The Smith Summit Mips is a fantastic helmet, there’s no doubt there. The Boa closure is second to none in offering a snug fit. The styling is fantastically casual while still maintaining its triple-certified chops. The colorways are awesome but that lack of a goggle holder bothers me to no end. I also have to give kudos to Smith for their size options. There is an XL version that fits folks with melons up to 67cm and a small version down to 51cm. Helmets for all!go to full review

For UK winter mountaineering, however, decision making becomes more complex. The G-Summits are an excellent choice for challenging winter climbs, offering technical ability, warmth, durability, and the convenience of BOA lacing. If you frequently contend with cold feet (or your partner regularly subjects you to 2-3 hour belaying stints), investing in G-Summits might be justified. However, if cold isn't the overriding concern then that price tag is bound to start looking a bit off-putting. If..." go to full review

The Crag Sender is a lightweight and affordable helmet that performs equally well for sport climbing, mountain routes, winter climbing and scrambling. Its secure fit is for the most part easy to adjust and offers barely-there-feel comfort. While it may not match the durability of pricier EPP models, it offers solid protection and looks like good value at this price.go to full review

All assisted-braking devices (ABDs) must toe the line between providing a secure rope-pinching mechanism when the climber falls, and also allowing the belayer to feed out slack quickly when the lead climber is climbing quickly or clipping pieces of protection. The Petzl Neox finds the sweet spot on this spectrum, using a spinning wheel to reduce friction. This allows belayers to feed slack quickly and still provide a safe belay in the case of a leader fall. It is our preferred device for..." go to full review