Chris is the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the GearLab websites. Chris is the author of 10 books, a big-wall climbing expert, and a recovering ex-Wingsuit BASE jumper. Climbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris's life on earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan—an accomplishment that has left friends and family pondering Chris’ sanity. He’s climbed Yosemite's daunting 3,000+ foot El Capitan over 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. In 1998 Chris did the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan, an epic 75-pitch route that begs the question, “Why?” Outside Magazine has called Chris one of “the world’s finest aid climbers.” He’s the winner of the American Alpine Club's prestigious Bates Award and the founder of the American Safe Climbing Association, a nonprofit group that has replaced over 14,000 dangerous rock climbing anchor bolts. Chris is also the founder and lead author of the rock climbing guidebook publisher, SuperTopo. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley. You can follow him on Facebook and ChrisMcNamara.com.
Showing 1-15 of 499 by Chris McNamara

Finding the Perfect Big Wall Aiders
From El Cap to Baffin Island, we tested 9 of the top aiders on the market to see which performed the best for...
Best Climbing Gear of 2023
Looking for the best climbing gear we've ever tested? Come check out our hand-selected list of the top gear of 2022.
Best Backpacking Gear of 2023
If you are gearing up for Backpacking, we've got you covered with our comprehensive list of the best gear of the year.
Best Bike Phone Mount of 2023
Our extensive testing of bike phone mounts turned up some expensive high performers (no surprise) but also (nice...
Best Bike Gear of 2023
Whether you've just started riding and want to start with a fresh setup, or you have been on a bike for years and want...
Best Hiking Gear of 2023
Our experts list our favorite hiking gear picks so you can have the best experience on the trail.
Best Climbing Gloves of 2023
Want to keep your hands safe while climbing? Whether you're rappelling, belaying, jamming cracks, or aid climbing...
Best Climbing Nuts and Stoppers of 2023
We researched the best climbing nuts and chose the top options to test side by side for months on end. We tested both...
Best Avalanche Beacon of 2023
An avalanche beacon is an essential part of a backcountry ski kit. But which one is best for you? We purchased 13 of...
Best Handheld GPS of 2023
Looking to improve your backcountry navigation? We bought and tested 7 of the best GPS units on the market to help you...
Best Electric Mountain Bikes of 2023
We put six of the best electric mountain bikes to the test, riding them side-by-side to find the best in our detailed...
Best Bouldering Crash Pad of 2023
Looking for a new pad? This review examines the best 12 models on the market to help you find the right model for your...
How to Ride Long Distance on Your Bike
Our bike experts give their top tips for helping your move efficiently and comfortably on long bike rides.
How to Load a GPS File on Your Phone in GPX Format
Ever wanted to follow a route or path on your phone? This article shows how to follow a GPX file and which apps are...
Living in a Hotel - How much does it cost and how do you do it?
Can you live in a hotel? Living in hotel used to only be for the rich and eccentric on the luxury end of the spectrum...
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