Sometimes you have to try new gear that’s really good to realize that your old stuff just isn’t as effective as you thought. This was… Read More »Black Diamond LiveWire Quickdraw: The Deluxe Sport Rig
There seems to be quite a bit more brand-loyalty in the realm of ice climbing gear than in other arenas of equipment purchase. But is… Read More »Petzl Laser Sonic Ice Screws
The Primus EtaPower MF stove’s most striking attribute was how quickly it boiled water. In 0 degree C weather it had 1.5 liters of water… Read More »Primus EtaPower MF Stove: Base Camp Powerhouse
Preparing for an ice climbing trip is like preparing for war. The enemy: screaming barfies, brittle ice and–worst of all–warming your partner’s freezing toes on… Read More »La Sportiva Trango Extreme Evo Light: Warmth and Stability
In my decade-long quest to find the perfect little pack, one that has all the right features and none of the bells and whistles, this… Read More »Lowe Alpine Summit Attack 30 Hyperlite: A Solid Little Pack
With a huge rack in my pack and a bunch of loose ‘biners and runners for alpine draws, I sometimes overlook a fundamental piece of… Read More »DMM Shadow Quickdraws: Hot-Forged Goodness
Winter mountaineering: some people love it. But rarely do I picture the clear summit days with perfect cramponing and one-swing ice. Instead I think of… Read More »CiloGear Dyneema(R) 45 Pack: Lighten Your Load
Functional enough to withstand three weeks of high-altitude desert and mountain exploration, yet snazzy enough to sit down to tea with the King of Mustang,… Read More »Marmot Snazette: Snazzy Functionality
Several years ago I humped a 92-pound pack full of the cheapest, heaviest climbing gear in the world uphill for several days in Wyoming’s Wind… Read More »PMI Spire 10.2mm Rope: Dry to the Core
When I picked up Rab’s Latok Alpine jacket for the first time I was skeptical. The Latok was lighter than any of the performance hard… Read More »Rab Latok Alpine Jacket: Expectations Bested
Every summer in Chamonix, among the 350+ mountain guides working in the valley, there seems to be one piece of gear that becomes eminently popular,… Read More »Cilao OZ 22 Race Harness: Built for Fast and Light
I’ve always been skeptical of Gore-Tex footwear, and it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll have cold feet regardless of the temperature (unless I’m clunking around in… Read More »Lowa Cristallo X Pro Gore-Tex Boots: Technical Prowess and Comfort
