Outdoor Gear Lab
The DMM Alpha Light didn't stand out from the pack in any significant way. It's a great "smaller" carabiner if that's what you're looking for, but it didn't have too many advantages over other options that cost a third of the price. Unfortunately, due to the exchange rate between the UK and the US, and the fact that manufacturing your gear in the UK no doubt costs more than in other countries, this carabiner ends up costing a little too much for us compared to the competition.go to full review
The La Sportiva Finale is most notable for their all-day comfort and ease of use. These are designed for climbers who are looking for a comfortable shoe above all else. That said, the sticky rubber soles make the Finale a shoe that will still stick to small holds and edges. The extra few dollars separate the Finale from the La Sportiva Tarantulace make the Finale a slightly more durable and well-constructed option.go to full review
Overall, the Scarpa Vapor is a decent performer among our fleet this year. They scored slightly above average in all metrics and didn't have any huge drawbacks, besides the blisters and their difficulties with small holds. There are shoes that performed better, but similarly, there are shoes that scored much worse.go to full review
The Butora Acro shined most noticeably on steep sport pitches and boulder problems. The fact that they come in both a narrow and a wide option give you the ability to fine-tune your fit. With that in mind, remember that these shoes run small! So be sure to try them on or order a size or two up from your street shoe to get the proper fit.go to full review
The medium size of the Session II is just right for a solo lowball circuit or to pad a tall problem in conjunction with a few other pads. Although the Mad Pad is better for its thickness and durability, the Session II still has a place in the hands of boulderers on a budget and for those who are looking to add some extra cushion to their arsenal of pads.go to full review
The CAMP Nano 22 is one of the lightest full-strength carabiners on the market and our Top Pick for Ultralight choice. CAMP likens using lightweight gear to giving your rack an enema. We could take that analogy one step further, and say that while it might lighten you up, you might not enjoy the process. Our testers found it hard to clip and unclip, and you wouldn't want to use these with gloves on or at an anchor. All that being said, if you are looking for the lightest possible climbing..." go to full review
If the Skwama were to receive an award, it would be for the most comfortable, technical, and well-rounded shoe out there. These shoes are a great option as a go-to for most kinds of climbing, from cracks to steep boulders, to sport climbs. We like having these in our fleet as a shoe that will perform well at most any crag we've taken them to. We found them to stretch out a bit over time, so make sure to downsize a half size or so if you want them to have a performance fit. Otherwise, they..." go to full review
The Evolv Kira is a comfortable, yet still fairly technical shoe. This competitor is exceptional in cracks and can still perform well on small holds, edges, and smears. They are not as expensive as most of the Five Ten or La Sportiva models and make a great introductory shoe that focuses on comfort above performance.go to full review
This Black Diamond Cliff Cabana Double Portaledge has a ton of tricked out features. There is a big central clip-in point at the top, lots of pouches for stashing gear, daisy chains, dividers, and more. The ledge is easy to tighten so it will not sag much. The spreader bar keeps it from bowing out and it is sturdy enough for three people to hang out in without worry of crippling it. Once it is set up you are in heaven. It has a giant surface area for hanging out and sleeping in comfort. No..." go to full review
This ledge is sold with a rain fly and comes with a very durable ledge bag made of 28oz haul bag fabric. When you add in the cost of the rainfly, the $829 price of the Fish double ledge is $120 less than the Black Diamond Cliff Cabana with a simple fly and $296 cheaper than the Metolius Bomb Shelter with its fly. However, we can't yet say how well the included Fish 5-season Fly compares to the Metolius/Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond flys. We're hoping those of you who've had experience..." go to full review