8 Women’s Climbing Essentials of Summer 2012
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5.10 Coyote Canvas
We haven’t found a women’s climbing shoe as comfortable as the 5.10 Coyote Canvas. Credit the gender-specific build (read: a higher arch with lower overall volume in the instep) and the company’s legendary sticky rubber. Velcro straps mean you can air out tired feet on a belay ledge and then cinch down a snugger fit when you need it.
Verve Loleda
With organic cotton, Lycra, and other ingredients sourced from California, Miami, and the Carolinas, and stitched by a crew of grandmas in Boulder, Verve’s flattering and soft Loleda pants are as all-American as it gets. They also stand up to rough walls.
Trango Zenith
Weighing half as much as many helmets on the market and vented in nine places, Trango’s Zenith helmet leaves few excuses for not protecting your skull. Plus, it has a slim profile for easy packability.
Athleta Long Sleeve Twist
Fun, funky, and functional, Athleta’s Long Sleeve Twist top minimizes sweat with a moisture-wicking yet breathable blend of spandex, nylon, and polyester. The top is fitted, but it stretched like a second skin when we were reaching for holds in Wyoming’s Sinks Canyon. And its antibacterial coating nixed odor.
Krieg Chalk Bag
Krieg’s chalk bags have more than just fun prints—they’re also equipped with an easy-to-adjust waist belt, a brush holder, and a small zippered pocket.
Stonewear Designs Dryflex Double Cross
If jug haul has multiple meanings for you, Stonewear Designs’ polyester-and-spandex Dryflex Double Cross top is what you want. A unique double-strap-construction design equals support for girls up to DD, but without compromising any of the range of motion needed for scaling walls.
Black Diamond Siren
Black Diamond Equipment’s Siren harness has two bands of webbing that distribute pressure evenly, so if you fall, you’re better cradled. Speed buckles on the waist belt and leg loops eliminate dangling webbing and the possibility of mis-threading. All of which makes this lightweight harness less prone to user error.
Arc’teryx NoZone
Arc’teryx’s latest iteration of the popular NoZone pack is a streamlined beauty without a single superfluous buckle or strap. Weighing in at 2.2 pounds, the NoZone is made with a combination of two kinds of über-durable yet lightweight, water-resistant Cordura nylon. It comes in three sizes—unless you’re schlepping camping gear too, opt for the 35-liter version.