Rock and Run

So, to summarise, 4CUs are an excellent choice for someone looking for a versatile, lightweight and easy to use camming device. They have been my choice of cam for many years and while I have used most of the other brands on the market, I always reach for my trusty 4CUs when I rack up for a tricky route.go to full review

Having used the Magnetron for several months now, I really like it and intend to stick with it. If you are looking for an auto-locking HMS the Black Diamond Magnetron Gridlock HMS is a very strong contender if not the best choice available. It is more expensive than it competitors but I think the clean, simple and effective design justifies the extra cost.go to full review

The only real criticism I would level at the Session pad is that it could do with some grab handles at either edge. These would make dragging it along while spotting much easier, so it might be something for Metolius to think about in the next upgrade. Having said that, overall I rate the Session pad very highly, and would recommend it to anyone as a great value and well featured mid-sized pad.go to full review

If you’re looking to invest a bit of money in a very well made hinged pad then you won’t go far wrong with the Highball. For my money this is the perfect size for a bouldering mat – small enough to be used for circuit bouldering and yet big enough to cover a good area of ground when going for highball numbers. When my current highball goes to the great boulder field in the sky I’ll certainly be buying another, and I guess you can’t getter a better recommendation than that.go to full review

Perhaps the two most salient aspects of the Evolv Shaman’s character are its high levels of performance usability across the climbing canvas and its durability and longevity (an important matter when you’re paying in excess of a ton for your rock kicks!). Along with the Scarpa Instinct VS, this is probably one of the best performance all-rounders available. As the old saying goes: if the shoe fits, wear it…go to full review

What I thought would be a soft, Five Ten Team-like slipper turned out to be the stiffer, more supportive shoe I was searching for. I’ve used my Nexxos for everything, from steep Alpine granite bouldering in Austria to vertical limestone sport routes in the South Lakes and Yorkshire (and a whole load of other good things in-between) and I’ve genuinely not found their limitation yet.

Shoe choice is a personal matter and fit is always going to be the deciding factor. The Evolv Nexxo..." go to full review

Blackwings are a soft shoe. Nowhere near as extreme as hornets, but noticeably softer than dragons, giving more sensitivity and better feedback on rugosities and small positive features. This lets you wrap your feet around features better on overhanging rock. The MK2 Blackwings feel slightly stiffer than the original versions; maintaining the sensitivity which sets them apart but with slightly better edging capabilities. Considering that general opinion was that they were too soft, this..." go to full review

It’s probably fair to say that there are more comfortable women’s/low volume shoes around for longer routes and routes up to HVS (for example, the Five Ten Siren) However, for precision and stickiness for mid to higher grade routes and boulder problems without sacrificing too much in the way of comfort, these should do the job nicely.go to full review

Being my first pair of climbing shoes, it’s hard to tell how durable these are compared to others, but I’ve worn them quite a bit and they are not really showing much wear and tear. The leather uppers are really well put together and I think the stiffness of the soles will mean the rubber lasts well.

In summary, the Scarpa Force X shoe provides comfort whilst enhancing your technique and they look great too. I would definitely recommend them for a beginner or improver who is climbing..." go to full review

The fact that the Instinct VS hosts such a good balance across its fit, features and durability, means that this rock shoe offers (providing it fits your feet) a performance fit that will be able to tackle almost anything you throw its way – useful ingredients when you consider the increasing price of rock shoes. The ever present Scarpa build quality shines through, and whilst not cheap this rock shoe will certainly offer some of the highest levels of bang-for-its-buck of any shoe in its..." go to full review