The Alpine Start

An absolutely fantastic cam! If you don’t mind spending a little bit more money these babies provide a lot back in the form of better holding power (which can help ease the mental battle a little), extendable slings and so on while not weighing any more.go to full review

I was very impressed with the attention to detail that’s evident in this well thought out and functional harness. Every feature on the Zephir Altitude has been tailored to work well in a mountaineering environment without compromise and the resulting design is simple, elegant and functional. Needless to say after using it for a few weeks I got rid of my other mountaineering and ski touring harnesses, there’s no way I can go back now.go to full review

A versatile all-day multi-pitch or single pitch shoe that performs well on all types of rock while maintaining a very soft and comfortable feel. The only downside to the shoe is a stitched seam over the toes that may be uncomfortable depending on how pronounced it is and the fit of the shoe on your foot, it’s well worth testing them out by standing on an edge in the store to see if it will bother you or not.go to full review

Stiff, comfortable and exceptionally well made all-day multi-pitch or offwidth climbing shoe. If you’re looking at climbing long routes that involve wider cracks, lots of edging, etc. or just want to thrash out some OW’s then this is a great shoe. If you have trouble finding shoes to fit your unique foot then check out Butora, it might just be what you’re looking for.go to full review

The Singing Rock Penta is not only of the lightest, but also one of the most comfortable, helmets I’ve used. At just 208 grams (one size), it is slightly heavier than the lightweight champ Petzl Sirocco (170 grams, size 2) but a touch lighter than Petzl’s Meteor III+ (218 grams, size 2). This firmly puts it in competition with other lightweight helmets out there — but it’s significantly cheaper at just $70 USD msrp (vs. the others at approx. $120 USD). But regardless of the weight and cost,..." go to full review

Have you ever tried climbing grade 2 or 3 with aggressive tools? It’s not fun. Swinging down instead of over your head is cumbersome and trying to pull the tool out after is even more so. The curved shape (instead of bent shape) of the X-All Mountains allows for climbing on easier ice as well as steeper climbs. Though I have climbed my fair share of 5’s on top rope, I am just beginning to lead easier climbs and wanted a tool that would work in a variety of situations. Furthermore, I have..." go to full review

Utterly simple in its design, foolproof in operation and flawlessly effective, Black Diamond’s Gridlock belay carabiner is one of those things that makes you wonder why it had taken so long for someone to come up with it. Introduced to the market about a year ago, the Gridlock has become a staple on my harness, and the one ‘biner I use with every belay device I own.go to full review

Good, but not great. Given the huge price tag, I find it hard to recommend this harness unless light weight and packability are at the top of your priority list.go to full review

With handle- and pick- angles that are so similar to those of more mixed-oriented tools, the X-All doesn’t drytool as well as I expected. On lower-angled rock the tool has a tendency to wobble side-to-side, while on overhanging sections, the tool seems to pivot outwards on the tip of the pick. Similarly, matching on the upper grip doesn’t perceptibly shift the pick, but it does feel less secure than the normal, lower grip. When testing several different tools at a local mixed crag, at around..." go to full review

The harness has four ice-clipper slots, however, two are on the side, and two are located towards the front, over the leading edge of the forward-most gear loop. When the waistbelt is snugged up, these two forward ice clippers lie directly over the upper thigh. Even without screws, I find ice clippers in this spot annoying during more acrobatic mixed moves. Add screws, whose teeth love to snag pant fabric with even the slightest leg movement, and you’ve got an annoying, sharp mess to deal..." go to full review