![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/xmountain-hardwear-phantom-parka-1-1-900x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.tBxcbwLcXp.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
![Nina Williams--who is sponsored by Gnarly Nutrition--climbs in the background of the author's BCAA supplement at Rifle Mountain Park, Colorado. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xgnarly-nutrition-bcaa-supplement-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.WtcdWwYa8g.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: Digital Editor Derek Franz has been using the Gnarly Nutrition Pre and BCAA (branched chain amino acid) dietary supplements for the… Read More »Gnarly Nutrition BCAAs: A dietary supplement geared especially for vegans, alpinists and older athletes
![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/xdragon-alliance-pxv2-goggles-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.XwdcqF4nfi.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/xtrango-agility-rope-1-1-900x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Tnj3WcCuka.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 can be seen as a tiny dot in middle of the prow, halfway up the Tower of Babel in Arches National Park during his solo ascent of Zenyatta Entrada (5.8 C3-, 450') in February (Anasazi, Hopi, Navajo, Ouray, Paiute, Uintah, Ute, Zuni land). [Photo] Mikenna Clokey](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tower-of-babel-1-1-930x620.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: Alpinist Digital Editor considers the merits of the oft-overlooked Metolius Offset Master Cams during a solo aid-climbing trip to Arches National… Read More »Metolius Ultralight Offset Master Cams: A good choice for desert aid climbing
![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/xblue-ice-akila-ice-axe-3-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.SFAVfsTJJI.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/xtrango-vergo-2-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic._EDshARUvW.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/xedelrid-starling-protect-pro-dry-rope-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.bGfid-BTFg.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
![Corey Buhay leads East Vail Falls (WI 3/4) with the Grivel Dark Machine ice tools. [Photo] Erica Givans](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/grivel-dark-machine-ice-tools-1-1-930x620.jpg)
US Ice Climbing Team Member and Ouray Ice Festival gold medalist Corey Buhay has been using the Grivel Dark Machines all season, from Colorado to… Read More »Grivel Dark Machines: A specialist’s tool for steep ice
![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
![The author wearing the Ombraz Classic sunglasses on a hike last spring. [Photo] Mandi Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xombraz-sunglasses-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HLQSAdzUxf.jpg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz has been wearing the unusual “armless” Ombraz Sunglasses since last spring. Instead of the typical rigid arms that are on… Read More »Ombraz Sunglasses: “Armless” and highly functional
![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/xblack-diamond-vision-mips-helmet-1-1-930x620.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.MNqe6sNgWr.jpg)
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
