Phil Geng

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Overview

When Edelrid first entered the climbing shoe market I admittedly wasn’t too sure what to think. I had known Edelrid for a while and was well aware of their pedigree in rope access equipment and ropes specifically. However being able to produce excellent safety equipment is one thing, producing a whole range of climbing shoes a completely different one. Now I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t going to go straight for a pair and try them to my hearts content. After all I was on the lookout for a set of mid-aggressive bouldering shoes and the Typhoon in Edelrids range fit the bill.

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Overview

Since 2001 Jetboil have constantly and consistently shown that outdoor cooking systems need not be clunky, heavy or inefficient. Across their range they offer everything from single person cooking systems to expedition base camp grade kitchens. Famous for their fast boiling times and portability the Zip, the smallest of the range, features all of its family’s pedigree while packing down to little more than a Nalgene bottle. For those of you wishing to enjoy a fresh brew on the hills this is a truly indispensable piece of kit.

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Whether you see hammocks as a novelty or an absolute necessity it is hard to argue the levels of comfort gained from a correctly set up hammock. However when I realised people actually sleep in them instead of using bivvis and tents I became intrigued. The Snugpak Jungle Hammock ticked all my requirements at a price I was happy to pay and with my otherwise excellent experience of Snugpak’s products, surely I couldn’t go too wrong.

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Designed as a winter and mountaineering harness the DMM Super Couloir can cope with almost anything from long days on ice to gnarly scrambles in the rain and glorious days on the glaciers. The ”nappy-style” design allows the harness to be put on or removed without having to lift your legs, especially useful when wearing crampons, skis or muddy boots.

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Overview

As a medium sized day touring backpack the Deuter Guide Lite 32+ is well thought out and practical as one would expect. By stripping the classic Guide features down to the absolute minimum, adding in some weight saving alternatives where possible and using slightly less durable fabrics Deuter have created a true lightweight.

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Overview

DMM’s Alloy Offsets are the classic luxury item in climbing gear. Until you use them you don’t think you need them, but once you have them, they never leave your side. Due to an asymmetrical design the Alloy Offsets will fit in placements where standard nuts just don’t feel right. The downside is that in perfectly symmetrical cracks these “luxury nuts” will seem unstable, but believe me - they are not.

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Overview

For the lightweight backpacker comfort used to be governed by the weight we were prepared to carry and indeed the space available in our bags. Various manufacturers have launched self-inflating, foam cell and other fancy technology in order to combat this problem, but few have managed it with the style and elegance than Exped. With a reasonably hefty price tag for what essentially is a glorified air bed is the SynMat worth the expense and does the level of comfort reflect this?

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Overview

Big and bulky, but bright as the sun. The Petzl Nao 575L is not only one of the brightest head torches on the market, it also features Petzl’s reactive light technology resulting in just the right amount of light whenever you need it. The high price of the torch coupled with the bulk makes it useless for most climbers, but for serious hillwalkers who expect to venture out into the night this should be an essential piece of kit.

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Overview

Designed for use by Alpine Guides and recreational hikers and climbers alike the Deuter Guide 45+ is a true all-round workhorse designed for all extremes. Tough fabrics, well thought out attachments, ample storage and zips in almost all the right places are all testament to Deuter’s continued strive for excellence in their products. Combined with a variable carrying system including fully removable hip belt the bag is at home in all seasons and outperforms many competitors.

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Overview

Arguably one of the best-selling climbing shoes of all times the La Sportiva Mythos has truly made an impact in the climbing shoe world. The innovative All-round lace system, which is also used in the popular Boulder X allows the wearer to adjust the shoe in minute detail. Since the lace runs around the Achilles the shoe can get away with not providing a great deal of inbuilt tension through the heel. The reinforced heel combined with the lacing makes this a very comfortable heel-hook capable shoe. (…)