Outdoor Gear Lab

These slings are best used in lightweight scenarios where you'll primarily be extending gear placements or slinging knobs and chocks. Not recommended to be used in a situation where you might weight a knot in them…unless you have a pair of pliers with you...." go to full review

Black Diamonds nylon slings will best serve the recreational trad climber who needs their slings to do it all: extending gear placements, rigging anchors, backing up rappels, and slinging chocks and chickenheads are all practical applications.go to full review

Dyneema has become extremely popular for its ability to cut sling weight and bulk without losing strength. The Omega Pacific Dyneema sewn sling is a fairly decent option for the climber seeking a medium width, Dyneema sling. At 12mm wide it is thinner than a traditional nylon sling and runs about the middle of the pack as far as Dyneema slings go. Though not the skinniest out there, it is still a step down in weight from a traditional, bulky nylon sling. We found that the sling's width..." go to full review

Sterlings slings are an excellent option for the climber looking to bulk-down from nylon and is also looking for a more substantial sling than the über-skinny Dyneema slings. Perfect for long traditional rock or alpine routes.go to full review

Black Diamond makes a good functional nut tool for those seeking the absolute best price. It is great for those getting into traditional climbing and not wanting to spend more money than they have to get something that works. It is great for any free route and it will get the job done on aid climbs. The weight saved from not having an extra palm-protecting piece of metal could be a benefit for those on colder alpine climbs and wearing gloves most of the route.go to full review

The Trango Shark is great for anyone who might already have a separate knife on their harness. The Shark is also a great option for folks who climb in less popular areas with generally long routes where you might have to replace old webbing or put new cordage on rappel anchors. Or if you climb on longer routes where backing off is more than just a small possibility and you will be forced to leave gear and cordage as you retreat downward.go to full review

If you climb in an area where walked-in cams are a problem, this is the nut tool for you. It has an excellent price, making it a great option for someone getting into traditional climbing or just not wanting to spend a lot of money on a new one.go to full review

The Pro Key is great as a good, functional all-around nut tool, for having a leash on longer traditional routes where dropping the tool would be a big deal. It sports a nice pommel a feature anyone can enjoy especially if your climbing partner likes to set all of their nuts really hard.go to full review

These are suitable for aid climbing but a better choice for free climbers who want to have a couple micro nuts on their rack at all times. When paired with the DMM Brass Offsets, you will have a nut for just about every crack type.go to full review

Stoppers are great for people looking to get a set of nuts without spending too much money. If you are hard on your nuts, note that Stoppers have incredible durability. Stoppers clean nicely and offer decent but not fantastic placement versatility. They excel in parallel and bottleneck placements and are rather average in flairs and funky pods.go to full review