Bouldering and Training Gear

Bouldering is a pretty simple sport, but that doesn't mean it doesn't require essential gear. From crash pads to hang boards and other training equipment, Climbing magazine's reviews will guide you to the highest-performance gear and the best values.
  • TNF-Radish-660

    Middle Management

    As gear and apparel get more specialized, you wind up owning a quiver full of pieces that are perfect for a few things and, well, less than awesome for others. Enter new technical midlayers that our testers have used from last winter through the beginning of fall. We focused our test on synthetic fleece, which provides warmth and breathability in a slim profile. Bonus: Many are $100 or less. From the dozen midlayers tested, we culled the five best— each would do well for any and all of your upcoming adventures.

  • Tenaya-Ra-660

    Fall Foot Frenzy

    When it comes down to it, rock shoes are the most important piece of climbing gear, whether you’re picking a path through a 5.5 or making magic on your first 5.14. So we rounded up the best new shoes available this fall and put them to the test. After more than a dozen testers sent routes from Rifle’s steep limestone to the 1,000-foot granite walls of Squamish to plastic paradises across the country, we narrowed the field to eight top performers.

  • North-Face-Polar-Hooded-Jacket-158

    Chill Beater

    I’ve always wanted that one warm jacket that I can grab for approaches and belays in times of near-freezing temps and blustery winds. That one jacket that I can throw over a tank top when I’m running to the gym, and trust to keep me completely warm. Downs weren’t cutting it for such uses (especially with that skin-to-nylon fabric contact—eek!), and regular fleeces weren’t windproof or warm enough. The North Face Polar Hooded Jacket ($299; thenorthface.com) came to my rescue at the end of last winter.

  • Versa-tent

    This tent was perfect for car camping, yet light (4 lbs., 6 oz.) and packable for backcountry adventures like my twoweek stint in the Cascades of Washington. For the hot and dry eastern side of the range, it had large doors on either side, with a fully open option or a nice screen for bug protection. For the soppy western side, double-wall construction, vents in the fly, and those large screened doors meant no morning condensation buildup.

  • Enhance Your Pants

    For rock climbers, finding functional, good-looking threads for your lower half isn’t easy. Ladies have an especially hard time, given the wide range (pun not intended) of our shapes and sizes. The Vertical Girl Signature Knicker ($40; verticalgirl.com) is the answer to our collective prayers. They’re sleek, soft, comfy as hell, and will make your butt look good—nobody will scoff at your butt-shot photos.

  • First-Ascent-Karakorum-660

    Sound Sleepers

    A good night's sleep is imperative for all climbing objectives. Whether you're attempting the Nose in a day or just car camping for a weekend of sport climbing, your bag can make or break your climb, not to mention your mood. Climbing magazine teamed up with Backpacker magazine to round up a dozen three-season down sleeping bags that were new for 2012.

  • Dedicated Descenders

    Dedicated Descenders

    Finishing off a multi-pitch route with a painful descent in tight climbing shoes can strip the enjoyment from an otherwise great day. Thankfully, there are a number of shoes well-suited for carrying up a route in a pack or on a harness, and then putting on for the hike or scramble back down. For this review, we tested five of these downward-minded, lightweight kicks.

  • MSR Whisperlite Universal Camp Stove

    Multifuel Stoves

    Climbing tested five new stoves so you'll know which one to take out on your next rock climbing, mountaineering, or camping adventure.

  • 2012 Gear Guide: Rock Shoes

    2012 Gear Guide: Rock Shoes

    Of all the things climbers accumulate, the rock shoe is one of the few that actually improves performance. Nearly everything else is designed primarily to keep you alive and relatively comfortable. When you find a perfect match for your feet, climbing shoes will encourage good footwork and make you a better climber.

  • REI_Pinnacle-35-Pack-660

    2012 Gear Guide: Packs

    Climbing magazine tested the newest backpacks for sport, trad, and alpine climbing. Here are the editors' favorites.

  • 2012 Gear Guide: Bouldering

    2012 Gear Guide: Bouldering

    Climbing magazine's editors present 2012's best crasphads and hangboards, plus the Mountain Project iPhone app.

  • 2012 Gear Guide: Approach Shoes

    2012 Gear Guide: Approach Shoes

    Can't get to the crag without comfortable and sturdy shoes. Here are Climbing magazine's favorite approach shoes for rock climbers.