I will start off by saying i have the predecessor to the pad picture. The only real difference i can ascertain is the new pad has a carpeted panel on the strap covers, whereas the old one does not and the corners are slightly more angular now!

This pad near-as lives in my car. As i am on the road a lot with my work I am always trying to sneak a quick lunch break bouldering here and there and this has been my go to pad for two years. For a taco pad it does still fold relatively small when you ratchet the straps down but can still be opened enough to fill it with all the bouldering bits you need for the walk in.

One of the best features of the pad however is the way it folds (I know it folds down the middle!). By folding backwards, i.e. the side you stand on is on the outside of the fold, when you come to lay it out, simply standing on it normally will flatten the foam pad out. You are not left with two wings sticking up either side which you have to do some yoga on to flatten at the same time. Moon were the first brand i noticed to fold the pads that way, there may have been others but Moon seemed to be the first ones to put it out there.

The foam itself is two layers like many pads and having spent so much time folded in my car I would have expected more foam distortion than there is down the middle. I still fall on it regularly (including tonight - shhh!) and haven't noticed an appreciable drop in performance.

I can see why they have now put the carpeted backer to the strap cover, good idea, saves you having to carry one!

All in all a good quality pad, arguably expensive but all quality pads are now!

I got these a couple of years ago when i noticed them in a shop sale and couldn't resist. The fit is nice, snug enough so you do not have excess material but not as tight as some of the southern Euro brands! I would have liked a built in belt to tweek the waist but it isn't exactly hard to use a belt so not too much a complaint there as the belt loops are good quality and not faffy like some of the competition.

They are a heavy duty softshell material that i have yet to feel any wind through. They were severely tested in Norway last winter and performed brilliantly, even after sitting on the snow for a prolonged period of time very little damp was felt through the seat . Having the small in-built gaiter was also really useful. Not as extensive inside the pant as some of the competition but just enough to keep out the weather/snow without added additional weight.

The only additions required are kick patches on the inside of the legs for crampon protection. Mine have been fixed up many times around the ankles after slightly clumsy crampon placement but they are still going strong and will certainly see another winter seasons use!

Like many climbers i know, I don't seem to be a normal size according to many harness manufacturers! If you follow most brands sizing I require a medium waist but large leg loops, otherwise the harness doesn't safely fit! After 6 months of infuriated searching for a new harness I can across this one, perfect!

When you first put it on there is definitely enough adjustability for my supposed funny shape, yet not too much excess webbing when fastened snugly. With the waist being symmetrical the belay loop will stay centralised not matter how large or small you have the waist.

The buckles are something quite special. This harness basically works as a double-back and zip lock harness at the same time. When done up the harness is effectively a standard zip lock harness, brilliant for rock and indoor climbing. However, when winter comes around the buckles can relatively easily be opened up more akin to a old-school buckle, making it much easier to put on when in full winter kit.

The harness is comfy enough. I have worn harnesses that have been a little comfier to hang in but the Quartz CR is comfy enough unless you aim to be hanging for long periods. I am yet to have any issues with fitting enough kit on the gear loops and the harness has a full strength haul loop at the rear when required.

The only downside to the harness is its availability in the UK. Not many shops hold a strong selection from CAMP, however, if you come across one, try and it on while you have the chance, well worth it!

I haven't used this a lot yet but so far It seems really strongly built and I don't think that there will be any in the future. The 'grunge-guard technology' in the bladder and tube seems to be working well so far. The way the tube comes apart from the bladder shows real thought from people who know what they are designing and the seal is good. One gripe is that the tube doesn't seal so if there is water in the tube when you detach it, the water goes everywhere. This is the only thing that I have found wrong so far. The large opening also shows real thought behind the design.
A great, well built, well thought out and designed bladder which could be made perfect by adding a seal on the end of the tube when it is removed for filling, and can be bought for less than £20

I have had these shoes for a while now and if I was buying gain I would get bigger ones but for really difficult edge routes they are great, but too small for me to wear all day. The rubber is very sticky and the edge is great for those small holds and crimps.
A great shoe but make sure you buy the right size!

If you are into your multi-pitch rock climbing this a rope well worth looking at! Used first as a second it runs beautifully through the belay without getting tangled and/or looped. A common problem with some ropes is the want to coil into the belay as you pay-out or abseil, the Merlin had no such trouble, even when I tried to coil it a bit it would still run smooth.

When climbing it is light and runs easily through krabs, even when friction often becomes too high for other ropes with high angle runner placements. Although stricty a half rope, the narrow 8mm works well for ice if running as a twin. It also come dry treated to protect the rope and keep you expensive life line intact for as long as possible.

At 8mm it may be a bit too slim for some but it still brakes reasonably easy in a belay and I didn't find it too difficult to hold in the hand. If you are looking for a new pair of trad ropes, voila!

Have one but now prefer to use my altios due to the weight, although the altios is not as comfortable. It is hard wearing, although gives basically no protection anywhere except from the top of your head. They are, like others have said, easy to adjust due to the large wheels on the side. the straps are well placed and do not catch on my ears which I have had when I tried on other helmets. The price is a little high for what is really a very basic helmet. So all in all, a great helmet, but now superseded by new technology.

Well all in all, the stove is good, it can make a brew, or cook a meal without the need for flames or leaving your tent. Great. Also great idea for group leaders who want have concerns over their groups behaviour around stoves (special needs groups perhaps?). It’s small, light, and does make a good brew with minimal fuss, and whilst it doesn’t seem to be able to make 2 brews, it can keep 1 brew warm for longer. Which brings me on to the negative aspect of the stove, 5 heat packs for £10 = £2 per brew, not ideal. But look at it this way, as an item you don’t use every single trip, or as a convenience item it’s a great piece of kit to have, and there’s not much that can go wrong with it.

I am looking forward to my first morning brew in the tent with the rain tipping down outside, something tells me that when I’m sitting in my sleeping bag, warm and dry, that I will appreciate this item much more.

Begrudingly I conceded it’s time to replace my helmet having had it for 5 years now, it’s certainly served me well. I headed over to Go Outdoors to buy a Petzl Meteor 3+ (fancied one for a while, and combination of deals in GoOutdoors meant that they were available for £51 – jackpot). While browsing round the store I came across the Trekmates Flameless Cook System section. When I first saw the FCS it peaked my interest, a means of heating food and drink that doesn’t need gas....sounds good. I was faced with 2 options; £18 bought me the Flameless Cook Flask (360ml) http://www.trekmates.co.uk/online-shop/flameless-cook-system/flameless-cook-flask, which came with 3 heat packs, alternatively £27 bought the Flameless Cook Box, which came with 4 heat packs (2 of each size). I opted for the flask, reasoning with myself that if the FCS proved to be a good addition I would return for the box.

The system works by using water activated heat packs, which are available in 2 sizes (high power and super power), these are available for £10 (pack of 7 high power packs) or £10 (pack of 5 super power packs). The super power packs are only useable in the Flameless box and not in the flask. Each stove comes with a measuring bottle to ensure you add the right amount of water to activate the heat pack (depending on the size). Each stove or heat pack comes with “loyalty points” you can use on www.flamelesscook.com to buy more heat packs, and other goodies. This is great because it reduces the overall cost of the fuel for the stove as you get freebies every so often.



Good so far…..

So time to test one; the concept is fairly simple:

Stage 1: Separate the plastic outer stove from the metal inner container. Put food/water into the inner metal section

Stage 2: Fill the plastic measuring bottle to the indicated level for high or super (depending on the size of pack you are using.

Stage 3: Add the heat pack into the bottom of the plastic outer stove, add the water from the measuring bottle, and then put the metal inner and plastic outer back together, secure the lid with the clips and wait.


Measure bottle, plastic outer, metal inner, and lid.

I followed the instructions and after a bit of a funny smell initially, coupled with a bit of audible fizzing, and 7 minutes of time, I had 1 piping hot brew. The water was very hot indeed. I immediately emptied the water out into a mug and refilled the stove. Worth noting at this point that I displaced the metal inner section when pouring the water out, took a bit of fiddling to get it back in given how hot it was, but I did it no problem and resealed the stove. After 7 minutes the water was still cold….not good in my opinion, would hope that given the cost of the packs that there should be more than 1 brew per pack. I resealed the container for an additional 5 minutes (13 minutes in total) See part 2

Bought this with my first harness as part of a pack and has served me well ever since. I suppose there isn't really much that can set an HMS karabiner apart from the rest and this one is just another one. It is fairly lightweight, especially for a karabiner of it's size. Also appears to have stood up well to 2 years of belaying, although now takes second place to my DMM boa(see my other review) for no other reason than the boa is bigger and shinier. Well priced for an HMS.

If you want a pair of well designed no frills belay and abseil gloves then these are perfect for you. They keep your hands clean and improve grip while maintaining dexterity and sensitivity through the fingers. The nylon on the back of the gloves keeps your hands nice and cool, even in hot weather or in hot climbing centres. Very hardwearing - I have used mine once a week for 14 months and they still have plenty of life left in them. The karabiner hole is another well thought feature about the gloves.

Had this for 4ish years and despite using it on every outdoor day it is still going strong. Might not be the heaviest but not the lightest. Comfort come from the mesh and cradle system like the previous reviewer said. Stands up to everything it has been through - crammed in bags and dropped out them! The headlamp clips are at the perfect height for using those on unplanned late night descents. The chinstrap buckle is well placed at the side of the head rather than under the chin, which causes far less irritation than other designs and the webbing is nice and soft unlike other helmets I own. A great helmet but if you are a gram-shaver, it's not for you.

Had this rope for 2-3 years, my first (and only) rope and one of the best I have handled. Marketed and priced as an entry to mid-level rope but performs like a high level rope. Handles excellently and feels great in the hand. Appears to have stood up well to all the use it has seen. One of my favourite gifts of all time!

Like the title says - I was surprised at how light it felt. the karabiners have a nice feel to them, but are too small for winter use with gloves. Perfect for trad or sport. Not had it long enough to comment on durability but wear so far has been similar to other quickdraws I have used. Not the cheapest but not most expensive either.

Good wee karabiner - I use mine with my grigri but as far as I can tell the only thing that sets it apart from other D-shaped karabiners is it's strength(32kn). Comes with the usual three DMM locking systems(screwlock, quicklock and locksafe) Good for sport climbig with a grigri or similar but probably not the best for multipitch due to it's weight - there are lighter ones out there. It seems pretty durable because of the amount of metal (and weight)

This was my first belay device which came free with my harness - shop was probably trying to get rid of them as they are so bad. Good concept but awful in practice - paying out is really sticky as is taking in and abseiling on one of these.

I would not recommend these to anyone, spend another couple of pounds on a decent belay device.

The Boa is a great karabiner for everything - from belaying to building belays and much, much more. Mine was given to me about a year ago and I have loved every time I have used it.

Really smooth for belaying with all the belay devices I can get my hands on and a munter hitch.
Great for building belays due to the massive basket - DMM claim that you can fit three clove hitches on it, but I have managed to squeeze 4 in with skinny ropes.

The I-beam technology found most of DMM's gear maximizes strength to weight ratio, making for a surprisingly light karabiner for it's size.

All-in-all a great karabiner for everything - don't leave home without one.

