Climbing Gear Reviews
From climbing shoes to helmets, our climbing experts test the best from Petzl, Black Diamond, Arc'teryx, La Sportiva, Scarpa, and more
We put all of these shoes to the test through all types of climbing routes.
Credit: Matt Bento
Looking for climbing gear? Whether your goal is the gym, the crag, the mountains, or a big wall, we've got your covered. Let our team of climbing experts help you find exactly the right shoes, harness, and rope for your needs and budget. No one tests climbing gear as extensively and thoughtfully as we do, and our review ratings make it easy for you to make smarter, more informed, purchase decisions every time.
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Best Pick Reviews in Climbing Gear Reviews
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 Climbing Shoes of 2023
We pick the best rock climbing shoes for bouldering, sport, trad, gym, kids, and beginners. No matter your budget, we...
Best Climbing Shoes for Women of 2023
We've weeded through dozens of climbing shoes to select to top contenders on the market. We have specifically selected...
Best Rock Climbing Shoes for Kids
With a lack of thorough kids' climbing shoe reviews, we researched over 40 of the top models, purchasing the best 8 to...
Best Approach Shoes
Looking for a new pair of approach shoes? We've got you covered. We scrambled, bouldered, sport climbed, and hiked...
Best Approach Shoes for Women of 2023
If you're on the hunt for a great pair of women's approach shoes, we've got the information you need. Whether you're...
Best Climbing Harness of 2023
After analyzing over 45 harnesses, we bought the best 15 for extensive side-by-side testing. From versatile...
Best Climbing Harnesses for Women of 2023
These climbing harnesses have been designed specifically for women and put to the test by our team of female testers...
Best Climbing Harness for Kids of 2023
Looking for a new climbing harness for a kid crusher in your life? Our expert testers spent months putting 10 of the...
Best Climbing Belay Device of 2023
If you're roping up, you're going to need a belay device. But which one is the best? We exhaustively tested 17 of the...
Best Climbing Helmet of 2023
Looking for the best climbing helmet to meet your needs? We've thoroughly tested 12 of the best and most popular...
Best Rock Climbing Rope of 2023
We tested 14 of the best ropes available on the market today to give our recommendations for any climbing purpose...
Best Rope Bags for Climbing of 2023
Looking to keep your rope safe while you climb and travel? We bought and tested 9 of the best rope bags available to...
Best Locking Carabiner of 2023
The locking carabiner is a fundamental part of any rock climber's rack, but there are so many out there that shopping...
Best Carabiner of 2023
We wanted to find out which carabiner was the best, so we've updated our old review to look at some of the newer...
Best Quickdraws for Climbing
Looking for a new set of quickdraws to round out your sport climbing kit? We can help. We selected 14 sought-after...
Best Climbing Gloves of 2023
Want to keep your hands safe while climbing? Whether you're rappelling, belaying, jamming cracks, or aid climbing...
Best Hangboard of 2023
Looking for the best hangboard? Hang on as we assess the best training boards out there. Our team of experts spent...
Best Climbing Chalk of 2023
Looking for the right chalk for climbing? We sifted through the myriad of available chalk products and selected the...
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...
Best Slackline of 2023
Looking to upgrade your current rig or new to slacklining? We tested 12 of the highest-ranked slacklines on the market...
Best Climbing Cams of 2023
Building a rack of cams can be confusing and expensive, especially if you're just starting out. We're here to help you...
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 Nut Tools for Climbing of 2023
We took the best nut tools and tested them at cleaning a variety of cams and nut types in all sizes and over a broad...
Best Climbing Slings and Runners of 2023
Climbing slings are an invaluable piece of climbing gear that help protect you while leading and attach you to the...
Best Climbing Backpack of 2023
Looking for a climbing backpack for your multi-pitch adventures? We tested the top climbing packs to determine which...
Best Mountaineering Backpack
For this review, our seasoned field testers took out a collection of the industry's leading mountaineering backpacks...
Best Mountaineering Boots of 2023
Trying to find the best mountaineering boot? We've got you covered. Our testers reviewed 9 of the top products on the...
Best Mountaineering Boots For Women
Are you a woman in search of a mountaineering boot? We tested some of the best mountaineering boots for women...
Best Big Wall Climbing Harness
We compare the best big wall harnesses on the market to find you the best option for your next Grade V or Grade VI wall.
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 Ascenders for Big Walls and Rescue
Whether you're on a big wall, traveling over glaciated terrain, or even rappelling at the crag, ascenders can be an...
Best Haul Bags for Big Wall Climbing of 2023
We compare some of the best haul bag options to help find the right one for any size and style wall climb.
Best Gaiters of 2023
We tested a dozen pairs of the top gaiters on the market to help you choose which ones to take on your next trail run...
Best Ice Axes
What's the best ice axe for mountaineering? We tested the best products and compared them head-to-head across a series...Recent Gear Reviews in Climbing Gear Reviews
Best Buy
Mammut Crag We Care Classic 9.5 Review
If you feel guilty every time you have to retire another worn-out climbing rope, consider the Mammut Crag We Care...
Best Buy
Black Diamond Momentum - Women's Review
This harness is a great all-around harness and it the winner of our Best Buy Award. It is comfortable to hang in...
Editors' Choice
Black Diamond Solution Guide - Women's Review
Makes hanging belays, approaching in a harness, and groveling up a squeeze chimney more enjoyable with its...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva TX2 Evo - Women's Review
This is an all-around awesome shoe, perfect for boulderers and alpine scramblers alike. With a great climbing ability...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Boulder X - Women's Review
A long-time favorite at OutdoorGearLab, the Boulder X's comfy upper, supportive sole, and durability make it a great...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Tarantulace - Women's Review
Just getting into climbing? Finally ready to throw down for your first pair of shoes? Look no further! These shoes are...Climbing Gear Reviews Learning Center
Men's Rock Climbing Shoe Buying Guide
Finding the best shoe for various types of adventures can be an overwhelming task. We're here to help. From sport...
How to Choose the Right Ice Axe
How do you choose an ice axe? Here are some key factors to consider when buying an ice axe for mountaineering....
How to Choose a Climbing Sling
Despite the fact that all slings are remarkably similar to one another, there is an abundance of choices on the...
How to Choose a Mountaineering and Alpine Climbing Backpack
If the ice axe is the posterchild of mountaineering, the backpack is our unsung hero. Mountaineering backpacks must...
How to Choose Quickdraws for Climbing
Almost every piece of climbing gear you purchase is part of an important safety chain, and the quickdraws you use are...
How to Choose a Belay Device for Rock Climbing
In the early days 'climbing' meant mountaineering and a 'belay device' was simply your body. Throw a loop of rope...Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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