The Best of Climbing Gear and Lifestyle
Shoes, harness, rope, helmet, cams, locking carabiners, draws, chalk bag, wind shell, puffy, rain shell, base layer. What am I forgetting? Oh yeah, headlamp. And food. Sound familiar?
If you are a climber, you probably find yourself going through checklists constantly, making sure you have all the essential tools to keep you safe and stoked on your days to play. But… what brand of shoe should I get? And what style of harness? And what diameter of rope?
At Switchback Travel, we answer these questions for you by providing up-to-date reviews on the gear climbers use. From essentials to accessories, we evaluate all types of climbing gear, pick out the top performers, and tell you precisely what makes them the best. We even show you where to buy the items you’re looking for. Too good to be true? See for yourself...
Climbing Gear
• Shoes
• Ropes
• Helmets
• Cams
Read and Watch
A rotating collection of our favorite articles, videos, and happenings from the world of climbing:
“The Last Great Climb”
It doesn’t get much more intense than climbing in Antarctica. Alastair Lee’s upcoming flim "The Last Great Climb” documents just that, as he and his group take on Ulvetanna, a peak located in the Queen Maud Land region considered to be one of the most dramatic on the continent. The climbers battled extremely challenging conditions as they attempted a first ascent up the northeast ridge. Even for non-climbers, the footage of Antarctica should be stunning. The film is set to be released in December of 2013. More information is available at www.thelastgreatclimb.com.
"The View from the Wall"
From the current issue of Alpinist Magazine, "The View from the Wall" is an article and interview with Polish alpinist Voytek Kurtyka, a legend of Himalayan alpine-style climbing. Before the Voytek made some of the most dangerous ascents in the history of high-altitude climbing, and perhaps even more impressive, neither he nor his partners were ever injured. Kurtyka, who mostly avoids the media spotlight, opens up on life and the sport he loves.
Bolt Removal on Cerro Torre
During the 2012 austral summer, American Hayden Kennedy and Canadian Jason Kruk removed a majority of the bolts—over 125 in total—from the famed Compressor Route on Cerro Terro in Patagonia. The event sparked huge controversy in the climbing community over tradition, the ethics of alpinism, and adventure in general. We’ve included links to three articles: a summary of the event from Outside Magazine tilted "Chopped," Kennedy and Kruk’s statement, and Alpinist editor Michael Kennedy’s (Hayden’s father) "Letter to My Son."