Gearlab climbing. Our lead testers are Jane Jackson and Whitney Clark.

Gearlab climbing. While it may be tempting to geek out on these numbers, we recommend selecting a rope based on diameter, length, and other features rather than UIAA Mar 13, 2023 · Our testing team tried to evaluate climbing performance as objectively as possible by climbing with the boots in three different media: water ice, mixed/dry tooling, and rock climbing without crampons. Dec 27, 2023 · The Generator Mid is Scarpa's most recent attempt at creating a competitive, high-top trad climbing shoe, and we believe they have finally hit the mark. Did you know that GearLab started out as an offshoot of the acclaimed climber's resource, SuperTopo? May 4, 2025 · Our testing of climbing chalk is divided across four rating metrics: Friction & Overall Feel (25% of overall score weighting) Coverage (25% weighting) Mess (25% weighting) Value (25% weighting) Why Trust GearLab. Since our harness ratings are especially heavy on comfort — accounting for 55% of a product's final score if you combine comfort while standing, hanging, and belaying — it is no surprise that the Solution is among the highest-scoring harnesses in our review. See full list on outdoorgearlab. At first glance, the construction of the Generator may appear quite boot-like. May 21, 2025 · Jeff was assisted by GearLab testers Jack Cramer and Andy Wellman. At GearLab, our readers are at the heart of everything we do. Climbing Gear Reviews From climbing shoes to helmets, our climbing experts test the best from Petzl, Black Diamond, Arc'teryx, La Sportiva, Scarpa, and more Looking for climbing gear? Whether your goal is the gym, the crag, the mountains, or a big wall, we've got your covered. Aug 20, 2024 · We offer you personal recommendations for all-day belaying, big wall rappelling, and crack climbing, and are sure that our comprehensive review includes a climbing glove to fit your needs and budget. . Our expert team has a combined 40 years of climbing experience and has field-tested the best climbing gear since the inception of our site, with 20+ climbing cams tested over the past decade. In this shoe, we can confidently push on small edges, smear on scary slabs, and jam into cracks without fear of popping off the rock. Our current review features the 10 best camming devices Oct 30, 2024 · If you want a similarly versatile climbing rope that also weighs less for alpine climbing, the Sterling Aero 9. Aug 6, 2024 · Like other rock-specific climbing harnesses, the Sama lacks versatility for ice and mixed climbing due to its fixed, non-adjustable leg loops and lack of ice clipper slots. 2 Xeros is the most versatile rope out there. Traveling and climbing mountains for years, our team of experts has used and abused a lot of packs. May 6, 2025 · Welcome to the Holy Grail of climbing gear lists! Here you will find our top picks: the gear our climber-testers would recommend to their best friends. Seldom is something as annoying as a backpack that doesn't carry right. Think about what kind of climbing you do (and hope to do) as you're reading, as this will dictate the type of pack that's best for you. By clicking on our links, you can support our testing work as we may earn a commission. We identified each feature on each harness and tested them conscientiously while out climbing. Our lead tester is IFMGA Mountain Guide Jeff Dobronyi. For this review, we tested slings side-by-side on long multi-pitch routes in Red Rocks and Eldorado Canyon, as well as in the alpine rock climbing paradise of the Bugaboos in British Columbia. He wears out gear faster than anyone we know and puts equipment through the wringer in his day-to-day mountain adventures. Jeff leads climbing, skiing, and trekking trips around the world, from his home near Ouray, Colorado, to the Alps, Andes, and beyond. For ice climbing, we sought materials and construction in the upper of the boot that gave good support to fatiguing calves on steep ground. com Dec 20, 2024 · We bought and tested 13 of the most popular climbing helmets side-by-side to find the best options. Jack is a National Outdoor Leadership School alumnus and climber whose resume includes more than a dozen alpine first ascents. In this update, we purchased 7 of the best sets and slid them into cracks of all sizes across the United States. In general, harnesses will all have the same basic features: two leg loops, a waist belt with auto-locking buckles, a belay loop that joins the leg loops to the waist belt, and gear loops along the sides of the waist belt for clipping in gear. Sep 1, 2023 · Why Trust GearLab. We whittle down a very long list to a small group of promising contenders and then purchase each of them at full retail price. Our test teams are fanatic rock climbing families that climb everywhere from the gym to their backyard crags, to the best cliffs across the Apr 10, 2025 · Why Trust GearLab. Jan 23, 2024 · Looking for the best pair of rock climbing shoes for your kids? Our climbing gear experts researched over 30 models before purchasing the top 5 to put through our extensive side-by-side testing process. Our lead tester is Matt Bento, a climber for over a decade. Testing climbing slings involves a whole lot of going climbing. Oct 30, 2024 · Any rope sold for climbing should be approved by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and include on the packaging the scores measured for each of the few required tests. The Petzl Gully thoroughly impressed us as it was under 10 ounces (9. 