Evening Sends

After months of use the only damage to these is normal wear on the rubber. The uppers and lace holes are bomber. At nearly $200 it’s nice to have a shoe that lasts well beyond burning through the rand, with plenty of life left for a resole, if you’re into that kinda thing. Overall, I’m pleased with the new Testarossa, it’s a welcome and much-improved update to the classic. More power to the toe, more function in the heel, and a longer shelf life thanks to better materials. Yes, more of..." go to full review

So far I’ve tested the Furia Air on some of the most slippery rock I can find: water polished cobble sandstone and greasy Rifle limestone. Where this shoe lacks as a solid edger, it really excels on slippery smears. I’d use this shoe for anything that requires blank, slippery smearing. The fact that you can really press all of the rubber onto the rock gives you purchase that you can’t get in shoes with traditional soles.go to full review

The Ceros is virtually impossible to crossload, which adds a higher degree of security while belaying. An ingenious little protrusion on the carabiner’s spine prevents the GriGri from sliding down onto the spine, and the mini gate at the base of the carabiner keeps the Ceros from shifting once its clipped to your harness belay loop.go to full review

The new Furia S is a softer iteration of the Furia, with some other great improvements as well. Whereas the original Furia had two bulky Velcro Straps, the Furia S has slimmed down to a single, thin Z-pull strap. I really like this change; it just makes the shoe feel even more high-performing and it’s easier to get on. The other big change is the addition of more toe rubber, which makes the Furia S one of the best toe-hookers I’ve worn. The idea that one “toe-hooks” becomes an outdated term..." go to full review

The quality and performance of Scarpa’s line of climbing shoes continue to impress me and be my go-to footwear. The Maestro is a great addition to Scarpa’s line and is a wonderful shoe for vertical routes where edging and comfort are needed.go to full review

If you’re looking for one do-it-all climbing helmet that will hold up to lots of mileage and give you an extra piece of mind about protection from rock fall as well as taking sideways whippers when you break a hold unexpectedly, you’d be hard pressed to find a better solution than the Boreo.go to full review

The Black Diamond Impact is one of the lightest and best crashpads on the market. It’s so light that it even makes sense to carry two of them. This is my go-to pad for international trips, but when it comes to high-ball projects, I’d much rather have a Mondo (or three) beneath me.go to full review

For pure performance, the Katakis took a slight lead over the Otaki. But if you’re looking for wide-foot comfort, and on-and-off ease, the Otakis are a great choice. It’s hard to go wrong with either of these versatile performers, but I’ll be sticking with the Katakis from now on.go to full review

If you already own a relatively new Grigri2, there’s no real rush to run out and buy a GriGri+. The Grigri 2 is still a fantastic and totally safe belay device. However, I would absolutely consider making the GriGri+ the next one you get because it’s even more fantastic and safer by a significant degree.go to full review

The BD 9.6mm rope is a super high-quality, all-around cord that will stand up to hundreds of whippers and months of abuse. This isn’t a great ultra-light redpoint cord, but it is a perfect partner for all the painful days or projecting leading up to that moment of glory.go to full review