This jacket was on sale at Snow + Rock for £50, so I thought I'd give it a try as an alternative to my latest down jacket, which was doing the down jacket thing of getting lots of little nicks, and leaking down even not through the nicks.

I've not had a synthetic belay jacket before, and I don't think this is any less warm than my previous down jacket. Having said this, it's quite a light weight jacket, and probably isn't suitable for very cold conditions (neither was my last down jacket). It is however brilliant for throwing on while belaying on climbing trips. I love the purple colour, but it's also available in a more subtle black. The material doesn't rip as easily as my down jacket.

The only thing missing really is a hood, you have to buy a different line of jackets to get a hood, which seems a bit weird really. I also managed to break the zip on one of the pockets on about the second time I wore it. The main zip is much better quality than the pocket zips though.

This is a light pack that's strippable down on an amazing 650g but that lack of weight comes at a cost, namely durability.
As it is an alpine pack it should be expected to stand up to quite a bit of abuse against rock and the bottom of the pack got holed after a few weeks of light usage on some long rock routes. The face material also showed signs of wear quite early in its life.
It's not a huge issue as some McNett seam tape has covered the hole nicely but I get the feeling that this pack would be more at home on the snow though.

I'd question the lack of reinforcements on the attachment points of the main closure straps, they are just stitched directly to the main body. The material of the main body is quite light and I can see this becoming an issue but so far it's been ok.

The main irk i have with the pack is the attachment system used for the lid and the compression straps. They seem to come undone when you least need them to, but when you actually want to undo them they are very awkward to release. This mainly applies to the lid, but I have had the compression straps come undone of their own accord a few times.

I'm beginning to think that the best way to get the lid off is to turn your back on the pack, ignore it and it will just fall off itself!

But enough about the negative! There's a huge amount about this pack to like too:
The lid is a great size with two loops inside for attaching your keys, GPS or whatever takes your fancy. There is also a nice internal zipped security pocket in the bottom of the lid too.
The central zipper is great for accessing items at the bottom of your pack without having to release the closure straps and undoing the draw cords. It really is the thing I like best about this pack and am now sure I won't opt for another pack that does not have this feature.

It is a comfortable pack, with soft padding on the hipbelt and back area. I thought the softness of the padding might be problematic but it is actually fine under a heavy load (14Kg) of full trad rack, ropes, clothing, food and water.

And finally the DWR of the pack is worth noting, it sheds quite a lot of rain before leaving in water and is lasting quite well.

I bought this item from the company themselves as I liked their ethos and commitment to making products with an ecological slant. At €110 euros delivered it's not too badly priced. The pack itself is made from recycled material so kudos are due to Blue Ice for that.

The three star review is reflective of the quality of the pack, it is above average, but not stellar. Refinement of the attachment system and toughening up the bottom and face fabrics would see this pushing strongly for a five star rating.

Having owned my wallnuts for 1-11 for a year now I can compare them to my BD offset and other wire i have used off other peoples racks. I can safely say that the DMM wallnuts do fit in many places and many different ways. They are light, stong and durable. The colours are great too! These are the cheapest nuts I have found on the market. I bought them for about £69.99. A good buy!

Have both of these cams and must say they are a great collection to my rack. I love the solidness of them and you know when you have found a good placement with them. With that they are easy to place and will handle any situation you throw at them They're rated at 14KN and most leader falls are 4-7KN so they easily fall into the safety range.

On the other hand they can be quite expensive and can be fairly heavy (compared to a nut or hex)! But this is well worth it

Overall I would be lost without the dragon cams!

Having these for a month or so this seems to be a solid shoe. Its very sticky outside on the rock and indoor too. I would rate this as a intermediate shoe as it doesn't perform as well as the upper end shoes on the market. Price matched at Gooutdoors for £62 instead of 69.99 at banana fingers. I prefer velcro shoes as they are easily put on and just as easy to take them off again. Overall a good intermediate shoe for indoors and outdoors climbing.

First time i've ever use a grigri. Rope (10mm) handles really smoothly through the device. Rock solid piece of equipment. Also can be used as a decent device and also as an assender. Had more than one use. Unfortunately can only be used with one rope and is expensive. (I paid £49 for mine)

Had this sling for over a year now. Stands up to wear and tear good. Good buy.

Having used this backpack for 10 days in the Bavarian mountains for adventurous training it has definately proved its worth. It is very durable and fits perfect. (I'm 6ft).

Firstly hiking up mountains. Lots of space for storing valuables in the center. Lots of loops on the outside to secure walking poles etc.. Lots of padding so your shoulders don't ache that much after use and good belt strap.

Climbing - good for ropes at the top of the bag. Has its own strap at the top to secure the rope in place.

Kayaking - enough space to fit wet/warm kit in.

Klettersteig - Great for all the gear again. Fits in perfect, without much excess room - just what you want.

Caving - small enough to fit through the small places you go through.

Overall this bag is good for days out. Just what I wanted really. Somewhat bigger than a day sack, but smaller than a full on 90L rucksack. A must!

Liked the design hence the buy. Also able to attach light to front and I have attached my GOPRO helmet strap which fits perfect. The polystyrene on the interior on the side is a little brittle however nothing a bit of superglue wont fix. (Not a major drama). It wasn't the fact that just one side did it, it happened to be both, maybe its my head? I wouldn't say its particually heavy but I havn't worn a lot of helmets. I have had this for over a year and I will still continue to wear it. Fits great and is comfortabe.

I only have a few of these as they were so cheap I couldn't resist picking up a few.
A little on the small side for anything other than ungloved use, but I guess they were never designed with winter climbing in mind.
The captive piece in the gate that engages with the nose can rattle a little and this had me a little worried at first, however once I realised what was causing the noise I was fine with it.

Very similar to the DMM Shield, but not identical.

www.needlesports.com have these on sale for £3.99 at the moment if anyone is looking for a bargain!

A great rope, especially with the Golden Dry coating which helps greatly as where I live tends to be 'blessed' with quite a lot of rain.
They are versatile and durable and handled quite well out of the pack and continue to do so.

Unbelievably these ropes do not come with a center mark which meant I had to apply a layer of Beal rope marker.
I have a pair of 60's (blue and red) with the Golden Dry coating for the record.

These look odd when you first see them, it's not entirely obvious how they're supposed to be used but it's worth going beyond the initial impression and actually getting some of these.

There are two modes of placement, active and passive. I can honestly say that I've rarely used them in the latter mode; I always prefer nuts for that sort of protection, though it's nice to have the flexibility of having additional options available on the rack. That being sad, they place relatively easily and feel secure when in - I've taken a fall on one so for me the protection value is at least 'real' in my mind.

I find their real strength is in the active 'camming' mode, for this they are great and once you get used to them are very easy to place. They are good for deeper placements and are easily extendable, also the smaller end of the range can be used in a variety of shot holes or similar features that are traditionally difficult to protect.

I have used these in the winter, but sparingly - I've never fallen on them but I have appreciated the 'bite' that the beak gives. That bite can also make these tricky to clean, especially if you take a big fall on them - it's worth paying attention to the rock you are climbing on as these could really dig themselves in or damage the surface of the rock. The worst I've had was fairly easily removed with a nut key and a bash with a large hex.

Really good bits of kit and I can only reiterate the excellent points raised in the other review. These are versatile bits of gear and a worthy addition to a gear selection as they can add an element of versatility and widen your choices of where you can place protection.

I bought these when they were in a bargain bin in V12 a few years back (1.5 and1.75), I was drawn by the narrow profile and a sterling recommendation from a friend. Now for small cracks my go to cam is the Mastercam and I'm very happy with them, but these little gems do have a few tricks of their own.

As I've already mentioned the narrow head profile means that these fit in some placements that I can't get the wider (4cu) units in. I've found that they seem to walk much less, whether this is a function of the three cams or the narrow placements I don't know. The extendable sling is a nice touch and one I appreciate.

The only downside is that these cams are small, and I'm speaking as a bloke with girlishly small hands (no sniggering at the back) and I find holding these a bit of a fiddle. The triggers are smooth enough; perhaps a tiny bit stiff but I find the lack of space a problem.

Basically a great little cam for narrow placements, that stays where you put it and a worthy addition to your rack. Some places are selling these at very reasonable prices which make them an excellent small cam for people looking to extend their range of cams.

As a piece of kit this is second to none and has become my favourite mid layer garment bar none. I normally wear this over my R1 Hoody during the winter if I'm going to be moving fast, usually with a hard shell for when it gets wetter and a belay jacket for when i stop moving. I find that for 90% of what I'm doing this is absolutely fine. If I wanted to up the warmth I would trade out the hard shell for a soft-shell, I've tried adding additional base layers but frankly at that point I boil.

Designed as a replacement or at least alternative to the mid layer this is a light and breathable alternative that is great for keeping warm while on the move, the core insulation means that you still stay warm if it gets damp and it dries out really fast - surprisingly so. The surface fabric feels really nice to handle and will shrug off light rain but really nothing more than the briefest of showers.

The adjustment is simple - draw strings at the waist, the zip runs really nicely and is baffled, the pockets are lined so nice on cold hands and the finishing is immaculate. The zip does up nice and high so keeps the wind off the neck and the hood forms a nice collar to help keep warm.

The hood is the only thing that has drawn any criticism, people don't like its lack of adjustment - I've not found it a problem, when it's over a helmet it's not a problem and even over a hat its fine. Though if walking on the tops and the wind catches it, it does turn into a bit of a sail. I've not found it to be a problem and certainly wouldn't let it stop me from recommending it to anyone.

The movement of the jacket as a whole is fabulous, under a harness it doesn't stop you reaching up above your head or twisting for holds, placements or gear (or random thrashing). The stretch panels help; these will be familiar to Rab VR wearers as are the shortcomings - the lack of wind resistance. Unless it's blowing a hoolie it's not a problem, if working hard then the additional venting is great - standing still not so much but that's what other layers are for.

The whole thing packs down and compresses really well - I usually pack mine into the sleeve which makes it easy to store but also means I can just flick it out of the sleeve and it's ready to go!

I can only agree with the other excellent review - the zip has never been an issue (in fact it's one of the things I like about the jacket) and the hood would benefit form a drawstring but nothing more complicated than that. Buy one, you will not regret it.

I have the newer (2011-12) version of this garment and while it remains an outstanding piece of clothing the levels of protection it affords have fallen since the fabric changed from Polartec Powershield to Fortius 2.0. It also comes in slightly heavier as well at just under 700gr.

I've been lucky enough to experience both models so if you would prefer more wind resistance then try track down one of the older models. If you are looking for more breathability then the newer one is the model for you.

On to the jacket itself and it remains one of the best made pieces of clothing I've come across. Add to the mix that they make it in a great range of interesting colours (take note everyone else black and blue aren't good enough!).

The hood is a stand out piece of design, it's huge and bucket like but cinches down so well with the draw cord adjustment system that it's a perfect fit whether wearing a helmet or not.

The DWR also deserves a mention, it's as good as it gets!

Several outdoor clothing manufacturers have all been 'inspired' by the design of this garment. It's simply that good.

