Outdoor Gear Lab
The Black Diamond Technician seriously missed the mark for us. We've loved a lot of BD harnesses over the years, and have given many awards in our reviews, but this one was uncomfortable and ill-suited for its intended purpose, long routes where comfort is key.go to full review
The Misty Mountain Silhouette was our first choice of harness every time we racked up for a gear route, and even for the occasional sport climb too. It is supportive and comfortable, and your body will thank you if you take this one on your next multi-pitch climb as opposed to some thin sport climbing model.go to full review
It's an unlined, slip lasted shoe with a soft microfiber upper, and a nice leather heel pocket, surrounded by rubber, that is great for heel hooking. The Maverink has La Sportiva's proprietary No-Edge technology that gets the toe closer to the rock, letting you use your climbing shoes almost like a second skin, and the XS Grip 2 rubber has excellent friction for sticking to small holds. Much of the forefoot was left free of seams and overlays because the Maverink comes with two markers so..." go to full review
he Evolv Venga is a great all-around moderate kid's climbing shoe. Children's climbing shoes are not known for exceptional performance, but instead, favor features like comfort and adjustability. This shoe somehow pulls off all three. A hook and loop strap covers the instep and opens wide to allow easy on/off, but is narrow enough to leave the toe free of pressure points in cracks. The heel adjustment gives kids the flexibility to size up and adjusts up to a full size for growing room.go to full review
Overall, the Black Diamond Momentum performed as well as expected. It can edge and hold its own on vertical terrain and we didn't notice a huge difference between the new fabric uppers and the classic leather uppers regarding breathability. Unfortunately, the women's version of these shoes is very narrow, and our wide-footed testers found the women's Momentum to be very tight and borderline uncomfortable. We were not blown away by these shoes by any means, but they are a good buy for newer..." go to full review
The La Sportiva Kataki was our favorite shoe we tested this year. They are comfortable, yet slightly aggressive in design. The Kataki's shape is slightly downturned for precision footwork. They fit true to size and break in easily, which is an added plus. The only downside to the Kataki is the fact that they are on the more expensive side, but they are a good investment as they are well-made and durable. For our Editors' Choice Award Winner, we took performance, versatility, sole..." go to full review
The Mad Rock Duo is unparalleled when it comes to carrying multiple pads at once. Its well-padded suspension is designed for this task, making it comfortable to carry on long approaches. If you don't want to carry a second pad then the Duo may be too heavily featured and more affordable options might be more appealing.go to full review
These shoes can turn a good crack climber into a crack ninja thanks to their low profile toe and edging abilities. They get our Top Pick for Crack Climbing, beating out traditional crack favorites like the Five Ten Moccasym and the Evolv Addict. While these old slipper designs feel comfy in cracks they can't match the performance of the Katakis, a modern shoe for taking down modern test pieces.go to full review
The Petzl Boreo is our Top Pick as the most Rugged and Protective helmet in this review. If protecting your dome piece at all costs is your number one priority, then we don't think you could find a better option. It is also affordable, reasonably comfortable, and accommodates a headlamp very well. While the very lightest helmets are tantalizing, the Boreo is one you can rely on.go to full review
The CAMP USA Storm takes some of the popular elements of their Speed 2.0 helmet (a combination climbing and ski mountaineering helmet), and puts them in a climbing specific helmet. We really liked what they've created, and it's a great option for a variety of uses.go to full review