http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/ Climbing Magazine - Just Out - Product reviews by the Climbing Magazine Staff. New gear, fresh on the scene that you need to know about. en-us OK, so it’s only a rope bag, but what piece of gear gets more use? The Edelrid Caddy ($44.95; edelridna.com) simply gets everything right. The shoulder strap orients the broad, low-profile bag sveltely under your arm for easy carrying. The generous tarp (it manages even an 80-meter rope) features innovative grab loops on each corner that allow you to transport the rope easily between nearby climbs without folding everything up completely—no more dropping one corner and having the rope spill out into the dirt. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/no_tip_necessary_edelrid_caddy justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:56:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Edelrid-Caddy-sm.jpg No Tip Necessary: Edelrid Caddy OK, so it’s only a rope bag, but what piece of gear gets more use? <b>The Edelrid Caddy</b> ($44.95; <a href="http://www.edelridna.com" target="_blank">edelridna.com</a>) simply gets everything right. The shoulder strap orients the broad, low-profile bag sveltely under your arm for easy carrying. The generous tarp (it manages even an 80-meter rope) features innovative grab loops on each corner that allow you to transport the rope easily between nearby climbs without folding everything up completely—no more dropping one corner and having the rope spill out into the dirt. An anchor is something that provides stability in an uncertain situation, and the Metolius Anchor Chain ($49.95; metoliusclimbing.com) does just that. This Dyneema chain makes equalizing simple anchors easier, with 12 full-strength (22kN) loops. Any beginning climber would do well to have this in his or her kit, thanks to how easy it makes setting up toprope anchors, especially on bolted anchors. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/terrific_toproping_metolius_anchor_chain justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:54:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Metolius-Anchor-Chain-sm.jpg Terrific Toproping: Metolius Anchor Chain An anchor is something that provides stability in an uncertain situation, and the <b>Metolius Anchor Chain</b> ($49.95; <a href="http://www.metoliusclimbing.com" target="_blank">metoliusclimbing.com</a>) does just that. This Dyneema chain makes equalizing simple anchors easier, with 12 full-strength (22kN) loops. Any beginning climber would do well to have this in his or her kit, thanks to how easy it makes setting up toprope anchors, especially on bolted anchors. When I heard that Arc’teryx had redesigned its award-winning Gamma MX Hoody Jacket ($349, arcteryx.com), I balked: How could this stellar jacket be improved? But the new Gamma MX is a definite upgrade. The designers gave it new patterning, which means improved fit and range of motion for the shoulders and arms. Arc’teryx also switched from Polartec Powershield to its proprietary Fortius 2.0 fabric, which is blessed with enhanced durability and water resistance without any sacrifice of stretch or breathability. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/change_is_good_arcteryx_gamma_mx_hoody_jacket justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Arcteryx-Gamma-MX-sm.jpg Change is Good: Arc’teryx Gamma MX Hoody Jacket When I heard that Arc’teryx had redesigned its award-winning <b>Gamma MX Hoody Jacket</b> ($349, <a href="http://www.arcteryx.com" target="_blank">arcteryx.com</a>), I balked: How could this stellar jacket be improved? But the new Gamma MX is a definite upgrade. The designers gave it new patterning, which means improved fit and range of motion for the shoulders and arms. Arc’teryx also switched from Polartec Powershield to its proprietary Fortius 2.0 fabric, which is blessed with enhanced durability and water resistance without any sacrifice of stretch or breathability. If steep, technical ice flows make you shiver with delight, check out the Griven G22 Crampons ($225, grivel.com). One tester spent four days climbing fresh ice in Cody, Wyoming, and was amazed at how well the G22s (available in one size) penetrated dense water ice. “They sunk in with very little effort, which boosted my confidence and efficiency,” he says. Among the G22’s secrets are its razor-sharp dual frontpoints. By using hot-forged chromolly steel, Grivel is able to strategically shape the points for added performance over a wide variety of conditions and terrain. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/hot_steel_for_cold_ice_grivel_g22_crampons justout Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:53:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Grivel-G22-Crampon-sm.jpg Hot Steel for Cold Ice: Grivel G22 Crampons If steep, technical ice flows make you shiver with delight, check out the <b>Griven G22 Crampons</b> ($225, <a href="http://www.grivel.com" target="_blank">grivel.com</a>). One tester spent four days climbing fresh ice in Cody, Wyoming, and was amazed at how well the G22s (available in one size) penetrated dense water ice. “They sunk in with very little effort, which boosted my confidence and efficiency,” he says. Among the G22’s secrets are its razor-sharp dual frontpoints. By using hot-forged chromolly steel, Grivel is able to strategically shape the points for added performance over a wide variety of conditions and terrain. The Friend, introduced way back in 1977, has been completely revamped for the third time in its illustrious history to create Wild Country Helium Friends ($65 to $75, wildcountry.co.uk). The new units retain the single-axle design of the Technical Friends they replace, but their hot-forged cam lobes are a bit lighter, and each unit has greater overlap with its neighbors—a full set is nine cams, versus the old 11. In the most notable change, the Helium’s stem has grown by as much as 2.5 to 3 inches, for high or deep placements, and the trigger has been repositioned so it’s easy to reach, even when buried in a crack. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/best_friends_wild_country_helium_friends justout Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:46:00 EST http://www.urbanclimbermag.com/winthis/WC-Helium-Friend-WT-sm.jpg Best Friends: Wild Country Helium Friends The Friend, introduced way back in 1977, has been completely revamped for the third time in its illustrious history to create <b>Wild Country Helium Friends</b> ($65 to $75, <a href="http://www.wildcountry.co.uk" target="_blank">wildcountry.co.uk</a>). The new units retain the single-axle design of the Technical Friends they replace, but their hot-forged cam lobes are a bit lighter, and each unit has greater overlap with its neighbors—a full set is nine cams, versus the old 11. In the most notable change, the Helium’s stem has grown by as much as 2.5 to 3 inches, for high or deep placements, and the trigger has been repositioned so it’s easy to reach, even when buried in a crack.