My primary use for this item is to replace the mid weight insulating fleece as part of a layering system and it does this perfectly at a greatly decreased weight. I've found it good enough to wear on its own a lot of the time when it's not raining. On the matter of rain, the DWR is good but the jacket is simply not designed to resist a downpour, it's meant to be under a shell at that stage.

The insulated zip baffle is a nice touch and the pockets are lined with a really soft fleece.

For the record I'm 178cm and 77Kg, or 5'10 and 12st in old money. The medium is a perfect fit with a baselayer and/or a powerstretch top on underneath.

The hood and non locking zip have come in for some criticism, however neither of these are an issue for me at all. The zip has never come down and the hood is fine under a helmet. I'd prefer a drawstring but it's not a big deal.

The only suggestion I would make would be to decrease the size of the Powerstretch panels so that they are more confined to the pit area.
That said, I'd buy this again in a heartbeat, and as a matter of fact I'm thinking of getting another one as soon as I can just in case Arcteryx decide to change it. It's that good.

There are a few iconic pieces of equipment and the R1 Hoody has to be one of them. A hugely versatile item of clothing; this is one of those items that when you get your hands on it you understand the work that has gone into its genesis and production.

The Polartec® Power Dry® is gridded, this aids in stretch, helps with airflow and also traps that all important layer of warm air. It wicks incredibly fast and the stretch panels means there's no restriction of movement, the front zip is incredibly deep which is great for venting should you need to dump heat fast.

The garment is cut long in the body and seems to be a little longer in the sleeves; this means that once you're tucked under your harness or layers it's not going anywhere. The slightly longer sleeves also means that the thumb loops don't pull too much - useful when you're spending a lot of time with your hands over your head!

The hood is tight fitting and goes under a helmet easily, the offset zip means it's comfortable to wear and doesn't rub. The flatlock construction means that rucksack straps don't rub and there's no abrasion from long term wear.

I normally wear this as a base layer or occasionally over a very thin base layer - I've never had the requirement to wear anything thicker under this. If I layer this with my Atom LT Hoody then I'm usually toasty all day while moving.

This is a technical garment and doesn't pretend to be anything else, the synthetic nature of its construction does means that long term wear will generate a smell - I've found it to wash well and doesn't have that annoying habit of holding onto odours.

In short - a fabulous garment, an absolute favourite.

The Moon Cypher Pant has been around for a while in the UK now, I've had mine for a few years now and they've been a part of my climbing summer wardrobe for a while now.

They're well made, simple and nicely finished. The waistband is elasticated with a pull cord cinch, it has the obligatory diamond crotch and pull cords for the ankles. The waistband makes it comfortable to wear; the fabric is light and dries really quickly so if you get caught in a brief shower you won't stay damp for long once the sun returns.

The lightweight fabric obviously means that these aren't going to be great on cold days, though I've found them to be ok with some longer base layers underneath, The loose fit means there's plenty of room to move and if you like to see where you're putting your feet when you're climbing then closing up the ankles allows you to do this (I always end up standing on the bottoms if I don't so this). They seem to have worn well, they bear the scars of the usual mal-treatment of spills, falls and dirt but the material and construction are still holding firm.

They're reasonable for casual wear afterwards if that's a concern down the pub; my only real problem is with the weird pocket flaps - why? The pockets have a zip closure so it seems superfluous to be honest; it just seems to get in the way to my mind. I have mixed views on the value for money, these are a fairly simply constructed garment so on one hand it seems a little much, on the other hand they have worn incredibly well, are well designed and are obviously the product of experience and so you pay for that.

Don't let personal niggles deter anyone though; these are still good climbing pants that are great for days out at the crag.

Mammut Trion Taranaki is a simple lightweight pack. It represents typical Mammut quality in terms of fabrics, design and finishing. From features perspective it's simple and functional. One big opening, lid with larger pocket and map compartment, detachable hip belt with gear loops, slot for hydration bladder (not needed for winter climbing), compression straps / ski attachments on sides and two straightforwardly working ice axe holders. These features are combined with easy adjustment and gool load carrying comfort. As such it makes a great climbing pack. I have found out however that it's just a bit too small for winter climbing, you'll get all the gear in, but not the belay jacket - so it's my choice, but to be used only during warm days. For touring however it's just about right sized and while it lacks some of the touring specific features like avy gear compartment and helmet holder, it does good job there (will most likely replace my Ortovox Peak 29).

As in most cases there are some things that annoy as well. For instance the profile should perhaps be slightly wider so that the bottom part would be more easily accessible - that would also add the needed 5L of volume to get the down jacket in. I would also like to have a detachable helmet / avy gear holder (could be attached to daisy chain already there). Perhaps couple of small attachment loops on lid and plastic d-rings on shoulder straps to attach a radio would do good as well. It's interesting that they bothered to add a panel to hide the straps that hold the head of the ice axes - what else does it do than ads a few grams of weight? I also wonder why these climbing focused packs do not have bandolier like gear loops on their shoulder straps? I like to rack my quick draws and rock gear higher up and such addition would make Taranaki excellent on multi-pitch routes (and I could leave my Grivel Lynx home). I know, it's not a mainstream feature, but such could be offered as optional or a separate version in any case.

So to summarize, it's a great climbing focused pack. Will definitely follow me on many climbs both summer and winter. In winter only on warmer days.

Spring is in the air, or at least it has felt like it this week in the UK and so in a rare mid-week escape I decided to brave my knees to the air and so dusted off my Spotter shorts and headed out to the crags.

The Spotter has the attention to detail that you expect from Arc'teryx, in fact it's almost over engineered. The seams are all immaculately finished and the fabric is almost too thick - almost, I have used these on grit as well and been thankful for the durability this thickness brings. The fit is excellent, though the relaxed styling means that there is a little extra room in the waist; not a bad thing and not enough to necessarily change your usual sizing but worth paying attention to.

The waist band is lined, which makes it very comfortable to wear and removes the risk of chafing, it comes equipped with belt loops (never used them) and more pockets than you can shake a stick at. The gusseted crotch allows for mobility without restriction and the relaxed fit means that they don't ride up or overly constrict. The pockets are deep, really deep and you can load them up but if wearing a harness you can only access the tops of the pockets as the bottom is cut off by the leg loops. The extra cell phone pocket is more of an affectation to my mind (as is the coin pocket), I've only ever used it for carrying energy gels when walking or screws and oddments when doing DIY; using it for anything heavier would seem to just be an annoyance as it gently bumps against the rear of the leg as you walk.

Once consideration is that these shorts have zero stretch, the size you get them is what they will remain.

When out and about the shorts sit nicely on the waist and are really comfortable to wear, these do as well for long trekking as climbing and here the plentiful pockets and their depth would probably be more useful. I think for overall usage I prefer these for bouldering more than harnessed climbing, in warmer conditions the thicker weight material can be almost too warm and the material doesn't wick particularly quickly or transport moisture well - though they do seem to dry quickly in direct sunlight.

The durability counts when being dragged over the countryside and sitting on ledges, while the cotton has developed a slightly (and I mean slight) brushed appearance on the surface but has sustained no appreciable damage. The stitching is untouched and the fly zip and waist button and button hole are as good as new.

All things considered, these are probably my favourite shorts, despite their performance in hotter weather their bombproof construction and comfort means that I will be pulling these first out of the cupboard during the warmer months. Plus my other half won't despair when I wear them out as they at least look 'respectable', not that I'm sure what that means.

Would I recommend? Definitely.

Would I recommend taking them out this early in the year? Probably not, enthusiasm triumphed over common sense - thank god for warm top layers!

Rainer is exactly the kind of waterproof jacket I like. It's Goretex paclite, but lightly sturdier than some others, which makes Rainer a durable while still light and packable. As I tend to use softshell when ever I can this balance of weight/packablity and durability make Rainer ideal backup even for harsher mountain environment. The design of Rainer is clean, just two pockets that act as ventilation as well, skirt tightener, roomy hood that fits over helmet with appropriate tighteners (two in front both sides, and one in back) and velcro tighteners on sleeves. That's it. Just the features you need, nothing more. While I have to say that I don't like velcro, but don't know if there's reasonable alternatives available to this type of jacket.

The looks of the jacket is striking and while it it's kind of "old school" modern in a way that's typical for Mammut, I kind of like it... usually I like gear that has more "rock-n-roll" in them. Also from quality perspective Rainer represents typical top notch quality of Mammut. This includes materials, design as well as finishing.

In short it's a good jacket. Recommended.

The blurb says 'Climb On! was formulated for and is used by the gnarliest rock climbers the world has ever seen'. I'm not gnarly, at least I don't think so - I like my creature comforts too much which I think instantly dismisses me from the 'gnarly' category.

On the other hand I do tend to sport a constant series of cuts, abrasions, flappers, scratches, grazes and bruises and the handy size of this plus the fact it seems to work for me means that I think this stuff is pretty good. I know some people don't get on with this so my experience is purely anecdotal, but if you tend to have those 'special' moments then this stuff is pretty good in my estimation.

This is a great cold or cooler weather garment. I bought this with mainly winters in mind, mainly as a base/mid layer for those active days when you know there will be the inevitable hiatus (lunch/belays etc.) so I wanted something that would keep me warm, allow freedom of movement and wick well. It has certainly fulfilled that niche and has crept into my spring and autumn wardrobe as one of my favourite tops for climbing, running, hiking and even doing the gardening.

Firstly, the fit - I've always found Rab products to be a little tight across the chest and the arms and this top was no different, that being said the fit is supposed to be close and it hasn't impeded my movement or stopped me from climbing or dynamic movements. The only thing that is difficult is to push the sleeves up if running very hot, the very close fit may mean that you have to size up from normal so worth checking first.

The build quality is excellent, stitching and seams are all nicely finished, the zip is deep and snag free and the pull cords for the waist and collar are easy to use though the tags can be a little trick with thicker gloves on.

Performance wise the garment is great, the pertex shell resists the wind nicely and the DWR coating is enough to shrug off light amounts of moisture, the lining wicks brilliantly and the garment as a whole dries quickly. The front zip is very deep allowing you to cool down effectively if necessary and the thumb loops in the sleeves and stretch side panels are nice finishing touches. The athletic fit means this top works really well under a hardshell and on warmer days is absolutely fine over just a base layer if you are moving fast.

Grumbles? Nit picking really, nothing of substance - the stretch panels will let the wind through so can cause some untoward cooling and the sleeves are a minor niggle but a personal one for me.

I would certainly recommend this for anyone wanting a good layer for working fast in cooler climes, a great top that is well priced and an excellent addition.

My ability to collect outdoor footwear apparently makes me more of a girl than my other half (so she claims). It is however, a trait that sometimes leads me to discover diamonds in the rough - the Typhoon is one of those.

Firstly, the fit; these shoes are snug, almost painfully so on first trying, there is a little give in them but being pre-stretched don't expect them to give much over time. I have found little or no dead space, though if there had to be one place that had more give than less it's the heel. I do have narrow heels and ankles (those that say 'girlish' will be asked to leave the room) and this is the only area where there could be considered to be any free space. The tensioning round the heel cup really pulls it in, giving a very fitted feel, the padded tongue is comfy and allows the shoe to be done up tightly and the opposing straps means that it's definitely not going to move.

