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The Tarantulace is one of the best climbing shoes for beginners. “Rather than the sharp-angled toe of most climbing shoes, the Tarantulace has more of a squared silhouette that offers a bit more wiggle room,” contributor Olivia Harlow wrote in her roundup of the best gear for those new…
A climbing staple and one of our favorite pieces of gear in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide, the Petzl GriGri is an excellent addition to anyone’s kit. The latest version of this assisted braking belay device accommodates a wide range of rope widths.
When Drew Hulsey started climbing, he weighed 300 pounds and wondered if the ropes would hold. He found out that they would, and found a community that embraced him. Now he sets an example that inspires others to join him.
The TC Pro is the best shoe for big walls and cracks, hands down. “The toe box is pointier than a lot of trad shoes, so it not only fits into small splitters but also holds onto some overhung features, making it uniquely versatile,” wrote our testers.
The Metolius anchor draw held up surprisingly well in our field testing
It breathes and wicks sweat better than any other midlayer I’ve tested
The company sponsors some of the best athletes in the world, from Emily Harrington to Alex Honnold, all of whom are vying for a slice of the brand’s annual budget to support their expeditions. The process can be as competitive as getting into an Ivy League university—except, if approved, the athletes are often taking on death-defying adventures.
Featuring a harness, belay device, and chalk bag, the Momentum package is a killer value bundle for those looking to start climbing. Our Gear Guy, Joe Jackson, reviewed the included Momentum harness in his roundup of beginner climbing gear.
We have yet to find a better starter climbing kit at this price. Mad Rock’s package has the all the essentials for a session at the climbing gym or crag: an adjustable harness with four gear loops, a chalk ball, chalk bag, Wingman belay device, and a locking carabiner.
These rock rings are a solid budget option for training at home. In our roundup of the best fitness accessories of 2018, we wrote, “These portable climbing holds take [pull-ups] to the next level, turning the standard move into a feat of grip strength.” (20 percent off with the…
There are more climbing-shoe companies out there than ever before
Tools for trying hard on all projects
Alex Honnold and Black Diamond are out to make climbing iconic areas like El Cap and Devils Tower "a little bit more mellow"
Editor Jeremy Rellosa talks about when it's time to replace your climbing rope, quickdraws, harness, climbing shoes, and helmet
The goal: test Decathlon's budget-friendly beginner climbing gear
The Irvis Hybrid is a packable crampon combining durable steel fronts and lightweight aluminum heels. Contributor Chris Brinlee Jr. recommended it after a mountaineering trip to Greenland. The universal binding system makes this crampon compatible with most glacier travel, mountaineering, and ski-touring boots.
This climbing balm is our video producer’s favorite for taking care of her hands. She’s been using this bar for over four years and says: “the balm stays on my hands longer than others I’ve tried and has a thicker consistency, which helps its healing powers but isn’t ideal…
Hint: your first investment should be rock-climbing shoes
We featured the Metolius Bravo Keylock Quickdraw in our roundup of the Best Sport Climbing Gear of 2018. The longer, double layer slings make it easier to clip bolts on those long, pumpy sport routes.
The Cragsmith was our favorite pack for sport climbing in 2018. We especially loved the main compartment’s easy access with a top entry and a U-shaped zipper, which allows you to open up the entire back and see all your equipment. That way, you never have to take everything…
The Mountain shirt has the understated style and technical chops that make you want to wear it day after day. Good thing it has a Polygiene antimicrobial treatment to cut down on stink. There’s a bit of spandex in the polyester-nylon blend for added mobility, and the whole package has…
This is the fancy UPF 45 shirt you wear for the lunch date that might include a long stroll on the beach. The sleek Skyline is made from a breathable polyester that won’t wrinkle (so it’s perfect for travel), it dries fast, and it has a surprising amount of stretch.
O’Neill goes casual with this long-sleeved slim-cut top, which is made from a light polyester with plenty of stretch, so you can wear it all day, whether you’re surfing, fishing, or just sitting in a beach chair. The notable UPF 50+ rating is one of the highest we found in…
The Terminal Deflector offers top-notch protection for long days in the sun, with a hood and a built-in turtleneck-like gaiter. In addition to the UPF 50 rating, the fabric is loaded with metallic dots on the outside that reflect sunlight. And Columbia’s Omni-Freeze treatment, which reacts with your sweat to…
As the name implies, this UPF 40 shirt is built with fishing in mind, but you don’t need to be carrying tackle to appreciate the details. It’s made from a light polyester-nylon blend that’s puckered like seersucker so less material touches your skin. A sunglasses cleaner built into the hem…
ExOfficio blends Tencel, a natural fabric that has a cooling effect on your skin, with cotton to make this supersoft top that wicks well and has a UPF 40 rating. Pop comes courtesy of the Hawaiian-inspired floral print.
