Climbers Christmas Guide 2017: Gift Ideas
In this second installment of the 2017 Christmas Gift guide for climbers we’ll look at 5 great ideas for larger or more expensive gifts. If none of the ideas work for you there’s one last bonus gift idea that should work for almost any outdoor sports enthusiast. Of course you could also check out the first installment, Stocking Stuffers, for more ideas as well. So, … Continue reading Climbers Christmas Guide 2017: Gift Ideas
Climbers Christmas Guide 2017: Stocking Stuffers
Another year seems to have flown by and the holiday season’s approaching once again. If you’ve got a hard-to-shop-for climber in the family don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this first installment of the guide we’ll look at 10 great ideas for smaller “stocking stuffer” type gift options. Basically cool stuff that will cost less than $100. The next installment will cover some bigger … Continue reading Climbers Christmas Guide 2017: Stocking Stuffers
Review: Petzl GriGri+
Since its release, Petzl’s GriGri has been the standard against which all other assisted braking belay devices are compared. With the release of the new GriGri+, Petzl has once again set the bar a little higher. By utilizing their expertise in both recreational climbing and industrial / rope access Petzl was able to improve both the safety and performance of the GriGri+. And while there … Continue reading Review: Petzl GriGri+
Long Term Review: Arc’teryx Sphene Jacket
The Arc’teryx Sphene is the lightest jacket in the Whileline collection and designed specifically for the demands of backcountry ski touring. By stripping away features and pockets not needed in a ski touring jacket Arc’teryx was able to keep the Gore-Tex Pro fabric and still have a lightweight and packable hard shell. But how does it perform? Well after about 50 days of touring and ski mountaineering in … Continue reading Long Term Review: Arc’teryx Sphene Jacket
Avalanche Gear for Ice Climbers
The ice climbing community has been undergoing a paradigm shift in regards to avalanche awareness and safety. Like the ski community’s transition to wearing helmets, ice climbers continue to become more aware of avalanches and how to mitigate the associated hazards through knowledge and equipment. This is a much different environment than was present almost 10 years ago when I was getting introduced to the … Continue reading Avalanche Gear for Ice Climbers
Review: G3 FINDr 102 Skis
Released for the 2016/17 ski season the G3 FINDr line is aimed squarely at the ski mountaineering crowd. I tested the FINDr 102, the widest in the new lineup, in a variety of snow conditions over several mountain ranges and was pleasantly surprise with just how versatile a ski it is. Light enough to for long days of walking or boot packing, wide enough to … Continue reading Review: G3 FINDr 102 Skis
Review: Edelrid Rap Line II (new)
Climbing with a rappel or tag line can offer a number of advantages over using double or twin ropes in many situations. As a result they’ve been quickly gaining in popularity. Traditionally a long piece of accessory cord was the go-to for a tag line. However, due to increasing popularity, many companies now make a specific product for this use including Sterling Ropes, Mammut, Petzl, … Continue reading Review: Edelrid Rap Line II (new)
Review: Arc’teryx Acrux SL Leather Approach Shoe
Arc’teryx followed up the popular Acrux SL approach shoe with an urban looking leather version. But don’t let the sleek appearance fool you, this is a very technical shoe that’s equally at home on the rock or in the alpine as it is on the sidewalk. The leather may add weight and reduce breathability but it also increases durability. When combined with technical soles and … Continue reading Review: Arc’teryx Acrux SL Leather Approach Shoe
Comparison Review: Lightweight Snag-free Carabiners
It wasn’t all that long ago that climbers had to choose between a lightweight carabiner and a snag-free carabiner. However, with innovations in technology, material processing and manufacturing more and more companies are blending these two features. We’ve reached the point where most brands have their own version but the designs are all a bit different. So it seemed like a great time for a … Continue reading Comparison Review: Lightweight Snag-free Carabiners
Review: La Sportiva Trango Tower Boots
The newest addition to La Sportiva’s Trango line is the Trango Tower. A 3-season mountaineering boot that replaces the aging Trango S Evo, a long-time favorite of alpinists and mountaineers worldwide. This new generation boot improves on the Evo by shedding weight while providing better grip and water resistance. However, as it’s built on the same Trango last the fit is similar and should be … Continue reading Review: La Sportiva Trango Tower Boots