortable, this is an excellent choice.go to full review

A lot of thought went into the Astroman, and it has many features clearly designed for trad and crack climbing. While I think these features are brilliant in theory, it seems that a few could use some refinement. I also found that this shoe isn’t a great fit for my foot—the overly stiff sole made it difficult to edge and smear.

That said, I think climbers with wide feet very well might not experience these problems. (For evidence of that, check out Dave’s Astroman review.) The..." go to full review

The Evolv Astroman is a great choice for long routes in the alpine or in extended crack systems. It is designed to be a focused weapon for trad climbing and all-day use. It definitely achieves this goal, excelling particularly in cracks sized for tight hands or larger.

Because of this singular focus on trad climbing, the Astroman is not a good choice for those looking for a do-everything, one-shoe quiver. But if you are looking for either a shoe to wear on long trad routes, either at..." go to full review

Having not climbed in the lace or slipper versions of the Stonelands, I can’t speak from experience about the benefits or drawbacks of reversing the traditional stiffness trend between lace-ups and slippers.

I can say that the VCS strikes a nice balance between sensitivity, precision and comfort.

If your “all around” includes steep routes, or if elite-level sport climbing is your game, you might want a shoe with a more substantial downturn or more aggressive profile than the..." go to full review

The Five Ten Team 5.10 is a high-end bouldering and sport climbing shoe capable of handling a variety of angles and rock types, ranging from granite boulders in Switzerland and steep, limestone sport routes at the Wild Iris, to more technical, vertical climbs at the Finns in Idaho.

With the modified entry in the new black model, any intermediate or advanced sport climber or boulderer looking for a well-rounded performance shoe geared for precision footwork—or one specifically for toe..." go to full review

Overall, the women’s Blackwing is an excellent high-performing, aggressive shoe. Much like other aggressive shoes, the intense down-turn also basically eliminates the possibility of climbing comfortably on slab or while smearing for any extended period of time. However, they excel at anything overhanging, especially pocketed climbs. Toeing in with the Blackwings feels like a piece of cake; they stick exactly where you put them and they don’t let go. They also edge supremely well on steep..." go to full review

In general, the LVs hold up well to other competing shoes, and separate from the pack when it comes to comfort (and, in my opinion, color). For performing as well as shoes like the Katanas and Elektras, the LVs are much more comfortable. I found the break-in period to be both minimal and mild; I wore the shoes pretty comfortably right out of the box. As I mentioned before, though, the LVs don’t stretch, so if they feel uncomfortably tight from the get-go, they definitely won’t get any more..." go to full review