 |
|
|
Edelrid Ultralight Helmet Review
The Edelrid Ultralight has been a staple in the climbing-helmet market for well over a decade, and for good reason. For those with wide heads, Cassin’s Astral is a good bike-helmet-style lid. The adjustment knob provides quick and easy micro-adjustment within the well-padded suspension. The C.A.M.P. Silver Star was a universal test favorite for comfort and adjustability. The suspension is well padded, and treated with an anti-bacterial formula that helps keep down the skank factor. Trango’s line of ice tools is modular, with interchangeable grips and numerous head options based around a common shaft design; the Mantis is the latest design in the line. The Coyote is a very direct descendant of the first World Cup-driven designs and suffers greatly for it, earning the worst marks for dry-tooling overall. The Petzl Ergo was one of the first commercial leashless tools to hit the market. It’s also the best on the market right now, taking top honors for our test in both ice climbing and dry tooling. While Grivel, which has been manufacturing ice-climbing equipment for much of the past century, was one of the first companies to offer leashless capability on its traditional tools, it was one of the last ice-tool makers to bring a “full-on” leashless tool to the market. Black Diamond’s Fusion was a standout on the rock, earning high marks for hooking and torquing. There’s no doubt that the Phreak is aptly named — it was easily the most outrageous looking tool in the bunch, with its bare metal framing and stainless steel knobs. “Delicious,” “Yum!” and “Tastes great,” were just a few of the remarks made by testers describing Clif Bars, the only bar to receive unanimous praise for taste and texture. In a review where no product was considered tasty by all, it is impressive to note that Clif Shot received the highest overall marks for flavor. he Helix is your best bet if you’re looking to mix sport climbing with more all-around fare, thanks to its five gear loops and full-strength haul loop. “Solid value” is a good phrase to describe the Fly. For a low-end $45 you get a harness that is reasonably comfortable, doesn’t compromise movement, and sports a full-strength haul loop, a rarity in this weight class. The Rhythm delivers a lot of utility for its $45 price tag. Adjustable leg loops for the thick-legged crowd, molded gear loops, and a reasonable amount of comfort make this rig the steal of the test. One of two speed-buckle rigs we reviewed, the Sama rivals the Geko for striking a fine balance between comfort and mobility thanks to its ample-for-its-weight padding and contoured fit. |
Copyright 2008 Skram Media LLC, All rights reserved.