In 2018, professional climber Nina Williams mentioned the Ethos Harness as one of her favorite pieces of climbing gear. The Ethos has four gear loops and a breathable mesh lining on the waist and leg straps. Williams also praised the padding: “Something about the cushy waist gives me an…
Black Diamond gave us the lowdown on its brand-new line of approach shoes, which includes two technical and two lifestyle models
Whether you're looking for deals on gear or an inside line on your dream trip, the perfect group is just a click away
The Half Dome is gear editor Jeremy Rellosa’s go-to climbing helmet. The wheel clicker makes it easy to dial in the fit while four large vents dump heat quickly during toasty days at the crag.
Be cautious, but don't let small things scare you away from a deal
Outside's Samantha Yadron tells the story behind how she ended up with two pairs of these convertible pants
We featured this helmet in our nine favorite pieces of peak-bagging gear. Thanks to multiple adjustment straps, you can dial in the Wall Rider to fit your dome perfectly. “Bonus points for the ultralow weight and big vents to keep your noggin cool,” our tester writes.
The Tension Flash Board is a crag essential
The perfect outer layer for climbing, hiking, or anything active, the Alpine Start has a gusseted construction, which allows for complete freedom of movement, and the hood fits over your climbing helmet for added weather protection when the wind picks up in the afternoon. It’s highly packable and stows in…
Free Solo, the first true climbing film to reach a mainstream audience, chronicled Alex Honnold’s 2017 solo of El Capitan’s Freerider route. It has already earned almost $19 million at the box office, and won best documentary at the British Association of Film and Television Arts several weeks ago. Now…
Soft and sensitive, the Scarpa Furia S is ideal for steep sport routes and technical boulder problems
Gear editor Ariella Gintzler walks us through new 2019 gear from Gregory, Outdoor Research, and Scarpa.
We highlighted the Free Motion sports bra in our 2019 Winter Buyer's Guide for its backless design. Our tester found it was ideal for climbers or those who want an uninhibited range of motion while sweating.
Gear editor Emily Reed walks us through the clever features of the Moon Bouldering Bag.
Tough fabrics, comfortable suspension, and intelligent gear storage make these haulers stand out
Show the other players who’s best at pulling on plastic
Days after the big-box retailer announced its new Premium Outdoor Store, at least five brands have dropped from the site
Yesterday, the big-box retailer launched a new gear site with Black Diamond as one of its featured brands, allegedly without permission
The first-of-its-kind approach shoe returns in spring 2019
Save your climbing hands with these four salves
The first of its kind, the Revo is a belay device with a true auto-locking mechanism.
This detachable anchor system makes a bold yet unnerving promise to deliver full-length, single-rope rappels. Is it the holy grail for rappelling or an accident waiting to happen?
At USU, students in the country’s first program for gear designers aren’t just learning how to sew a bestselling jacket. They’re being groomed to lead the industry’s next big political and environmental fights.
Still dominant on the crag at 36, Sharma reflects on his greatest climbs and how those lessons have helped him break into the business world
Before Amazon and big-box stores, mountain shops like Eastside Sports dotted the West. Now, it's one of the last survivors.
The writer and film producer reveals her favorite tried-and-true women’s gear for the crag
12 pieces of essential gear chosen by our resident climber
From hemp oil to ginger tea to earplugs, here’s what the climber and BASE jumper can’t live without
Watch to find out what climber and gear editor Will Egensteiner thinks about BD's first shoe, the gym-specific Momentum.
Gary Rall opened a rock gym 29 years ago. Then he helped invent indoor climbing.
Black Diamond just dropped the best product launch joke of all time.
Welcome to professional climber Cedar Wright’s Boulder gear shed, or, as he calls it, his “discombobulated junk show.” It’s also an adventure athlete’s paradise packed into a one-car garage that’s bursting with ice climbing, paragliding, big-wall climbing, and biking equipment stacked in neat—and not so neat—piles.
Five surprising pieces of gear that make road life even better
Here's the high-end climbing equipment you'll need to haul yourself up the side of a skyscraper in midtown Manhattan
Pinches. Slopers. Jugs. Baby heads? Ever stop to wonder who makes the holds bolted to the wall at your local climbing gym? These guys do.
Some people throw their gear in a corner of the garage. Others have dedicated gear rooms that are so stacked and organized they look like retail shops. We asked our Instagram followers to submit photos of their tricked-out storage spaces. Here are our 12 favorites.
Fashion meets performance in these retro-inspired kicks
Most ice axes are made from metal—and for good reason. But last month, the geniuses at Furnace Industries launched their new wooden tool that’s as strong as it is pretty. While you may be tempted to just hang it over the fireplace, please don’t.
An increasing number of well-designed tools help rock climbers train more effectively