![Whitney Clark treks to the Torre Valley in Patagonia with the Mystery Ranch Scepter 50 backpack. [Photo] Rhiannon Klee](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mystery-ranch-scepter-50-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Whitney Clark tested the Mystery Ranch Scepter 50 backpack in Patagonia and in the Sierra Nevada Range. She reports that the pack provides a comfortable… Read More »Mystery Ranch Scepter 50: a comfortable pack for hauling loads in the mountains
![Chris Kalman climbing Up In Smoke (5.12) at The Peaks Crag in Flagstaff, Arizona. The pitch has a little bit of everything, from thin face, to stemming, to corner crack climbing, and even some delicate toe-tapping through a panel of small shallow pockets. The Scarpa Maestro excelled on all counts. [Photo] James Q Martin](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/scarpa-maestro-mid-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Chris Kalman put the Scarpa Maestro Mid through the paces on different styles of climbs to see how they compared to his La Sportiva TC… Read More »Scarpa Maestro Mid: A worthy all-around shoe that rivals the TC Pro
![Drew Thayer carries the Osprey Mutant 52 backpack loaded with ski mountaineering gear and a large four-season tent for a climb of Mt. Daly, Elk Range, Colorado. Crampons are tied on with cord to the rear daisy chains. [Photo] Lillian Hancock](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/osprey-mutant-52-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Drew Thayer tested the Osprey Mutant 52 backpack on ski tours, cragging days and even a three-week packraft trip in the Amazon rainforest. While the… Read More »Osprey Mutant 52: A worthy pack for just about any pursuit in any season
![Mike Gimli Able puts the Cnoc Vecto and Versa Flow Gravity Water Filtering System to the test in the low lands of Aconcagua Provincial Park, Argentina. [Photo] Tad Mccrea](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/vecto-versa-flow-filter-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Tad McCrea used the Cnoc Vecto and Versa Flow Gravity Water Filtering System on an expedition to Aconcagua where the rivers ran thick and brown… Read More »Cnoc Vecto and Versa Flow Gravity Water Filtering System is light, efficient, compact
![Chip Powell relishing the clean wide hand crack that marked the start of the headwall. [Photo] Chris Kalman](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/maxim-personal-escape-rope-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Chris Kalman recently took the 7mm Maxim Personal Escape Rope to the big wall jungle of Cochamo, Chile, where he used the tag line to… Read More »Maxim Personal Escape Rope: A tag line made for alpinists
![Arne wearing his crack gloves in Yosemite, 2008. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ocun-crack-gloves-1-3.jpg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz used to make fun of people who used rubber gloves to protect their hands while crack climbing, but now he’s… Read More »Ocun Crack Gloves: Save your skin as well as time and tape
![The author on Washington Column wearing the Patagonia Mirco Puff Storm Jacket. [Photo] Andy Hoeckel](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/patagonia-micro-puff-storm-jacket-1-2-930x620.jpeg)
Chris Van Leuven has been weathering the winter in Yosemite and Colorado with the Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket. He found it to be a… Read More »Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket: Everyday layering for cold, wet conditions
![The author places a Black Diamond Ultralight Express screw in Hyalite Canyon, Montana. [Photo] Jim Menkol](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bd-ultralight-express-screw-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Hyalite Canyon local Todd Preston tested out the new Black Diamond Ultralight Express screws on some of Montana’s classic ice climbs. He concluded, “For…pursuits where… Read More »Black Diamond Ultralight Express screws: A versatile screw for a more refined audience
![Todd Preston leads Alpha (WI5) with the Black Diamond Reactor ice tools in Hyalite Canyon, Montana. [Photo] Jim Menkol](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/black-diamond-reactor-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Todd Preston is a geologist for the US Geological Survey who has been ice climbing for 20 years. He tested the Black Diamond Reactor ice… Read More »Black Diamond Reactor Ice Tools: A solid choice for cragging and steep ice
![Chris Van Leuven testing the new Petzl Nomic ice tools in Rocky Mountain National Park. [Photo] Colby Rickard](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/petzl-nomic-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Chris Van Leuven tested the latest version of the Petzl Nomic ice tools. He reports that the upgraded Nomics have that same familiar look and… Read More »The new Petzl Nomic: Same swing with new picks, a mini hammer, functional spike and improved handle
![Whitney Clark traverses to the belay after climbing the hanging glacial ice midway up a new route (Land of Milk and Honey, IV 5.8+ M3 R 65 degrees, 1,000') on the northwest face of Mt Russell (14,094') in the Sierra Nevada Range, California. [Photo] Tad McCrea](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tnf-summit-softshell-ws-pants-1-2-930x620.jpg)
Whitney Clark tested The North Face Women’s Summit L4 Softshell Pants in a variety of alpine climbing conditions and found them to be well designed… Read More »North Face Women’s Summit L4 Softshell Pants: A good choice for alpine climbers
![The Osprey Mutant 22-liter after being dragged up Pitch 2 of Quickdraw in Squamish, British Columbia. Essentially good as new! [Photo] Mallorie Estenson](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/osprey-mutant-22-1-1-930x620.jpg)
Alpine guide Mallorie Estenson has been using the Osprey Mutant 22-liter backpack for multipitch climbs around the Pacific Northwest, and she found it to be… Read More »Osprey Mutant 22: A go-to for the no-frills, fast-and-light climber
