Climbing Shoes

When climbers traded in their hobnail boots for sticky rubber, the entire universe opened up. This shift could easily be noted as the most important technological advancement in climbing history.

Buying Guide

Chalk Bag

As ubiquitous as rock shoes, chalk bags are not just a method of carrying chalk, but a statement of personal style. They are available in so many colors, fabrics, and textures that it's possible to get virtually any style you wan.

Buying Guide

Chalk

In the mid-1950s gymnasts like soon-to-be prolific boulder-problem-solver John Gill controversially introduced gymnastics chalk to rock climbing. Today the use of chalk in climbing is ubiquitous, though its visual impact on natural cliffs is still a topic of debate.

Buying Guide

Bouldering Pad

Bouldering pads, or crash pads, are pieces of foam covered in fabric intended to increase the safety and comfort of a fall. Usually they have carrying straps similar to a backpack.

Buying Guide

Rope

A good climbing rope is the first thing that is going to take your climbing addiction from a brief, plastic pulling workout into a full on obsession. Picking the right line for your climb is just as crucial as getting a rope in the first place.

Buying Guide

Quickdraw

Whether sport or trad climbing, the quick draw is among the most indispensable and crucial pieces of gear. Select the perfect draw for your style and cherish their awesomeness.

Buying Guide

Harness

Buying a harness can be a daunting task, especially for the new rock climber. There are a wide variety of harnesses on the market and a lot of lingo and jargon to sift through.

Buying Guide

Belay Device

There are three main categories of belay devices: Tubular, Auto-Locking, and auto-blocking.  In the past, belay plates, also known as stitch plates, were commonly used, and many varieties of plate-based devices that offered variable friction existed.

Buying Guide

Carabiner

Carabiners are the most indispensable tool in a climber's arsenal. Used to quickly and safely connect components of a dynamic or static system, the carabiner is worth its weight in gold. Here is a run-down of the common types, shapes, and uses of a carabiner.

Buying Guide

Climbing Pack

Backpacks have become high-tech works of art. From features-strapped load-haulers designed for distance backpacking trips to ultralight shoulder-slingers, the options are myriad and choosing the right one can often feel overwhelming.

Buying Guide

Knife

Grasp a knife and connect instantly to a collective consciousness dating back 2,000,000 years. This most perennial human creation antedates fire and the wheel, yet its essential components remain the same.

Buying Guide

Sunscreen

If you play outdoors and plan to stay outdoors, sunscreen ranks right up there with water and proper attire as a necessity. Basic knowledge about this wondrous protective invention could save you pain and even save your life.

Buying Guide

Climbing Helmet

Your helmet is a really cheap insurance policy compared with, say, a major concussion or traumatic head injury. Most helmets are purpose-built for a specific sport.

Buying Guide

Nutrition

These days there is a variety of products on the market that promise to replace nutrients lost to perspiration and improve athletic performance during strenuous outdoors activities. Most of these products come in small, easily consumable packages.

Buying Guide