The shoe performs wonderfully; the proprietary E-Grip is definitely sticky, stands up well to abuse (and hapless thrashing) and is great for heel hooking. It strikes an admirable balance between rigidity and sensitivity, I have found it performs well on pretty much everything - trad, sport or bouldering though my personal preference is to use these on more technical routes, preferably on the vertical or overhanging routes.

Reservations? Not really, if pushed my only one would be the fit - if Edelrid products fit your feet then buy without concern, if you have never tried them on before then definitely go to a shop and try on a few pairs. That being said these shoes are priced extremely competitively and well worth the price and are an excellent all round technical shoe.

I got the lace up version of these last year (I challenge anyone to try and find them online!) and they are superb for technical performance climbing, specifically sport and bouldering. They are super aggressive but still comfy for long sport routes. The rubber is fantastic and the toe rand is sticky but thin for super sensitivity. You can feel the tiniest edges and holes under these shoes. On anything less than vertical these are quite uncomfortable, but for overhanging terrain i havnt found a comparable shoe.

I have used Jokers as my every day, long day comfort shoe for several years. First things first, they are so comfy! They feel like putting on a pair of slippers, and are surprisingly warm when the weather isnt! The comfort is their biggest plus point. People have complained about the sole stickiness, i guess its true that they become less sticky after a few months, but i've never owned a pair of shoes that havnt. The rubber is pretty hard wearing too, a flipside to less sticky soles.

The price and comfort of these shoes make them popular with beginners, and i definitely reccomend them to beginners, but i have used them on all rock types, up to E3 without many problems (except maybe the slate)! So if you climb hard and just want a comfy pair of every day shoes then you cant go wrong!

The renegade is Dmm's flagship harness, and let me say it now, it is brilliant. The first thing i look for in a harness is comfort, the worst thing is thinking about how uncomfortable your harness is when climbing. I've owned the renegade for two years now, and i have never once been uncomfortable in it, even whilst sitting at hanging belays for long periods of time.

So techy stuff.... well its obvious features are the 7 gear loops, which is perfect for the trad/winter climbers, and allows easy rack organisation. The floating waistbelt is another brilliant feature, alowing the waistbelt to be revolved around your body, useful for adjusting your gear loops to the perfect position, and when at those belays which are not perfect, the belay loop doesnt have to be square in front of you, you can slide it round a tad, making it more comfortable.

I cannot think of anything bad about this harness without talking about things it wasnt designed for in the first place, if your after lightweight for sport, then its not for you, but for long days and comfort, this the best harness i have ever used. Its not too expensive either!

Nomic is for sure a very good ice axe. It excels on steeper ground and hooking placements. The handle gives a good "basic" grip as well as excellent alternate grips. It has adjustable grip rest to accommodate different sizes of hands etc...

For some reason though I feel that my placements are more secure with Grivel axes. While the swing with Nomic is good the stability on sideways is not as good as some others I've tried. I tend to get more hits to my knuckles as well with Nomics (and I know, it's partly problems my technique). Also the construction of grip rest is somewhat problematic, while size adjustment is good, it done in a way that it prone to break (some models of Nomic suffer more of this than others) . One final downside, though easy to go around, is the fact that the hole in Nomic handle is not positioned best possible way. If you attach for instance a spring leash into it, the leash carabiner goes around the handle in way that it doesn't feel good in your hand, same applies for cord. You can overcome this limitation with knife and cord though. :-)

All this critique being said, Nomic is still a very good axe. If I would climb Nomics more frequently, I might even change my mind on some of the issues above.

The X-350a is certainly an eye catching harness, it looks almost impossibly slight to stand up to the rigors of climbing and worryingly thin when you add winter adventures into the equation. Thankfully I was proved absolutely wrong on all counts - there's an immediate fascination when you first see the harness, it's almost impossible to not pick it up and marvel at the weight and construction (for me this came when I unwrapped it as a very surprising birthday present).

It is certainly one of the most comfortable harnesses I have ever worn; standing and walking around it's almost possible to forget you're wearing it. The drawback is that it's not the most comfortable harness to hang in - it's not uncomfortable, rather there are certainly more comfortable harnesses out there. However, that being said, it doesn't cut in unduly and taking falls in it is no more uncomfortable than any other harness. The gear loops are well placed and generously sized, able to take ample loads of gear with little difficulty.

The self locking buckles on the waist and leg loops are smooth to operate and stay locked, there is a discrete tuck away loop for the waist belt and it's all rather tidy. The only quibble I have heard from others is that the straps for the legs loops are a bit fiddly to unhook should you need access for *cough* calls of nature. I haven't had to use this feature yet, though looking at the back of the harness and trying myself I can see how this could be a problem. Understanding/brave friends may be required. The harness is easy to put on over multiple layers and is at home in summer or winter; I've had no difficulty getting this harness on over crampons and bulkier winter waterproof layers.

In a nutshell this harness is full of neat touches and thoughtful features that exemplify Arc'teryx products; the only drawback I can think of is the eye watering price*.

*having said that, having experienced one of their harnesses I can't say that I wouldn't pay the price to own another - I can always sell a kidney.

I use the Master cam to fill the requirement normally reserved for C3's or Aliens - I have yet to try Aliens but I certainly found they compared favourably to C3's. The four lobe design means they are slightly wider than C3's but the lobes are narrower so they fit well in smaller and thinner placements. The thumb loop makes for easy placements, though the trigger action is very stiff I haven't found this to be a problem - the loop is big enough to be used with gloves though the trigger is a little small if the gloves are bulky.

The great thing I have found about them is when they are placed they feel instantly 'bomber', rather than being a marginal or confidence piece these always feel like they are going to save you - having taken a few falls on the smaller units I can personally testify to their solidity. The sling is enormously strong and thick but quite short - I normally end up extending the unit with a longer runner - especially in deeper placements.

I was initially perturbed by the Kevlar trigger cords and was worried that they would be less durable or prone to wear - I have yet to see any appreciable damage or wear to date and am now more than happy with the assembly. The range-finder on the lobes seems like more of a gimmick than a useful function, while in theory it seems like a good idea I'm not sure how often people examine the lobes up close when placing the piece - useful to see the ideal range (it is slightly narrower on these cams) but in the field I've found little use for it.

Overall these are excellent cams for smaller ranges, the larger units are also excellent but they start to overlap in to the bottom range of C4's, Dragon's etc. and unless you have a requirement for a significantly narrower head profile you may be better served by other units. Definitely recommend.Review...

I'll be honest from the outset, I love my C4's - unless you have used a C4 it's hard to describe the simple joy from the flawless action on these devices. They have an excellent range thanks to the double axle and I have found that they rarely walk and are easy to clean.

The thumb loop makes for easy, rapid placements even when wearing gloves, or in wobbly desperation on a crux - the loop and trigger design also makes them easy to recover from placements; for these qualities I can forgive them their slightly heavier weight.

The only thing I could really wish for would be an extendable sling akin to the DMM Dragon, though having tried both I still prefer the C4 over the DMM alternative (not that there's much in it). They are a little pricey but they are honestly worth it.

The Katana has been my 'go to' climbing shoe of choice for two years now and has been used fairly constantly during this time. Having bought both walking boots and trail running shoes from the La Sportiva stable I have, in the past, found them to be sized a little generously as a brand. Since I wanted a comfortable all day shoe I bought them in my shoe size (42.5) and found them an almost perfect if slightly tight fit (I think the definition seems to be - small amount of discomfort = precise, crippling pain = technical).

The shoe works well out of the box and with the 'new shoe' stiffness is fantastic on small ledges, it never really loses it's faculty with edging though it does compromise as the shoe inevitably softens. As an all round, mid technical shoe it excels with a sensitivity and grip that is outstanding and is thankfully that it can be worn all day with minimal discomfort.

The rubber seems to hold up well to fairly constant abuse and the shoe as a whole is worn but not worn out - the rubber is still sticky and the performance precise with excellent feedback being delivered through the sole unit.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this shoe to others; I will almost certainly be sourcing another pair to replace my current ones and will also consider the lace up version as well (though I personally prefer the easy removal of velcro).

Decent pair of crampons heavy but super durable. Adjust to boot size pretty easily and fits fairly secure. Not much else to say.

Another great shoe by La sportiva. Super good edging, great feel and sensitivity. They have a bit of a toe curve not to aggressive great for climbing vertical and even steeper stuff. Ive worn these shoes for an outdoor season and a partial indoor season. The toe does wear down a bit quickly, but not bad the rest of the shoe holds up well.

You can see the thought pattern that occurred when these were designed...someone probably found themselves on a route with a cam that was the wrong size, and thought...lets make one that does more sizes! fair enough...but a really bad idea!!! Let me explain:

So, Omega Pacific have been known to advertise this as being great because instead of having to carry 3 different sized cams, you only have to carry one...but what happens when you've placed it? you don't have a cam anymore...whereas if you had 3 different sizes, you still have two left. Its simple maths really! So, the way around it is to carry 3x link cams...but that's un-doing the weight saving, and costing you nearly double what 3 regular cams would.

How can this make sense!!!?

Admitedly, they might be worthwhile carrying if your leading a group on a scramble or similar, where you might be putting in very occasional gear to protect yourselves moving together, but as a climber, I don't see much use for this 'innovation'?

so, you won't see me carrying them on my harness any time soon

I have had this jacket for just over 3 years now and it has seen all kinds of action, from going to the shops, to high Himalayan adventures and it has served me well.

so a review of the features:
1) The hood: the helmet compatible hood with wire peak fits over all helmets, from my petzl rock helmet to my full face back country skiing helmet and is superb. The 3 levels of adjustment ensure a snug fit with few wind gaps to let the cold in.
2) The zips: "the new 2-way water resistant front zip with internal storm flap" is initally briliant, however is easily damaged through stuffing it into bags and hard use (climbing ect.). This zip also tends to snag around the neck area on the storm flap (as it is internal) which has caused many minutes of frustration.
3) eVent 3 layer fabric: Has good initial DWR properties, and it highly breathable. However this is soon diminished and hereafter requires much maintainence. The fabric has started to "fluff" and wear through around the usual contact points, especially shoulders and hips where bag straps sit.

Conclusion: so to sum up this jacket is increadible, but requires heavy maintainance to keep it that way.... it has served me well.

I first used the single rope version of this in New Zealand and loved it instantly, i bought the double version when i got home. When moving from the classic atc type belay devices it can take a while to get used to a slightly new method, but this is very easy to get used to.
Its design allows you to arrest a fall by locking the rope up (kind of like a gri gri). However it lets through a small section of rope as it locks, giving a much more dynamic fall, lowering the stress on the rope, gear and climber, especially good on trad and alpine routes. Although the dead rope must always be held, it gives more piece of mind and the chance of dropping your climber under any circumstance is reduced to virtually none.
You can use this with half ropes and single ropes, and its brilliant for abseiling too.

A little pricey for a belay device, but as a specialist unit for trad and alpine climbing i definitely reccomend this belay device!

The DMM 4CU is a favourite among the circle of climbers around me. I have used them a great deal myself, but i dont get on with them as well as others!

