A climber’s relationship with his ice screw rack is a personal thing. Find the right match and life will be good. Play the field, using… Read More »Petzl Laser Speed and Laser Speed Light: More Than Just the New Screw
I’ve used an REI Revelcloud Hoodie for a year now and have worn it in all seasons and while participating in numerous activities, including ice… Read More »Lightweight Warmth in REI’s Revelcloud Hoodie
When you climb in cold places, you quickly learn the value of a lightweight puffy jacket. The promise of a sunny morning can dissolve quickly… Read More »Rab Xenon Hoody: A Compressible Puffy for Cold Rock Climbs
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
Though I spend countless hours in a harness every season, I rarely get excited about them. To me, they are merely utilitarian. As long as… Read More »Petzl Sitta: Full Function and Barely Even There
This year I put my new pair of Electric Tech One sunglasses through rigorous field-testing. I wore them on a month-long climbing trip to Colorado’s… Read More »Electric Tech One Sunglasses: Essential Gear for Alpine Adventures
Coffee is as essential to climbers as ropes, sticky rubber and excuses why they don’t climb hard. Whether it’s trad climbing at Joshua Tree, alpine… Read More »The Alpine Grind: Testing Five Camp Coffee Systems
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,… Read More »Backcountry Dining Made Easy with Kung Foon
I used the Mithril on glaciers in the North Cascades, and cragging and multi-pitching in Colorado’s Front Range. I took whippers, hung and worked moves,… Read More »DMM Mithril Harness: Light and (Mostly) Durable
While working as a guide I choose footwear that connects me to the terrain, inspires confidence in movement, and is comfortable enough to be worn… Read More »Stable on Steep Terrain, Hard to Fit: Five Ten Guide Tennie Mid-GTX
Back when I learned how to trad climb seven years ago, I got used to using straight-tapered nuts. Despite the ease of cleaning them, this… Read More »Metolius Ultralight Curve Nut: Solid to Place, Stubborn to Clean
Deciding on a sleeping system is a major consideration when packing for an expedition or alpine climb as a good night’s sleep can make the… Read More »Sea to Summit UltraLight Sleeping Mats: Durable, Comfortable Innovations
