The Giga Jul from Edelrid is the newest addition to their growing line of Jul belay devices. While it’s the most traditional of the line it is also the most unique, as strange as that might sound. Traditional in the sense that it can operate the same as the ever popular ATC or Reverso. Unique in that it offers an assisted belay mode with the … Continue reading Review: Edelrid Giga Jul Belay Device
The Taiss Light Mid GTX is a new lightweight mountaineering boot from Mammut which debuted this spring. While the colors may be understated, at least for the 2019 version, this boot is anything but. Exceptionally lightweight but still quite stiff and very dexterous, it walks well and climbs even better. I actually feel faster and lighter just putting these sick new boots on! Definitely one … Continue reading Review: Mammut Taiss Mountaineering Boots
Continuing with the expansion of the Trango line of mountaineering boots, La Sportiva added the Trango Tech this summer (2019). Next year will see further expansion, with a leather version of this boot hitting the market. The line now includes the Trango Tower, Tower Extreme, Cube, Ice Cube and a hiking boot version called the Trango TRK, in addition to the new Trango Tech. The … Continue reading First Look Review: La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX
We all have that jacket. We’ve worn it on our highest summits and in our lowest valleys. It’s kept us dry and warm, and is the perfect pillow when no other options exist. Life outside is intertwined with a reliance on the clothing we wear. Mammut have done it right with the Rime IN Hybrid Flex Jacket, I’ve been living in it for the last … Continue reading Review: Mammut Rime IN Hybrid Flex Jacket
The Alpinist crampons from CAMP are not the lightest summer alpine climbing crampons on the market but if you’re willing to sacrifice a little weight for performance, they’re definitely a winning option! There’s often a big focus on lighter and faster when it comes to climbing and alpinism. But lighter is not always better or faster, especially when routes get more technical. Just as a … Continue reading Review: CAMP Alpinist Crampons
Climbing ropes have changed over the years. They’ve gone from 11mm ropes good for hip belays to ropes that meet single rope UIAA requirements. Ropes so skinny that belay devices had to be redesigned! Fat, old-school ropes are being left for top-roping school groups while skinny single lines are becoming lighter and more durable with better handling, all dramatically helping you to send that next … Continue reading Beal Joker 9.1 Climbing Rope Review: Soft and Regular
The Petzl Micro Traxion finally has some competition in the form of the new Edelrid Spoc! Given the popularity of the incredibly useful device, I’m surprised it took so long for a competitor to one-up Petzl. A testament to how well the unit was designed really. And Edelrid didn’t just copy the Micro Traxion, they made a few improvements as the Spoc is lighter, more … Continue reading Review: Edelrid Spoc
Therm-a-Rest recently released the UberLite™ sleeping mat, the lightest and most packable sleeping mat we’ve ever come across! The size of a can of beer when packed up, this mat expands to the same size as a regular tapered mat when deployed and is just as thick as the other mats in the NeoAir® line! How did they do it? Well, they utilized cutting edge … Continue reading Review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® UberLite™
Mammut created a new genre of helmets when they introduced the original Wall Rider helmet a few years ago. This first hybrid helmet combined an EPP foam body with a polycarbonate cap in a construction that was quite innovative at the time but has quickly become quite familiar. Since the release of the original Wall Rider helmet a couple of years ago a number of … Continue reading Review: Mammut Wall Rider MIPS
Friends are great to have. They have evolved over the years, getting lighter, stronger and smarter… Black Diamond have recently updated the forever loved and well trusted Camalot C4. The main change is in the lobes, and the larger sizes got some clever features. This next generation was due, with new Wild County Friends and DMM Dragons circa 2017. This saw both having major upgrades … Continue reading First Look Review: Updated Black Diamond Camalot C4