Dont get me wrong, these are very solid, good quality camming units, and they come very cheap!
I just dont on with the double stem thing, and i dont find them easy to place compared to say the WC helium or BD camalot. Especially the smaller sizes, they dont seem very easy to hold (maybe its just me!) They also dont seem to seat as solidy as other units and tend to walk a lot. The extendable sling however is a big plus point, something that other devices should take note of!

Overall they are very affordable and decent units, but for ease and unbeatable quality you cant beat camalots or heliums.

These new cams from WC supercede the tech friend, and they really are better. They do nothing unique here, but these cams are definitely a benchmark in single stem camming devices.
Over the older tech friends, they have a wider camming range, giving better placements in a variety of situations. They are very lightweight, the unit head especially feels lighter than the stem! They also have a longer stem, allowing you to place them with more control in deep cracks, or awkward far away placements.

In comparison to other brands, they really hold their own, and are good value for money. I would definitely reccomend these, good quality at an affordable price.

Theres a reason theyre called friends! Although the new Helium cams have superceded these units, if you can get your hands on one of these you wont be disapointed!

They are well made, highly reliable in most placements and light on your rack. Overall, they are very trustworthy. A couple of negative points are the narrower camming ranges than newer cams, and they can get stiff quite easily when the springs become looser over time. This is the cam i have to clean and maintain most regularly but its simplicity and trustworthyness makes up for it.

These are on sale in a lot of places, so i would reccomend picking some up if your looking for a solid camming device.

I have owned or used the majority of camming devices available in the UK, and the Black Diamond C4 is by far my favourite! I nearly have the full set and they come with me on every climbing trip.

The smoothness in placing them and cleaning them is superior to other cams with a very useful thumb loop, and in an appropriate placement they always seat well. They are designed brilliantly and are amazingly sturdy. They are slightly more expensive in the UK than other brands, and are a bit heavier also.

I would definitely reccomend these, they are worth the few extra pennies!

Omega Pacific have designed a very unique camming device with the Link Cam, but is it worth having? The advantages on the face of it should be clear. The cam lobes are split into three sections, allowing them to 'unfold' when the trigger is pulled. In theory the cam offers a range that vastly exceeds any other camming devices on the market. This sounds brilliant, however is it all its cracked up to be?

I bought one of these cams in the US a couple of years ago, a number 1 (the red one). It was bought as a novelty item, and with its price tag an expensive one at that! The advantage of having a huge camming range in one unit has been useful on a number of occasions, notably when at a crux or difficult section where gear needs to be placed quickly! Rather than risking the right size in a standard cam and hanging around for longer, the link cam can be picked up and placed quickly in a bigger range of cracks. Having said that, i have never got it to seat as well as other standard cams, and the confidence it provides cannot compare to other brands. The company says itself that placement of these cams must be very carefully done, as any shock movement when loaded can damage the cam and compromise its strength.

Overall, i would not reccomend these camming devices, for the price the unique features are not worth it.

Suunto Observer is a solid high quality altimeter watch, in my opinion on more durable side of the Suunto lineup. I.e. no button problems I've had with a few other models. Compared to later Suunto models it lacks the automatic altitude / barometer switch and a few other usability features. A heart rate meter and blood oxygen saturation sensors might be useful as well, later at least in high altitudes (though I'm not aware of any watch type of device that would have the later).

While the display is somewhat hard to read time to time, it's is reasonably easy to use. I have to say that I like their newer Core-type user interface better both in terms of readability as well as ease of use (those menus in Core rock). While all the lithium batteries seem to have challenges in cold Observer performs fairly well. However there's not much help of temperature sensor in minus 20C and below, at least if you need the battery to last a few weeks more.

There's a reason that you see so many people out and about in Mammut clothing...
There's a reason that you see so many people out and about in Base Jumps...

They're exactly right for exactly what you want them for. They're stretchy, comfy, flexible, rugged, light, quick drying, warm(ish)

The BJ's are a soft shell trouser, ideal for a day's summer mountaineering as they're plenty breathable, light enough and easy enough to move around in. Come winter, their quick drying properties, and once again, their comfort and flexibly ensure that, when coupled with a pair of thermal pants below, and some hard shell pants in the bag to go over the top (if needed) they're perfect for that season too!

A massive choice of sizes, both waist and leg length, make them ideal for anyone, regardless of their size.

However...there is the cost! It's pretty shocking, to be fair, and I think it is a bit hard for Mammut to justify, especially as you're not even paying for European Manufacturing (Made in China).

Non-the-less, I wouldn't swap mine for anything, and 4 years down the line, they're still going strong. When the time comes to replace them, I know already what they'll be replaced with...if Mammut still make the Base jump in 6 years time!

In a way that some cannot, the The Big Pad bridges the gap between pure ground coverage, and maneuverability. With the hybrid hinge, it allows it to be folded in half and then strapped tightly to reduce space. It offers a massive amount of cushion, and doubles as a mattress as well ;) . It is very comfortable while hiking about, due to the well placed shoulder straps, as well as a hip belt for further stability.

The essence of bouldering lies in the avoidance of encumbering gear. Climbing light, using technical moves, in fairly compact terrain calls for a method of protecting oneself from the smaller boulders lying around the ones worth climbing. The Organic Simple Crash Pad has been the perfect tool for said task. With straps to secure it tightly, personal items can even be stashed within while hiking from face to face. Durable, it withstands harsh falls even while laying on top of the rough granite of Elephant Rock. It is very light with practical straps to be lugged around on the back, making it ideal for packing into the trunk of even a smaller car on a day trip. Also with a very customer friendly down to earth company producing it, it feels good to support. Intent on their top of the line foam, it is a product that time and time again will keep you fresh for the next climb without injury. An added perk is how customizable the colors can be, to suit your own person, and discern between yours and a friends.

When I started climbing about four months ago, I found myself looking for my own pair of shoes soon after. Overwhelmed by my inexperience and the amount of options, I went to the local R.E.I. to begin the search. After trying on quite a few pairs I ended up sticking with the Coyote Lace Ups for their comfort, and solid stickiness. Although they are not the most precise pair on the market, they certainly have worked in both indoor and outdoor climbing for durability and comfortability. As a beginner, they have allowed me to progress from a novice to climbing intermediate to advanced V2/V3 climbing with no noticeable falling outs. I have noticed that when slab climbing I have a hard time keeping the tip of the toes firmly planted in smaller holds. Also, beware the stretching leather, and the red dye that will stain the feet

I managed to pick up a pair of these from V12 in Llanberis, and at the time, they were the last pair in Snowdonia! I've also been lead to believe there is only 80 pairs in the UK! However, if you've not already got some, I'd advise you to wait because these blow most other crampons that I've looked at and tried out of the water!

Their main advantage over other crampons is the amount of modularity they offer. At the moment, mine are set up as monopoints without anti-balling plates, for dry tooling, but in about 5 minutes I could set them up as dual points with anti-balling plates for Winter mountaineering! They also offer to ability to use a front bail for shoes with toe welts, or remove the bail for those without.

Although not as lightweight as the Darts, they climb just as well and the ability to add and remove anti-balling plates and to swap the front points far outweighs the weight benefits of the Dart.

I would recommend these crampons to everyone, they are the best on the market at the moment in my opinion and I would certainly buy them again. The only thing for me, is the high price, but I do believe they are worth every penny!

Rucksacks are one of those odd items that you can try on as much as you like in the store, but until you're half way round an epic 3 day winter trek, you don't really feel the pros and cons of its comfort.
Also, because they're quite a personal fit, I'm careful not to tell you that it'll be good for you...you might find it the least comfortable pack you've ever worn. However, I'll rave about its design and its features!

One of the problems with a lot of sacks, in my mind, is that they either have too much clutter on the outside, or not enough racking space on the outside, however, deuter seem to have overcome this.

The pack has discreet, close couplings for Ice Axes, not really protruding from the pack, and so minimizing the chances of the catching on rock routes, or when hauling it up behind you. The loops down the front are, again, close in to the pack so as not to be problematic, and allow for the adjustment of the quick and easy ice axe upper strap (velcro)
On the sides are straps that fit your skis, walking poles, or whatever else you want to put in them.
The pack features a full length zip, a wonderful feature which allows you access to all the bags contents without unpacking, and has a readily adjustable lid with extra storage space, and expandable internal storage by releasing the compression straps.

So, all brilliant features, making it a brilliant pack! any you know what...it's damned comfortable too ;)

The karabiner isn't out until July 2012, however they were shown and demo'd at the Outdoor show this year so I thought I post up my first impressions about the karabiner based on holding it and playing around with it for a little while just to give people an idea of what it's all about! The Rocklock is one of 2 karabiners to feature this technology (the gridlock being the other).

Walking into the show on the first day a giant poster informed me that Black Diamond were showing their new Magnetron karabiners; definitely worth a look! The Magnetron system is currently in 2 different karabiners; the grid lock and the rock lock. The concept is simple; 2 small magnets hold the gate closes in the same was the screw does on a screw gate. When the user squeezes the green pressure points on the gate the karabiner can then be opened. Simple concept, very easy to use, and very innovative. Really liked the karabiners, they felt very solid and the Magnetron system was very easy to use! 10/10 for something new!

£550.....no matter what I think of this jacket the price tag will remain in my head....£550.

Ignoring the fact that I would never buy this jacket for the ridiculous amount of money they are charging for it, below are my first impressions of the worlds most expensive hard shell jacket....

Material: Proshell gortex gives this jacket plenty of waterproofing, waterproof zips throughout make sure that no water will seep in. A removable snow skirt means that the jacket can be customised to your specific trip.

Cut and function: the jacket features a number of articulated sleeves and specific cuts and lengths to mean that you get great freedom of movement when wearing it. The sizing is off, if you are L you will need XL in this jacket, unless you prefer your hard shell in a tight fit (not sure why you would though?). The hood is very adjustable making it easy to wear it over a helmet or not.

Anything else cool?: Not really.

Overall; Mammut are having a laugh with this jacket, I mean I thought the Gipfelgrat was expensive at nearly £400 but this jacket is £550, that is more expensive that Arcteryx, Mountain Equipment or any other brand, the worst thing is that there is nothing (in my opinion that sets this jacket apart from the other high end hard shells out there. The jacket is distinctly uninspiring, the colour scheme is cool yes, the jacket is well built yes, but the price tag is bordering on hillarious, I mean you could buy 2 mountain equipment Kongurs for that price, and still have change? C'mon Mammut......what are you playing at???

After the OutDoor show 2011 I was keen to get one of these to test. Thanks to my friends at the Outdoors Company I was able to get one of these for a few weeks to test.

The version I got was the GC (geocache) version, however I am going to ignore the geocaching functionality of this unit as it is not something that interests me in a GPS, but I will add that if you are into geocaching (I'm not) there are a lot of features on this GPS that you will enjoy!

Right so the unit; it's well built, and substantial feeling when you hold it. The loop on the bottom I mentioned in my first impression review below, but it is a very useful feature, and I immediately added a cord lanyard onto it to make sure I didn't lose it. But I really like the feel of the unit.

When you switch it on you are met by a nice looking menu screen that, (in contrast to the etrex 10) is in full colour. The unit is easy to understand, I like to gauge ease of use based on what I can pick up instantly without having to consult the manual, and in this case I was able to pick up everything I wanted from the set without needing the manual at all.

