UK Climbing

The big advantage of the Eddy is revealed when you start to use it. Somehow, the device seems to recognise the difference between a fall and an energetic payout of rope - it locks cleanly during the former whilst allowing the rope to pull through unhindered for the latter. The device locks when you apply force through the brake-hand on the dead end, when you are feeding rope through, the lack of braking force allows the device to remain open. A proper sharp tug will lock the device even if..." go to full review

The AIR is a good lightweight harness, it is in the mid-price range of £62 (harness prices range from £30 to £100). If you haven't tried a lightweight harness, unencumbered by adjustable buckles, just stripped down to the basics, it is quite a revelation.go to full review

The Cobras perform brilliantly on big routes and ice falls, with even better looks. The fact that they're the weapon of choice for the likes of Simon Anthamatten and Colin Haley speaks for itself. Are they worth €300? To be brutally honest, probably not. The Cobra is in essence, a slightly more snazzy version of the Viper with slight differences in performance, but not justifying the 100 quid price difference. However, for all you gear freaks with money lying around or for those who are good..." go to full review

Would I recommend them to some one climbing mid-grade routes? You can climb mid-grade ice with them without any great drama but you may need adjust your swing and where you aim due to the very curved shafts, particularly if coming from mid-curved tools like Flys, Vipers or Quarks. If you think it is unlikely that you will be climbing harder than V or WI4, then a more general technical tool like those just noted (or perhaps the DMM Apex) could be a better choice, particularly if you are..." go to full review

Overall the Mammut Infinity is a great all-round rope for intermediate climbers. It is tough enough to withstand the level of use of someone who goes sport climbing on a fairly regular basis, and mixes it up with onsighting and redpointing.

Perhaps a little too heavy for super hard onsights and redpoints and not quite durable enough to withstand long, hard working sessions where many falls will be taken repeatedly onto the rope, the Infinity is more suited to those looking for a good..." go to full review

All in all this is a great all-round harness for UK rock-climbers which is durable, comfortable, light and good at carrying a trad rack. If you have to cinch the harness up tight and enjoy slabby routes, it may be worth clipping a load of rack to the harness and checking you don't find it bunches up too much for you at the front. In addition to this, it is great value for money and is one of the cheaper harnesses on the market.go to full review

I’ve used the draws for the last month or so including a couple of weeks in the Gorges du Tarn and other than a few bolt hanger nicks and the finish worn off the internal angle of the rope clipping biners they look tip top and ready for plenty more.

During our trip in France my climbing partner said “if I was buying some new sport quickdraws I’d get these!”

You can’t get fairer than that.go to full review

The Corbie is an amazing technical achievement and the technology involved in making a single rope of such low weight will surely feed through into more mainstream ropes over the next years. That low weight does come at the cost of durability, making this not the ideal rope for general climbing, but if you need the absolutely lightest single rope available and understand the trade-offs, then the Corbie is currently the contender to beat.go to full review

A superb and incredibly precise performer. Not great for smearing but one of the best for standing on tiny edges. Overall they are well made, as are most Scarpa rockshoes, but the price tag is high at £124.99.go to full review

The Jay and Jayne are well made all-round harnesses that are durable, practical, comfortable and a good price. You might just have to by a pair of sunglasses if you intend to look at them for too long!go to full review