8 to be exact) but still offered an impressive amount of performance. He is joined by GearLab testers Jack Cramer, Andy Sep 8, 2023 · We tested these small climbing packs for comfort, climbing utility, durability, versatility, and weight. We are constantly researching the newest products on the market and adding new ones to this review as they become available. We GearLab provides the world's best reviews of outdoors gear based on in-depth side-by-side comparison and written by outdoor professionals. We made a note of whether a whole double rack plus water, a jacket, and shoes could fit in the gear loops, how easy or hard the gear was to clip or unclip from the loops, whether the haul loop was easy to clip and unclip, how easy the buckles adjusted and stayed locked in place, and many Oct 31, 2024 · Our climbing experts have been testing the best climbing nuts and stoppers for over 10 years and over 15 different sets. Apr 4, 2025 · We tested 13 climbing ropes from Sterling, Petzl, Edelrid, Mammut, and others to find the best options for you. We independently purchase all the products we test, ensuring that our reviews are unbiased and reliable. Features. Our lead testers are Jane Jackson and Whitney Clark. 8 is the best workhorse rope out there. Jan 2, 2024 · A bargain price for a climbing shoe with respectable performance: A simple shoe with solid performance for trad climbing: A great deal for an adequate climbing shoe: This super comfy shoe is perfect for folks who are just starting to climb: This shoe isn't the highest performer in our review, but it's a bargain for someone looking to train in Aug 17, 2017 · Pockets. Nov 21, 2024 · At Outdoor GearLab, we've been reviewing women's climbing harnesses for seven years and have tested over 20 models. The wide-ish fit in the toe doesn't cram into smaller pockets like the pointy Tenaya Tarifa, but they are much stiffer than the Tarifa, and our testers found them better for standing on the edges of the vertical pocketed limestone of Wild Iris. Rest assured, our commitment to providing honest and trustworthy information remains unwavering. Feb 11, 2025 · Earning our highest praise for climbing ability, we find the La Sportiva TX Guide to be the best shoe for smearing, edging, and crack climbing due to its precise, narrow fit and stiff midsole. A good edging shoe also does a great job toeing into the lip of a pocket, and the Scarpa Instinct is no exception. With the possibility of being struck in the head from rockfall or slamming your head into the wall after an out-of-control fall, wearing a helmet while climbing is simply a good idea. Dec 19, 2023 · Features of a Climbing Harness. Jan 28, 2022 · While the Gully isn't an exceptional all-arounder, it excels at a surprising number of things and is perfect for alpine rock climbing, ski-mountaineering, or alpine ice climbing alike. Below we define these metrics and discuss standout models. Apr 22, 2025 · Our climbing shoe testing is divided into five rating metrics: Comfort (20% of overall score weighting) Smearing (20% weighting) Edging (20% weighting) Pulling (20% weighting) Crack Climbing (20% weighting) Why Trust GearLab. Specific models are optimal for certain kinds Our outstanding testers went on hundreds of adventures in all kinds of weather to help you find the perfect rain, climbing, and hiking pants. In typical GearLab style, we begin our climbing rope test with detailed market research to determine which are the top climbing ropes on the market. The good news is that we can help, not only with deciding what type of backpack you need, but reviews that walk you through the various types, and the pros and cons of each. Apr 4, 2025 · At GearLab, our roots are in rock climbing, as the website started as an offshoot of SuperTopo. And if you are looking for something even more durable, the Sterling Velocity XEROS 9. Our team of experts takes these helmets cragging on single-pitch routes, up long adventurous trad climbs, and on Apr 4, 2025 · We tested 15 climbing harnesses from Petzl, Black Diamond, Blue Ice, and more to find the top options for all climbing styles. Aug 7, 2024 · The Black Diamond Solution is one of the most comfortable harnesses we have ever worn. That said, Petzl now makes the Caritool EVO ice tool clippers , which work with this harness by attaching to the entire waist belt, rather than needing specific slots. Dec 5, 2023 · Why Trust GearLab We poured hours of research into our selection process for these packs, choosing the most promising models to purchase at retail price and put to the test . Andy completes the team, bringing extensive outdoor experience of all kinds, from alpine climbing to bouldering to writing guidebooks. ezmodu ovvfh gkbtcni djpgo juc ayytb gbvb zugcxd mam amuvqnd