Big Wall Climbing
Our team of big wallers tested the best of the best from Petzl, Metolius, Black Diamond, Sterling and Yates.
Credit: Steven Tata
As luck would have it, the founder of GearLab has climbed El Cap more times than most people have climbed outside (I'm looking at you gym rats). We have the best comparison reviews for big wall gear you will find on the internet, trust us. Whether you are looking for a big wall harness, aiders, haul bags, or ascenders, our reviews are born from hours of hooking, nailing and inching up the biggest walls in the world. Our work is ad and influence free.
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Best Picks in Big Wall Climbing
Best Big Wall Climbing Harness of 2022
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.
Best Haul Bags for Big Wall Climbing of 2022
We compare some of the best haul bag options to help find the right one for any size and style wall climb.
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 big-walling. We tested each contender across five metrics...
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 incredibly useful tool. We tested a few models to help you choose the...Recent Gear Reviews in Big Wall Climbing
Editors' Choice
Metolius Safe Tech Waldo Review
The Metolius Safe Tech Waldo is our current favorite big wall climbing harness. It is the most comfy harnesses we tested and is also ideal for rigging, course setting or any application...
Editors' Choice
Yates Big Wall Ladder Review
The Yates Big Wall Ladder stands out for its ease of use and comfort when standing in it for hours at a time. This is our top choice for aid-intensive big walls. It is a beefy aider, which...
Best Buy
Metolius 5 Step Aider Review
The Metolius 5 Step Aider is the best etrier-style aider we have tested. Chris McNamara has used this aider on more walls than any other aider and says it is comfortable and easy to walk...
Editors' Choice
Metolius Half Dome Haul Bag Review
We love this haul bag for its perfect size and capabilities. It's our favorite model in the line up.Big Wall Climbing Learning Center
How to Choose the Right Aider and Etrier for Big Wall Climbing
Aiders are webbing ladders that are also sometimes called Etriers. This is the piece of gear mentioned first they are the most frequently used piece of gear when aid climbing. On a big...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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