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Editors' Choice 2019: Tension Climbing Block Review

Our top climbing gear picks for 2019

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The Tension Climbing Block.
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Tension has upped the portable-hangboard ante with The Block, a 9oz piece of cherry wood with over nine different hold positions. It stands out versus other portable offerings in that you can attach different amounts of weight—add a small rack or a backpack to the attached 6mm cord for a warm-up at the crag, or attach it to a cable machine at the gym. The Block can also be angled to change the difficulty of the holds, which include two different edges, one- and two- finger pockets, two crimps, and pinches. 

$39, tensionclimbing.com

See more of our top climbing gear picks in the Gear Guide 2019: Editors’ Choice Awards, and listen to our latest podcast for an interview with Black Diamond’s climbing category director Kolin Powick.

Film: How Matt Cornell Free Soloed One of America’s Classic Hard Mixed Routes

"The Nutcracker" explores the mental challenges of solo climbing and the tactics Cornell used to help him send the route.