![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/xdragon-flash-ll-ion-sunglasses-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HWOaLOFVfk.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
![The author showing off the Scarpa Ribelle HD boots in the Canadian Rockies. [Photo] Kate Erwin collection](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xscarpa-ribelle-hd-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.UxBLApPG30.jpg)
Kate Erwin has been using the Scarpa Ribelle HD boots in the Canadian Rockies. The crossover style is similar to Scarpa’s Ribelle OD but with… Read More »Scarpa Ribelle HD: Boots that can keep up in the mountains
![Chris Kalman sporting the Acopa JBs on his and Zach Harrison's new route, Pump Drunk (5.12-, 115') in Northern Arizona's Pumphouse Wash (ancestral homelands of Pueblo, Sinagua, Hohokam, Hopi and Western Apache, among others). [Nelson Klein]](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xacopa-jb-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.0ji0uL-I4I.jpg)
Chris Kalman continues his quest to find the best all-day, all-around climbing shoe. Everyone knows that a certain brand’s TC Pro has set the standard… Read More »Acopa JB: A high-top climbing shoe that competes with the TC Pro
![Whitney Clark traversing out from one of the supercaves while climbing The Tiger on Washington Pass with the Beal Opera rope. [Photo] Will Stanhope](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xbeal-opera-rope-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.NzMXd6KUis.jpg)
Whitney Clark was skeptical about the Beal Opera’s skinny 8.5mm diameter when she first laid her hands on it–how well could such a thin cord… Read More »The Beal Opera: An 8.5mm rope that is as strong and waterproof as it is light
![Chris Kalman placing a #6 (purple) DMM Dragonfly on a steep new route in Arizona. [Photo] Nelson Klein](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xdmm-dragonfly-micro-cams-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.dS1IfaO43S.jpg)
The DMM Dragonfly Micro Cams are among the smallest and strongest cams ever made. Chris Kalman tested them on the thin cracks near his home… Read More »DMM Dragonfly: A pretty good cam, especially for small sizes
![The author wearing the La Sportiva Testarossa climbing shoes at a crag near Redstone, Colorado. [Photo] Nat Gustafson](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xla-sportiva-testarossa-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.PxTQXw-hN9.jpg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz has been using the slightly redesigned La Sportiva Testarossa climbing shoes for the past several months and discovered what he’s… Read More »La Sportiva Testarossa: Still one of the best climbing shoes money can buy
![Clint Helander using the Mystery Ranch Tower 47 backpack in Alaska. [Photo] Clint Helander collection](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xmystery-ranch-tower-47-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.gVCd_Elf8s.jpg)
Alaskan alpinist Clint Helander tested the Mystery Ranch Tower 47 backpack for all sorts of activities. The pack is designed as a crag pack for… Read More »Mystery Ranch Tower 47: A dream pack for climbers who like organization
![Derek Franz sets up his Zenbivy bed during a backpack trip in Colorado's Elk Range. [Photo] Mandi Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xzenbivy-light-1-2-930x620.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.CS4dOC_r4R.jpg)
Alpinist digital editor Derek Franz has been using the Zenbivy Light bed system for the past year. As a guy who prefers to avoid the… Read More »Zenbivy Light: A quilt that pairs with a sheet to become a cozy bed
![Tad McCrea storms the ice cream factory with the new Petzl Quark ice tools on Super Domo (WI5 M5/6, 500m), Cerro Domo Blanco, Patagonia. [Photo] Jon Griffin](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xpetzl-quark-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.FKvUClg7C4.jpg)
Alpinist Tad McCrea has been using the latest model of the Petzl Quark ice tools for the past year. As a longtime user of the… Read More »Petzl Quark ice tools: An alpinist’s dream tool that handles it all
Alaskan climber Clint Helander generally prefers softshell jackets instead of hardshells when climbing and skiing, but the Rab Muztag GTX Jacket proved to be an… Read More »Rab Muztag GTX Jacket: A worthy high-end shell that is light and durable
![Whitney Clark emerges from a couloir on Carson Peak in California. [Photo] Tess Smith](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xlowa-alpine-expert-gtx-boots-ws-1-2-810x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic._frUyRB59L.jpg)
Whitney Clark used the women-specific Lowa Alpine Expert Gore-Tex boots in her snowy stomping grounds of the Sierra Nevada Range. She appreciated their lightness and… Read More »Lowa Alpine Expert GTX boots: Light, comfortable and sensitive
![Scott Coldiron stays warm in the Valandre Troll jacket while sorting gear in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Montana. [Photo] Brian White](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xvalandre-troll-jacket-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.APN9v_1Yfo.jpg)
Scott Coldiron has a lot of experience when it comes to staying warm on frozen alpine routes. He’s been using the Valandre Troll jacket in… Read More »Valandre Troll jacket: As warm as a down coat can be
