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Skinny Rope Review
Within the narrow- diameter rope market, you have a wide variety of options. Many of today’s 9.8mm cords are full service — you can use them for practically any facet of climbing. A dependable belay device can make the difference between a safe retreat and desperate defeat. The decision to climb with a sleeping bag is an easy one since most of today’s ultralight bags weigh in under two pounds and pack down smaller than a bread loaf. This review excludes bags with synthetic insulation because down is warmer and more compressible for its weight than man-made fibers — crucial considerations for any alpinist. Buying cams is the most difficult choice you'll make with climbing gear. Over 20 different models in endless varieties: two-, three-, and four-cam units; single-stem and U-stem cables. Like most great inventions, the crash pad is slap-your-forehead simple. Take some sturdy slabs of foam, cover with durable fabric, attach shoulder straps and handles for maneuverability. One LED will easily run for over 100 hours off of three fresh AA alkaline batteries. We collected the premier screws offered by seven manufacturers and gave them a rigorous shakedown. Doubles are invaluable for frigid days or long ski approaches, and they can’t be beat if your feet are naturally cold. A softshell is loosely defined as a garment that offers a high degree of weather protection and durability while maintaining excellent breathability and luxurious comfort. When it comes to moderate rock routes and summer alpine climbs, it pays to have a versatile approach shoe. We tested edging, jamming, and smearing on limestone, granite, sandstone, and basalt from Joshua Tree to Red Rocks to Indian Creek to Eldorado Canyon to our humble, local chosspile. Their kit features a variety of resin holds from mid-size jugs to small sandstone-like edges and knobs. Particular standouts in the set were the granite-style holds, which have a variable texture: regular surface around most of the hold and then a chunkier, but still skin-friendly, gripping area that afforded many pulling options depending on orientation. The Method, Montrail’s new unlined leather slipper, is a radical and innovative design. Cambered to mimic the structure of an active, pointed foot, the Method features strategically placed thermo-moldable foam pads over the tops of your toes and in the heel cup for a precise, customizable fit. Most of us daydream from time to time that we’d like to be 5.13+ hardmen. Reality, however, is a harsh mistress, and so are the shoes suited to that level of performance. Mammut’s Tabu, an unlined leather Velcro slipper, is definitely eye-catching — mostly because you notice right away what’s not there. Rock shoes with EVA-foam padded heels are now widespread throughout the market. Designed to up the comfort factor for all-day climbing, these models have gained a dedicated following, but many people are turned off by their funky, chunky appearance. Built on the same last as Mad Rock’s popular Flash, the unlined synthetic Maniac is a good shoe for entry-level climbers looking for a model that will take them from their first days in the gym to pushing themselves on harder routes and problems outside. Devotees of radically steep bouldering and sport climbing fall into two categories: those who like to smear and paste on whatever feature is nearby, and those whose technique involves precise edging and frontpointing. La Sportiva’s unlined leather lace-up Barracuda was a universal favorite with testers. While Velcros and slippers are all the rage these days, lace-ups still rule for dialed-in fit. Boreal’s Crux, an unlined leather Velcro slipper, is an edging and frontpointing machine. We found it to be very effective on small holds, both indoors and out. Outdoor-retailing chain Eastern Mountain Sports is jumping into the rock-shoe market this year with their Underdog, an unlined leather Velcro model meant for moderate all-around performance. The Acopa Chameleon is an unlined leather Velcro slipper capable of adapting quite well to just about any kind of rock. The bike-style Simond Bumper is a good choice for the winter ice cragger. Those industrial-chic Frankenstein bolts on the exterior aren’t for show, they’re for the face shield. |
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