![The Nepal Cubes worked well as an all-day boot in the mountains, transitioning smoothly between rock and snow. [Photo] Andrew Councell](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sportiva-nepal-cube-boots-1.jpg)
La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX Boots: Lighter and more versatile than ever
Andrew Councell awards the La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX boots four out of five stars for their lightness, warmth and versatility on rock and snow.
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Andrew Councell
Ternua’s Loughor Puff Jacket: Recycled Warmth
Instead of collecting new feathers, Neokdun recycles down that has been sterilized from old duvets in its special processing plant. The Spanish company Ternua works
CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet: One of the Best All-Arounders Available
Maybe Jerry Seinfeld said it best in one of his stand-up bits when he said that the helmet is designed “to preserve a brain whose
… Read More »CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet: One of the Best All-Arounders Available
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema 2400 Ice Pack: Strong, Tough and Ultralight
We packed up camp high on the Roosevelt Glacier and began climbing towards Mt. Baker’s North Ridge (WI2-3, 3,000′, Beckey-Widrig, 1948), in Washington’s North Cascades,
… Read More »Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema 2400 Ice Pack: Strong, Tough and Ultralight
Backcountry Dining Made Easy with Kung Foon
I’m a wilderness camping minimalist, bringing just enough food and not bothering with extras or luxury items. I eat freeze-dried meals out of a bag,
Apex 22: Reaching the Apogee of Alpine Design
The Apex 22 compact-climbing pack has a tapered shape, minimal compression straps and zero extras. I tested it on single and multi-day trips and during
“Jul” of the Wild–A Review of Edelrid’s Mega Jul Belay Device
These days, it feels like everyone is coming out with a “new” belay device that’s touted as somehow better than its predecessors. But, at least
… Read More »“Jul” of the Wild–A Review of Edelrid’s Mega Jul Belay Device
Black Diamond Gloves Round Up
Andrew Councell reviews five gloves from Black Diamond that bridge the gap between skiing and mountaineering. “The average ski glove emphasizes warmth and is subsequently
Tools for Climbing in Avalanche Terrain
Andrew Councell reviews Ortovox’s trifecta of avalanche-rescue equipment: transceiver, probe and shovel. “In the States last year alone, avalanches claimed the lives of seven climbers.
Black Diamond Xenos: A Strange Fit
The Black Diamond Xenos mixed/ice climbing harness is aptly named since it enables you to visit some of the most unique and uninhabitable places known