![Lance Colley leads the Grand Traverse on the West Buttress (VI 5.9 A3) of El Capitan (Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La), Yosemite, with the Edelrid Neo 3R rope. [Photo] Lance Colley collection](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/edelrid-neo-3r-rope-1-1-900x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: Lance Colley tested the Edelrid Neo 3R rope while living and working in Yosemite this past autumn. Colley enjoys speed climbing… Read More »Edelrid Neo 3R: A quality rope made with recycled pre-consumer materials
![Derek Franz on the rim of the Black Canyon in 2020 after finishing a route during which he wore his new Black Diamond Crack Gloves for the first time. [Photo] Morgan Williams](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/black-diamond-crack-gloves-1-1-930x620.jpeg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz has been using the Black Diamond Crack Gloves to jam cracks across the west for the… Read More »Black Diamond Crack Gloves have it covered from hand cracks to offwidth sizes
![The author was thankful for the slick sheath of the Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS rope, which helped reduce rope drag on long pitches in the Tetons without the gummy feel that is characteristic of so many dry-treated ropes. [Photo] Noah Bergman](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sterling-ion-xeros-rope-1-1-675x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: Corey Buhay, a member of the US Ice Climbing Team, has been testing the Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS rope. The… Read More »Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS rope: Every filament is dry-treated and made for the alpine
![Mike Lewis wears the Phantom Down Parka on a cold day of ice climbing in the Colorado backcountry last winter. [Photo] Yaroslav Lototskyy](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mountain-hardwear-phantom-parka-1-1-900x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA guide Mike Lewis has been using the Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Parka for several months. He writes: “Its 800 fill… Read More »Mountain Hardwear’s Phantom Down Parka: Warm, Lightweight, Compressible
![The Dragon Alliance PXV2 Snow Goggles shed fog as the author wears a nose and mouth covering to comply with COVID-19 protocols this past winter at Loveland Ski Area, Colorado. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dragon-alliance-pxv2-goggles-1-1-930x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA guide Mike Lewis has been using the Dragon Alliance PXV2 snow goggles this past winter. The goggles come with two… Read More »Dragon Alliance PXV2 Goggles: Sun protection for a range of activities and conditions
![Mike Lewis stacks the Trango Agility on a rope tarp in Clear Creek Canyon, Colorado; the red rope ends are clearly distinguished from the rest of the rope. [Photo] Mike Lewis](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trango-agility-rope-1-1-900x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide Mike Lewis has been appreciating the Trango Agility 9.1mm rope for its handling and added safety feature of… Read More »The Trango Agility 9.1mm Rope: Red Flags are a good thing
![The author slides the pinky rest up the shaft and rest steps up snow to approach the next pitch of ice. [Photo] Yaroslav Lototskyy](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/blue-ice-akila-ice-axe-3-1-930x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide Mike Lewis has been using the Blue Ice Akila ice axes for a variety of missions. He writes:… Read More »Blue Ice Akila Ice Axe: An excellent hybrid multitasker
![The author using the Trango Vergo to rappel down into the Zen Wall near St. George, Utah. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trango-vergo-2-1-930x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide Mike Lewis announces that the Trango Vergo has replaced the Petzl Grigri in his kit, awarding the Trango… Read More »The Trango Vergo: Assisted braking made easier for belays
![Mikey Arnold leading the WI5+ curtain pitch on the Cascade de Bonatchiesse. [Photo] Rob Coppolillo](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/edelrid-starling-protect-pro-dry-rope-1-1-930x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA guide Rob Coppolillo has been testing a set of Edelrid Starling Protect Pro Dry 8.2mm Twin/Half ropes in Chamonix for… Read More »Edelrid Starling Protect Pro Dry 8.2mm Rope: Handles well, highly cut resistant
![The smooth trigger action and the sticky-rubber like traction of the soft alloy lobes are just two components that make the Alien Revolution a great choice for mountain missions. Dave Allfrey and Luke Holloway plug and play a few ridges south of Mt. Whitney (Tumanguya), California. [Photo] Tad McCrea](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xfixe-alien-revo-cams-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.GgnSMaV4O-.jpg)
Tad McCrea used the Fixe Ultralight Alien Revolution cams on 20 big routes in the Sierra Nevada Range this past summer and he was very… Read More »Fixe Ultralight Alien Revolution cams: Otherworldly friends to have on your rack
![Derek Franz stays relaxed wearing the Black Diamond Vision MIPS helmet while onsighting Rock Candy (5.12a), a thin slippery route on Independence Pass, Colorado. [Photo] Elizabeth Riley](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/black-diamond-vision-mips-helmet-1-1-930x620.jpeg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz has been wearing the Black Diamond Vision MIPS helmet on many climbs, from long multipitch routes in the Black Canyon… Read More »Black Diamond Vision MIPS Helmet: Head protection that’s as light and effective as ever
![The author takes a snack break off trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado, while wearing the Dragon Alliance Flash LL Ions. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dragon-flash-ll-ion-sunglasses-1-1-930x620.jpg)
As an IFMGA/AMGA guide, Mike Lewis spends a lot of time in the mountains in all conditions, rain, snow or shine, and he appreciates the… Read More »Dragon Alliance Flash LL Ion sunglasses: High quality with a big, bold style
