![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/xvecto-versa-flow-filter-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HQe_dWut0f.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/xmaxim-personal-escape-rope-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.bDYp7t1EYl.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.pagespeed.ce.UGiBlyYnzi.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 Allak 3 tent on a windy day near Jones Pass, Colorado. With the guy-lines taut and the canopy affixed, this tent is ready for any storm. [Photo] Drew Thayer](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xhilleberg-allak-3-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.r6MAYpgkTP.jpg)
Drew Thayer did some winter camping in the Hilleberg Allak 3 and awarded it five stars. He writes, “My overall impression of the Allak 3… Read More »Hilleberg Allak 3: A light and livable 3-person, 4-season tent
![Clint Helander wearing the La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme boots on an ice climb. [Photo] John Giraldo](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xla-sportiva-trango-tower-extremes-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.RMajwoNcUD.jpg)
Clint Helander tested the La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme GTX boots on some Alaskan ice climbs and cannot think of a single con. He reports… Read More »La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme GTX boots: Ideal for ice/mixed climbing and single-day mountaineering
![The author on Washington Column wearing the Patagonia Mirco Puff Storm Jacket. [Photo] Andy Hoeckel](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xpatagonia-micro-puff-storm-jacket-1-2-930x620.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.o7rpyKIwPD.jpg)
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
![Derek Franz wears the Mountain Equipment Tupilak 30+ on Hidden Falls (WI4, 3 pitches) in Glenwood Canyon on New Years Eve, 2018. [Photo] Craig Helm](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xmountain-equipment-tupilak-30-1-2-930x620.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.7WrL3egn69.jpg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz writes of the Mountain Equipment 30+ backpack, “This is the most hardcore rucksack I’ve ever used…. No frills. All utilitarian… Read More »Mountain Equipment Tupilak 30+: Simple, light and ‘hardcore’
![The author places a Black Diamond Ultralight Express screw in Hyalite Canyon, Montana. [Photo] Jim Menkol](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xbd-ultralight-express-screw-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.V2rMA57lX_.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/xblack-diamond-reactor-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.uT6_Gc_6IL.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/xpetzl-nomic-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.gWhUQgIcSk.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/xtnf-summit-softshell-ws-pants-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.2ToqPP7Cxc.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
![Derek Franz gets his bearings using the SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger in Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness in late October 2018. [Photo] Mandi Franz](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xspot-x-1-2-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.pCXM69U6LP.jpg)
Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz took the SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger into the mountains and desert to test its capabilities. He appreciated the device’s… Read More »SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger: A worthy tool for explorers and risk-takers