The unit acquired a fix quickly, and maintained this fix both in dense wooded areas and also inside buildings which is unusual for a GPS.

However when looking at this unit I had to compare it to the eTrex 10 that I was testing at the same time. The eTrex 10 uses both GLONASS and GPS - something that the Magellan does not do. Because of this the eTrex is quicker to get a fix, and maintains the fix to a higher accuracy for longer than the Magellan. Aside from this both units function in the same way, accept that the Magellan has a colour screen and the eTrex is monochrome.

To get back to the Magellan, I like it, it's a nice GPS unit and definitely worth considering if you are looking for a basic GPS that doesn't have OS mapping. The eTrex 10 is also worth looking at, but the Magellan has a few features including the geocaching functionality for which it was designed that might make it better than the eTrex 10.

GPS technology has rapidly increased over the last 2 years, with the introduction of more and more phones that feature GPS, the outdoor industry has seen massive strides taken in the outdoor GPS handset category. Memory Map have always been at the forefront of electronic mapping, with their software arguably being the most popular and most advanced out there. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that they have ventured into the GPS handset market and produced their own range of handsets that not only integrate with existing maps but also come pre-loaded with 1:50k maps. In this category it is certainly up against some tough competition with units like the Garmin eTrex 30, Dakota and Montana, Satmap Active 10, and other high end sets. So how does the Adventurer 2800 compare?

First things first, straight out of the box this unit feels great. It's solid feeling - the kind of unit you want to take out into the mountains with you. It's also very light (135g with battery), so the unit isn't a huge amount of extra weight to carry. Switching the unit on reveals the vibrant high resolution screen. It displays the maps with beautiful clarity, if you look at other units available it's easy to see why the Adventurer really dwarfs the competition. Below are the stats compared to a couple of other units:

Adventurer: 96,000 pixels, (400 x 240)
Garmin Dakota: 38,400 pixels (240 x 160)
Satmap Active 10: 76,800 (320 x 240)

Looking at the above you can clearly the see the adventurer boasts a far superior screen, and it really does show when looking at maps especially zoomed in. So far so good!

Onto the technical side of things, the adventurer comes with a couple of options for maps, you can buy the unit with either 1:50k national parks or 1:50k entire UK (for a small price difference). In addition to this if you own memory map and have your own maps you can add them on as well on the MicroSD (various sizes available) expansion card. For me this meant I could have 1:25k detail as well, which is a real bonus. The maps are really clear and detailed and show all the data on a 1:25k map not just vector mapping details that are found on some mapping systems. The GPS antennae is very powerful, gaining a fix quickly and efficiently. It maintains this fix even in thickly wooded areas, and inside. I compared the speed of the fix against my Garmin eTrex 10, and the eTrex was faster, however not by much, and considering the Adventurer is able to acquire the fix and place your position on a 1:25k map, it's worth waiting the extra minute!

The touchscreen is easy to use, but does require a bit more effort if wearing gloves, this could be an issue in colder conditions, however you can buy "e-tip" gloves (various shops and brands that mean operation even with gloves on is easy.

Overall I love this unit, it's great value, it's easy to use, its powerful and quick to get a fix, and worth the money bigtime especially if you have Memory Map already and want to use existing map

And for my 150th review :)....

I bought my Kongur MRT jacket 2 years ago to replace my Millet K jacket as my primary hard shell jacket. I recently managed to aqquire a pair of the matching salopettes to test...

The salopettes are built in the same way as the jacket - tough! The proshell gortex is reinforced in a number of different places to add durability and comfort. The knees, backside and ankles are all reinforced to add extra protection when climbing or moving through rocky areas that could rip or tear. The storm flap on the front adds an extra layer of protection to prevent water intruding on your dryness.

Worth mentioning that you may need to get a size above normal, I'm normally XL and needed XXL in these, definitley try them on first!

Another neat feature of these salopettes is the 3m reflective detailing which echoes that of the jacket. It looks good and really does make a difference in low visibility. The salopettes feature internal gaiters which are useful to keep the snow out (even over a normal gaiter), and they also have full length zips to help get them on over the top of boots. The braces keep the salopettes in position, even when moving around a lot over the day. A pull aside system makes answering the call of nature an easy matter even when fully dressed!

The negative thing about these salopettes is the price, at an eye watering £290 they are the top TOP end of pricing for waterproof trousers, and whilst they are excellent, I'm not sure £290 represents a fair price!

I always use Tech Wash when cleaning my technical garments, afterwards they always seem to have renewed waterproofing, with the water beading on the top rather than being absorbed into it! It's not cheap but you can wash several garments at once, and you do get plenty of washes out of a bottle. Really effective product!

I have 2 pairs of these and have used them extensively all over the place! They are a great sock on their own, what I particularly like is the fact that they come quite high up the calf. This means should your foot plunge into a dreaded Kinder Scout peat bog over the ankle, your foot will avoid the “over the boot” misery many of us have experienced, and keep your foot dry! I tend to wear these with a second pair of socks underneath, this keeps my foot comfortable, dry and warm, whilst protecting against blisters. Again they have a bit of a rustle due to the waterproofing, however they are great socks and really do what they say on the tin with regards to waterproofing so can’t complain about a bit of noise when putting them on!

So overall what would I say about Sealskinz? Great products, and they keep you dry. Certainly at £20 per pair the socks are not cheap, but they are an ideal piece of kit to keep feet dry on those naff days on the hill and certainly worth investing in! The gloves at £25 are excellent, and better/cheaper than other gloves out there that claim to do the same thing.

This has been a faithful companion of mine for a number of years now, and has accompanied me all over the place. It is comfortable, waterproof, and cozy. It also comes in tactical olive green for military use. The hat itself does tend to rustle a little bit, I imagine this is due to the waterproof layer including in the hat. I have never liked wearing a hat on the hill, but this one is ideal for me, keeps my head dry and warm all day!

The first piece of kit we will look at are the Sealskinz Ultra grip glove (approx £25). These gloves appealed to me as they were a close fitting, waterproof glove. Useful for maintaining dexterity, whilst remaining warm when wet. I have used these now in Scottish and Welsh winter, high altitude climbing in Morocco, glacier work in Iceland, climbing gritstone HS 4b at Windgather, and many more trips, and can honestly say these bad boys live up to their reputation. They are comfortable and warm, but close fitting enough that tying knots, boot laces and other tasks is simple and doesn’t require them to be taken off. They are also thin enough that they can be worn under a larger pair too. As for the waterproofing on the gloves, you can test this for yourself, stick a small bit of tissue paper in the glove, submerge your hand in a sink full of water, then check the tissue. For me this test left a piece of bone dry tissue!

Memory Map has been a stable part of the outdoors for me for a long time. The fact is I have always enjoyed being able to plan my route before a trip, and review it after. With Memory Map you can do just that; in addition to printing off maps, drawing on routes, making calculations about distances, heights, timings etc. All in all its a useful piece of software for just about everything to do with planning a trip. The maps are available in 1:25 and 1:50, as well as aerial shots.

Memory Map also features a 3D view which, as well as being a great planning aid, can be an amazing education tool for young people first learning about OS maps, no more drawing contours on your knuckles! The system can also link up with GPS set and download waypoints from your planned route into your GPS set, useful for keeping yourself on route during the day.

Price; this is the main issue with Memory Map. It is not cheap, this is perhaps an understatement, if you want a 1:50k CD of all the national parks, you are looking at around £30 - a good price to get all of the UK national parks in 1:50 scale mapping....however if you want 1:25k of a single area for example Snowdonia, this will set you back £100. So for a £100 an area, Memory Map is very expensive indeed. Something to bare in mind...

Overall it really is great software, but at the price they charge it really is just a little bit too much

Rockfax guidebooks are brilliant, whilst some prefer the old sketched, vague and traditional guidebooks, I prefer a modernised approach, and Rockfax is nothing if not modern. The high quality topo's indicate routes and grades in an easy to understand way, while the descriptions explain the route clearly and concisely.

Northern Limestone covers a huge area of crags, including the Peak District where I climb most, it has maps to the crags, along with top routes, tick boxes to indicate routes you have done, along with other all sorted information, making this an excellent guidebook for a beautiful place to climb.

The phantom is an extremely light screw (or snap) gate karabiner. The karabiner is very lightweight, yet very strong, because of this they are ideal for belays or alpine use where weight is an issue.

The size of this karabiner can be its not ideal for much else, the gate opening isn't massive meaning it's not the karabiner of choice for belay plates and the size can make them a little bit fiddly.

Overall, very small, but the lightweight nature of this karabiner makes it useful for belays.

The phantom is an extremely light snap (or screw) gate karabiner. The size and multi colour options of this karabiner make it ideal for racking cams. The colour allows easy identification of the cam size you want, even muddled amongst other gear on your harness, the lightness of the karabiner mean you are not encumbering yourself anymore than need be, and the smooth action with rope groove make it ideal for clipping the rope.

The phantom is made using I beam construction meaning it is as light as possible, whilst remaining strong, the phantom can also be bought in multi coloured packs of 5 at a discount meaning the cost involved with decking out your cams is reduced. Speaking of cost, they can be quite pricey...look around for offers.

Overall a great little lightweight biner ideal for racking cams (or anything else).

The boa is a brilliant karabiner, it's well build, has a smooth locking action, is available with different locking options and (most importantly) it's massive! The size of this karabiner has come in handy many times in my climbing life, and I currently have 3 of them on my rack. They are ideal for any number of things, but for building belays the size of them makes the karabiner invaluable.

The current boa features an I beam construction which is lighter than the previous boa, but still provides that reassuring strength you get with DMM kit. Both the current version and the previous boa, and both strong and reliable pieces of kit, and anyone who doesn't have one on their rack should really think about investing, they can be picked up at good prices in sales UK (and world) wide, so get yourself a boa, you will not be disapointed!

....it would be my Gerber. The suspension is head and shoulders above other multi-tools in my opinion, it's lightweight, strong, and most importantly very well priced (can be picked up for as little as £25!).

The knife comes with a collection of blades all of which lock into place with a simple locking system, to unlock simple push the small switch down whilst closing the blade. This is particularly appealing to me, since when I was younger I closed a penknife on my finger by accident....

The needle nose pliers are useful for just about everything; from bending pegs back into shape, to helping build electric circuits. The tool also comes with a durable pouch which can be belt mounted vertically or horizontally to suit your personal preference.

The unfolding action is smooth and easy, the blades are all super tough and can take a real pounding, and overall this is a great piece of kit at a very reasonable price!

Luck shined on me in the recent round of UKClimbing.com competitions and I won a £75 Soto stove - a good early Christmas present! The stove was couriered over to me and arrived on the 22nd December.

The Soto Micro Regulator stove comes highly recommended from a number of companies, websites and bloggers, so I was happy to get my hands on one for free!

