Editors' Choice 2019: Tension Climbing Block Review

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.