So what is so special about it? Well the Micro Regulator Stove (here on MRS) is designed to provide a constant output regardless of the internal pressure of the fuel. What this means is that the stove will provide a constant output in the cold (or hot), making it ideal for alpine climbing or expeditions. Sounding good so far huh? At 73g the stove is very light indeed, and comes with a small duffle bag to carry it in. The stove uses

standard screw fix gas canisters, which come in various sizes allowing you to carry as little as you need. On to the stove itself; the arms of the stove fold away to make it slim for storage, I found these a little fiddly initially and they could come undone, however I would put this more down me not being used to it as I don't have these problems any more. The MRS has a stealth igniter making it easy to light. The output is controlled by the small adjuster (also folds away) on the side. It is a very powerful little stove, quickly and efficiently boiling water, ensuring that making brews and boil in the bag meals is a simple and quick affair. At £75 the MRS is not cheap, but so far I have been very impressed with, and the ability of the stove to perform at a consistent level regardless of temperature is something that interests me a great deal.

...but overall, great stove, little on the expensive side, but worth it if you want an uber lightweight, consistent and powerful stove that won't let you down!

"Out with the old in with the new". When I saw Garmin's new range of GPS sets at the OutDoor show, I was in 2 minds; happy that Garmin were looking to improve on the already excellent eTrex systems, but worried that nothing could measure up in terms of simplicity, value and function. However from what I saw at the show I was impressed enough to get one.

At around £100 the etrex is cheaper than it's Magellan equivalent, and with a similar level of functionality. The box comes with a USB cable, and manual in the box, along with the unit. First things first, the unit is light, and comfortable to hold, the buttons on the sides are simple and labelled, the small joystick on the front is a new addition from the old etrex. The unit feels rugged, solid feel, rubberised sides, just the kind of feel you want in an outdoor unit. The batteries are easily inserted by means of a small D ring on the rear of the unit, rotating it pops the battery compartment open. 2 AA batteries later the unit was on, and acquiring satellites.


The unit acquired a 4m fix very quickly, and after a couple of minutes updated this to a 2m fix. On the previous etrex I always found it seemed to take an eternity to get a fix from cold, but with this unit it was quick and efficient. The menu system is simple and easy to navigate, the buttons on the side can be used to scroll up and down if needed, however the joystick on the front can be used to scroll through the menu, and by pressing it you can select the highlighted option. There are a number of options that I personally won't use, fishing, moon and sun etc. However after 5minutes I had the unit configured to British National Grid, the datum's are selected automatically which is useful if you are new to GPS sets. The Map screen is initially blank and only begins to be useful when you are moving, as you move your track is recorded, you can then add waypoints along the route, zoom in or out with the side keys, or move around with the joystick.


In addition the unit has a backlight, which is activated by holding the power button, a pack including a case and belt clip can also be purchased for those who are looking for a more stylish way to carry the unit. The etrex 10 is completely waterproof and dustproof to IPX7 standards.

One new feature of the etrex 10,20 and 30, is that it boasts the fact that it is the only GPS set on the market that can connect to GLONASS and GPS at the same time, decreasing the time it takes to get a fix. For those who don't know, GLONASS is the Russian Federations answer to GPS, which will provide a collection of satellites that can be used by the Russians in a time of war (when GPS is restricted to US use only). Garmin states that by using both systems simultaneously the speed of a fix is increased by 20%.


The only down side about this unit is that it is not capable of accepting expansion maps, however this is not something I care about - if I did I would have bought the etrex 20 or 30

As with every DMM product, these are built supremely well and feel amazing. When placed correctly they feel secure and strong, the shape fits a wide vairety of crack sizes. They are perfect for winter and summer climbing and are light enough to be used in an alpine climbing rack.

Superb job on these.

Having large feet, I have trouble finding confortable rock shoes that fit me. My last pair of shoes, I couldnt have on for more than one climb before taking them off. Whereas these, I found for £20 in a reduced basket, are the most comfy rock shoes ever! I can wear socks inside!!

Whilst they may not be the most technical shoes on the market, for the grades I climb they are perfect for all day multi-pitching. I would not leave home without these in my rucksack, I have 2 other pairs of shoes and these win every time for comfort.

This is a lightweight insulated belay jacket, it can compact down very small in a dry bag or stuff sack and will keet you warm even in the nastiest of storms. I have used this in the alps and in scotland and it has worked perfectly each time. It now comes in a stylish array of colours and is just at home at the apres-ski as it is on the mountain.

The hood will accept a helmet and you can cacoon yourself in it when the weather closes in. The Primaloft insulation will keep you warm even when wet. Superb quality as ever by mountain equipment and i will use mine as long as it stands up to my abuse.

As with every DMM product that comes out of their Llanberis factory, quality is key. The bulldog feel great and looks beefy, so when you're looking for something to protect you on loose ground or frozen turf, look no further. The DMM bulldog, when put in securely, feels solid. Having just climbed Mam Tor Gully in the Peak District, the bulldog featured on each pitch and I was glad of it as even the pitons were sketchy.

Great product.

I bought these shoes about a year ago and wore them extensively all year for walk ins, scrambling, climbing and just general wear. But signs of wear and tear started to appear after around 6 months! Dont get me wrong, I like these shoes.....but for around £100, you'd have thought that 5.10 would make them a little more robust. But you cant have anything.

I replaced them with a pair of 5.10 guide tennie shoes, and I feel I should have got another pair of Camp Fours. I cannot climb nearly as well in them as the rubber is thinner and therefore slightly harder. The advantage of the think soles on the Camp Fours is that the rubber moulds onto the features of the rock well.

The dragon is DMM's latest cam, having been a fan of the 4cu and 3cu for a while now, I definitely considered the dragon's worth a look.

The build quality of the dragon cam is truly excellent, it feels solid and well built, it's the kind of thing you want to be putting into the rock to keep you safe, in the past I've felt some cam's can feel a bit flimsy, but not the dragon cam.

They are very lightweight, and whilst comparable to the BD camelot, or WC helium, I believe far superior in terms of the smooth action and annodising for recognition. There are 8 sizes which cover a large range of sizes, and an extendable sling makes them easy to place to reduce friction.

Overall, solid, well built, and smooth, make these the kind of protection that give me confidence when I am climbing.

An excellent approach shoe, the rubber on the soles is high quality, and good enough to be used for low grade climbs. The shoe has a heel cage at the back that provides great support when walking in with a large pack. The shoe is comfortable and well fitted, I had to go half a size smaller than I would usually have in a shoe (I had 10.5 and I'm usually 11), so definitely worth trying these on rather than buying them online. The shoe also looks great, I know aesthetics isn't necessarily something all climbers look for in their gear, but damn! these look good!

On the down side they are rather expensive, and having been around a couple of years now, they just haven't come down in price at all!

The bearings are great, they stay crisp and efficient even after rolling for miles. I have used these for ziplines and work well to distribute weight across the line. They roll well and are fairly durable. My only complaint is that the clip in point does not hold up to abuse as well as I would like/expect it to as it has shown a fair amount of wear after a moderate amount of use.

This sling is super light, it has minimal bulk, it is extremely supple and is quite versatile. With different lengths it can be used for anchor set ups, extenders and personal anchors. They're colour coded to easily differentiate lengths from the other. They also stand up to abuse well, I've had a number on my rack for several years and besides becoming a bit dirty they're barely fuzzy.

These cams are a must for soft sandstone as they have double the surface area of most other units on the market, this extended surface area helps spread out the force exerted on the rock during a fall and thus helping prevent the unit from pulling out. The ranges on these unit is similar to WC friends and compliments BD Camalots perfectly. They have a smooth action. The range finder however, in my opinion is off and that experience is a better indicator of whether a unit is under or over cammed.

As the title says in the smaller sizes I prefer the larger camming units as they are easier to place, can be walked and are more quickly removed. However from the green size and up (larger than #6 BD camalot) are the only protection usually available for squeeze chimneys and other wideness. Furthermore, these can only be used in perfectly parallel cracks. They also take some finesse to place but once placed they are completely bomber and wont walk.

This product is better in smaller sizes as with the larger the stem tends to bend when the unit is being cammed. The extendable sling is nice for reducing drag as well as providing a variety of lengths to clip in to if aiding or at an anchor. The heads are quite narrow but also provide ample surface area which can be nice in softer rock, pockets etc.

Does what it needs to do and more. It helps loosen up dirt and grit clogging up your friends as well as providing lube, however it is crucial to wipe away any excess after use as it could attract more dirt and worsen your problem. Boiling cam lobes is also some times necessary when lubing, this is not an end all be all but certainly is a step in the right direction.

Petzl has had this product on the market for years with few if any changes and for good reason. It does everything well, it's compact, durable, simple and as efficient as the user. Perfect for back country areas where one may not want to walk in a full Bosch or Hilti electric drills but for individuals that may want anchors or lots of upper body training. It packs down well as it will accept the bit through the hand guard and wrist strap to keep it from poking holes in your pack.

I have had these more-or-less since they were released, and quite simply, I LOVE them...so why have I changed to a new pair of boots?

These boots are light, sexy, comfortable, nimble, but they let me down in a couple of areas.
Firstly, they weren't as warm as I'd expected, and it might just be me with poor circulation, but I really did get quite cold standing still at belays.
and secondly, was the build quality. Yes, they had a hard life, and the gaiters are ripped to shreads by my poor crampon technique, but when the rubber rand at the toe started to seperate it upset me! and then, one tooth of the zip broke off, in the fold created in front of the ankle as I walk, which was a massive dissapointment :(
Finally...why didn't they use the T-Zip, like Scarpa's Phantom Lights? They rectified this on the Batura Evo, but still, it's a shame they made such an oversight.

I still love them, and I mourn their injuries, and their fall into dis-use...but they've been superseded by the Spantiks for me.

There really isn't much to say, so I'll stick to the facts:

They're Simple, but effective
They're Strong (some of, if not THE strongest on the market)
They're colour coded for quick identification
in a set, they're excellent value!
They offer an excellent range of sizes

not much more to say sorry, they're just really nice to have on the rack, they fit cracks as well as any of the competitors, they're quick and easy to use...they're just Nuts really!

Ok, so it's not as fancy as some of the competition (DMM Dragon Cams), but, once you get over your narcasistic 'sexy-gear' fetish, and start to look at functionality, I think you're going to quickly come around to find yourself interested in some of Kong's offerings.

Single Stem, Single Axle, spacious thumb loop (thats a +point over the affore mentioned competition), captive extendable sling, anodised in different colours for different sizes...what more do you need? nothing? well, thankfully, once Kong had completed the tick list of essential attributes, they kept going, and threw in Light Weight along with a beautifully smooth action, all together equalling one of the nicest single stem cams on the market!

Whilst their availability is still limited in the UK, it has been confirmed that it's going to get better throughout next year, so keep your eyes peeled for these

It's hard to try and think of what to write about these pants. I wear them for everything, from walking, to trad climbing, to sport climbing, winter climbing and bouldering. They are my 'outdoorsy' pants and they do a brilliant job!

When I first picked up a pair of these pants, I'd read about them and been told they were good, but I was unsure. They felt lightweight and I liked the fleece lining, but I couldn't believe they would be windproof and waterproof to a certain extent. I was wrong, I've not once felt the wind through these pants, and I've only ever been wet during the worst rain I've ever experienced, every other time these pants have got wet, I've remained dry! They are exceptionally comfortable and they don't inhibit movement at all, which is why I wear them when I climb, even bouldering inside!

They can get a little warm sometimes, but generally for a UK climate, they are brilliant.

I've got no problems with these pants and I would recommend them to anybody, without any hesitation! When I get some more money together, I will be buying the Vapour-rise stretch jacket too!

Not much to say about the Boa. It's a brilliant HMS, it does a great job. It's perfectly sized for lots of clove hitches and so, it's brilliant for building anchors.

It's a lot lighter than previous versions, due to DMM's new i beam construction techniques, which is a bonus for climbers because it means your rack is slightly lighter.

These are the only HMS's I have on my rack!

I bought this rucksack for use when multipitching, and leading hard mixed climbs. I've not been disappointed! The fit is great, as it sits high on your back, above a harness, so you can access climbing gear on your gear loops easily. The straps are also comfy, although I wouldn't like to carry a really heavy load in it, because the straps are also quite thin, to save weight.

On the subject of weight, I'm amazed how light the bag is, considering it's decent size. I barely realise I'm wearing it, which is nice because it doesn't effect your balance when climbing.

The Granite is made of a very durable material, and I've used it in a few chimneys and hauled it up a few multipitches and it's hardly even scuffed!

The guide book pocket is very useful, as is the internal compartment for storing a hydration bladder. The zip's are easy to use with gloves on, and reasonably waterproof, although not completely!

Overall, the granite is a fantastic bag, its cheap and perfect for multipitching and hard winter climbing, where you may want to carry a belay jacket! However, it could be a bit more waterproof, and I would like the addition of gear straps on the straps, which I believe would be very useful on this bag! The only other problem I would like to point out, is how the rucksack isn't very breathable on your back, I tend to sweat quite a bit when I wear it (walking, not climbing).

Hope this review helps, If you're considering buying this bag, I'd definitely recommend it!

I had to add this jacket, because it deserves reviewing!

I am blown away by the performance of the Zion, I bought it at the Kendal Film Festival, because it was reduced to £150 and I am so glad I did. Obviously, it retails at about £300, but it is unlike any jacket I have ever used before.

The wind resistance and water resistance is as good as my £300 Mountain Equipment hardshell, yet it is so much more breathable, I've not sweated noticeably in the Zion since I've started wearing it.

The fit is perfect, and the neoshell material stretches anyway so even when rock or ice climbing, the jacket fits perfectly.

Another great feature it the large, fleece lined, hood. It fits over my Petzl Meteor III, but can also be pulled nice and tight to give a similar fit to that of a balaclava.

I could go on all day, but to sum up, this jacket is brilliant, I've not found one problem, not even little annoying ones. I would highly recommend the Zion to everybody, and I truly believe it is worth the £300 price tag, especially when you consider that it outperforms hardshells, which usually cost £250-£350! An excellent softshell which everybody should have the opportunity to try out!

I bought this rucksack last year on offer in a small shop in Clapham, Peak District. It's a prefect size for a days walking or climbing, and I tend to use it as my main rucksack. It's nice and lightweight, and very comfortable. The buckles are an excellent innovation, you can open them easily with gloves on. Overall the rucksack is very good, it's cheap and does an excellent job, however I do have a few problems.

The bottom of my rucksack has started to look a bit thin, and I think it will rip through eventually. Also, there is no rain cover, which can be a bit problematic, but only if you don't pack your gear in a waterproof liner, which I now do regularly!

Apart from these two drawbacks, the rucksack is great and I'd buy it again without hesitation!

I bought the Jokes as my first ever half ropes, and was attracted by the idea that they can be used as single ropes too!

I wouldn't like to use them as singles when sport climbing, because I think they'd get destroyed very quickly with constant redpointing etc. However on trad routes, it's great to be able to just use one rope if the route requires it, but being able to use them both as doubles if I want to.

They handle very well, however they were very slippy at first. The dry treatment on mine is excellent and has stood up to heavy rain whilst multipitching very well!

The only downside is that they are still quite heavy, I think that I should have looked at lighter alternatives, especially considering I want to use these ropes when Winter climbing. However, the added versatility from these ropes is useful!

I'd definitely recommend them anyway, they're miles better than any doubles I've used in the past!

I just want to write a short review for these. At first, they were perfect, fitted brilliantly and helped me climb V8 slabs no problem! However, after out 9 months, with 4 months of heavy use (3 times per week) and the rest light use (1 time a week), the sole on the shoe has started to develop a small hole and lose it's grip rapidly!

Considering how highly priced these shoes are now, I'm a bit annoyed that I will need to buy a new pair!!

However, they are brilliant shoes, they edge excellently, the heal has been improved radically since the pink anasazi's, and the friction, when new, is unparalleled due to the excellent stealth rubber which 5.10 use.

I will be buying a new pair of these, despite my current pair developing a hole! I'd recommend them to anyone who doesn't spend all their time climbing roofs, for anything from slabs to 30 degrees overhanging, they are excellent!

This harness is excellent. I bought it because I was looking for a harness which would be good for all round use, with a bit of sport climbing, mostly trad and winter climbing, and the ability to be used in the alps. The DMM Renegade is excellent for all types of climbing, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to others!

The main thing which attracted me to the harness was the way the waist belt can be slid around, so the gear loops are in the perfect position, this enables you to reach gear more easily when climbing. I also liked the way this harness comes with 7 gear loops (My previous harness had 4!). I've never had any problems carrying a complete Winter rack, and I've also found the harness very comfortable when carrying heavy loads.

I can literally not come up with any bad points for the Renegade, the only thing I would include would be a dedicated haul loop, although I don't think the Renegade is aimed at aid climbers anyway. Also, the attachment points for ice screw krabs could be a bit looser, but I'm just searching for bad things now, this harness is perfect!

The Petzl Meteor is the best lightweight helmet around.

I never used to wear helmets personally, I did own a Petzl Elios, but it looked stupid, was uncomfortable and heavy!! I decided to buy a Meteor because of how light it was and how good the ventilation looked. I was not wrong!

This helmet is so light, you forget that you're wearing it! I've never felt hot or uncomfortable with it on, and for that reason, any climber who objects to helmets because they are uncomfortable, I would urge them to try the Meteor, because it's the opposite of what most people think when they think about helmets!

The chinstrap is brilliant, it can be easily adjusted with gloves on, and also the click system which you adjust at the back of the helmet depending on the circumference on your head is much better than any other adjustment i've used on a helmet before, ensuring the fit is perfect!

Also, helmets look cool nowadays! ;-)

The only downside is the high price, however I think it's a small price to pay for:

a) Saving your life
and
b) Keeping you comfortable whilst protecting you!

Superb... The only word I can use to describe this amazing piece of equipment.

I bought mine off UKClimbing.com for £80. I've worm it a few times as my outer layer and each time, I've been amazed at how good it is!

It's a bit of a fashion item for some people, I think I counted about 25 in one night at the Kendal Film Festival, but out in the mountains, this is the best piece of equipment I've ever bought!

Firstly, it's amazingly lightweight and it packs up into something not much bigger than the size of a small first aid kit. This makes it an ideal thing to carry up a multipitch, as it can be thrown on when belaying, or climbing.

It is pretty much 100% windproof, I've had it on over a base layer in 90mph winds and not felt the effect of the wind through it. It's amazingly waterproof and would survive in most showers in the UK! Then in terms of warmth, it's perfect, never letting me get too hot or too cold!

The only downside for me is the lack of breathability. I sweat quite a bit whilst wearing this, but at least the sweat doesn't cause the Nano Puff to lose it's insulation qualities! This pullover version would also benefit from having a hood (I'm not sure if they sell pullover hooded versions?).

Other than those two negatives, the Nano Puff is perfect and I would urge every climber to own one!!

The ME Fitzroy is a perfect belay jacket for Scottish Winter, and even useful on cooler Summer multipitches.

It is relatively lightweight and easy to pack into the small, supplied stuffsack. For the weight, the jacket is pretty warm, even more so when used over your hardshell and midlayer when acting as a booster layer whilst belaying. The jacket offers a good amount of protection from rain and is excellent in strong winds. It has a superb hood which fits over most helmets and large pockets, perfect for chocolates, maps, phone, GPS etc. The zips on the jacket are excellent and easily done up or undone with gloves or mitts on. This jacket can also be picked up for just over £100. For me, it's a lot better value than an equivalent down jacket, which would become useless in the rain anyway!

The only downside to this jacket is that it may lack the warmth for some people in the most extreme conditions, although I've never had any problems at all with this!

It's hard to think of reasons why the Dragon is not the best cam available at the moment. It's easier for me to start this review in a positive way.

The Dragon's holding power is immense, I've fallen onto them on a few occasions, and only ever ripped one out due to me placing it badly! So in terms of holding power, they're pretty much unsurpassable. Also, they are lightweight, not as light as the Helium Friends, but they're not exactly heavy!

The range on them is excellent due to their camming angle. This means that although they're not the lightest on the market, you would need less cams to cover the same ranger, therefore saving weight. This is especially important in Winter Climbing/Alpinism where weight saving is important!

Another bonus is that these cams are anodised, meaning it is possible to quickly select the right sized cam when climbing. (Although this is now the trend for all the newest cams on the market from the major manufacturers) These cams also have one of the smoothest actions I've ever felt in a cam. Despite this not influencing their performance, it's important because you don't want to be fighting with a sticky trigger when you're miles above your last gear!

Finally, the most important thing for me, and the reason why I chose these cams instead of the C4's is the extendable sling. This greatly reduces the chances of the cam walking and also massively reduces rope drag. It also means you don't need to carry extra quickdraws for extending cams, therefore saving weight!

The only negatives I can find with the Dragons is the price, like all cams now, you can expect to pay a lot of money for a full set! Also the lack of a thumb loop means they're not as useful for aid climbing, and a bit more difficult to place in Winter conditions when wearing gloves. DMM definitely missed a trick when not including a thumb loop, which would have made these cams the best n the market by far! Without, they are about equal in performance to the Black Diamond C4's, however the Dragons have the extendable sling!

Brilliant! simply!

There's a lack of harnesses on the market with two buckles on the waist belt. Now some people would argue that the extra buckle = extra weight, but, when your carrying your winter insulation (I'm a bit chunky!) you want to be able to adjust the waistbelt properly to have the belay loop sitting centrally, and the gear loops equally distributed around your waist...with just one buckle, you can only achieve one of my two desires.

So, I've been looking for a two-buckle-belt harness...and now I've got it, so what do I make of it:

It looks nice (always important), it feels really well made, it has the convenient 'Haul Loop' (most commonly used for attaching your chalk bag!)
From the inside, you can see the expanded mesh waist belt, utilising a similar technology to what ArcTeryx have developed to reduce weight, but increase comfort. Not too heavy, not too much padding...just damn good all around.
A re-enforced rope loop goes some way to increasing the life span of the harness too, which is always nice to know

Cost...well...it's mammut, so it's expensive...but, while I was initally shocked at the 'wrong-side-of-£50' price tag, looking around at the harnesses on the market, it seems that £70 isn't actually extortionate anymore...looks like the days of £30 harnesses have passed. So, concluding the cost review, it's distinctly average: not Brilliant value, but not extortionate either

I'm often quite critical of gear, but this just seems so good, there's hardly anything to criticise! I've fallen in love with this harness, and shall be spending many many hours in it, through rain and shine, summer & winter.