Climbing

This 9.4mm rope from Black Diamond is a solid, all-around workhorse. Built to last with Black Diamond’s burly 2x2 sheath construction, it’s abrasion resistant and durable for daily climbing use.

The 9.4mm diameter is the perfect size for most climbers as it is versatile enough for hard sends on your project or for toproping with a group. It’s also impressively lightweight for the diameter at only 58g/m and comes with an easy to identify middle marker, which is great for longer abseils.

Although it is a bit expensive, this rope's impressive handle and feel make it well worth the extra cost. It's a great rope for people who dabble in a variety of different climbing disciplines and that want something reliable for daily use.

The Petzl Contact 9.8 offers a great mix of weight, durability, and handling ease for most climbers. At 9.8mm, it has a fairly versatile diameter for longevity and durability in a variety of contexts.

Petzl uses its proprietary UltraSonic Finish bonding technique to avoid frayed ends on this rope even after months of use. The easy to see middle market makes abseils and longer multi-pitch climbs a breeze, too.

Some sport climbers might find that the 9.8mm diameter is a bit too big and heavy for their use. So, we recommend this rope for trad climbers who prioritize durability and longevity in their ropes.

The thinnest and lightest rope in this review, the Beal Opera 8.5mm is a great option for weight-conscious climbers. At 48g/m, the Opera is the lightest and thinnest single rope currently available.

If that wasn’t good enough, the Opera is also dry treated so it’s great for wet and icy winter climbing conditions. It has a supple feel, which means it handles well and makes tying knots a breeze.

For a light and skinny dry-treated rope, the Beal Opera is incredibly inexpensive. Our only concern with the Opera is that its thin diameter makes it less durable over time for frequent use.

The Petzl Mambo 10.1 is made to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Petzl designed the Mambo with a thick sheath for maximum abrasion resistance and used an UltraSonic Finish to avoid frayed ends.

It also has an easily identifiable middle mark for quick abseil set-up. Plus, the Mambo offers excellent grip and handling, which makes it perfect for newer belayers. At 10.1mm and 65g/m, it is heavier than many other ropes, so it isn't ideal for longer climbs. But, if you mainly toprope or climb single-pitch routes, then the Mambo might be the rope for you.

The thickest rope in this review, the Beal Antidote is a great first rope for newer climbers. While the thicker diameter adds extra weight (66g/m), it makes the Antidote easy to handle for new belayers who might be less confident. Plus, the extra thickness means that the Antidote is durable and resilient even after daily use.

Our favourite part of this rope - it’s made with an environmentally friendly design that is free from dyes and chemicals and is Bluesign approved. We recommend this rope for climbers on a budget and for anyone who just wants the added handling security and durability of a thicker rope

• EPS foam with polycarbonate shell
• Large ventilation openings
• Dial adjustment system
• Headlamp clips
• Available in two sizes
• Lightweight (240g)

The Vector is an incredibly versatile foam helmet with large ventilation openings for maximum breathability. Available in two sizes and complete with a dial adjustment system, the Vector helps you get the perfect fit for superior protection from falling objects.

The EPS foam with a polycarbonate shell is lightweight but is prone to scratches and dings. While it is more expensive than a hardshell, it is reasonably priced for a foam helmet. We recommend the Vector for frequent climbers who want a versatile helmet for any situation.

The Leef is Italian manufacturer Kong’s newest and most technologically advanced helmet. Made with a minimalist design that provides excellent shock resistance, this is a helmet that’s made to last.

This helmet is certified for both climbing and mountaineering. Plus, at a mere 210g, you’ll likely forget that you’re even wearing it. This is a great helmet for climbers who prioritise weight savings over anything else.

Camp fine-tuned their new Storm helmet for technical climbing and mountaineering with 22 ventilation holes for maximum breathability. Designed for high-output adventures where you’re breathing heavily and working hard, the Storm has removable padding and a dial adjustment system for a precision fit.

This is a great helmet for mountaineers, alpinists, and technical climbers who push the grades. If you value comfort and breathability, the Storm might be the helmet for you.

The Petzl Boreo is a hardshell that’s so light and breathable that you might think it’s a foam helmet. Built to be compact yet strong with a durable plastic shell, the Boreo protects against lateral, front, and rear impact for maximum head-coverage.

At only 295g, it’s pretty light for a hardshell helmet, though that benefit does come with a higher price tag. We recommend the Boreo for climbers who prioritize durability and protection over anything else.

The Half Dome is Black Diamond's seasoned workhorse helmet. With a classic hardshell design, minimal fuss, and incredible durability, the Half Dome is great for climbers who just need a helmet that can get the job done.

With two sizes and a dial adjustment system, you can get a precision fit at an affordable price. While it is the heaviest helmet in this review, it is built to last daily abuse, so it's great for climbers who are hard on their gear.

The Technician is Black Diamond’s do-everything harness. From steep sport routes to long alpine adventures, the Technician is designed to help you stay comfortable and efficient regardless of the environment.

The quick dry waistbelt is incredibly comfortable and the adjustable leg loops let you customize the harness’ fit every time you use it. Five gear loops and a haul loop let you carry as much gear as you want while four ice clipper slots make the harness great for winter climbing too.

A lightweight and versatile harness, the Technician is a great year-round climbing companion. It’s best for people who dabble in a variety of different climbing disciplines who can appreciate all of its features.

The Air CR is designed to be a lightweight, robust harness that’s great for quick and light ascents in the mountains. It’s designed to be abrasion resistant, yet lightweight. Four gear loops and a haul loop make the Air CR great for mid-length adventure climbs, too.

One of the Air CR’s most unique features is the ‘No Twist’ belay loop, which helps keep you and your gear organised and efficient. The adjustable leg loops are great even in cold or wet conditions. The one downside to this harness is that it sacrifices comfort for weight savings.

We recommend this harness for traditional and alpine climbers who can appreciate the weight savings and who will be wearing enough layers to keep this harness comfortable. However, its lack of padding is not overly ideal for sport or gym climbers who hang or fall frequently.

Petzl's Adjama is a simple and comfortable climbing and mountaineering harness that is ideal for single and multi-pitch adventures. The wide padded waistbelt with ENDOFRAME Technology gives the harness great weight distribution and comfort throughout a climbing day.

Adjustable leg loops make it a great harness for both indoor and outdoor use. However, the thicker padding on this harness does mean that it doesn’t breathe as well. Plus, the extra comfort comes at the price of a higher weight and a larger impact on your wallet.

Designed with sport climbers in mind, the Petzl Sama is great for people who fall or hang a lot on hard projects. Perfect for indoor or outdoor use, the Sama's elasticized leg loops make putting on the harness a breeze but do limit its functionality for traditional and alpine climbing.

The waist belt is thinner in the front of the harness so it doesn’t impede movement, but it has enough padding to keep you comfortable while projecting difficult routes. Four gear loops and a haul loop give this harness enough racking space for all your gear, too.

This harness is heavy, however, and the comfort of extra padding means that it doesn’t breathe as well as other alternatives. But, if you’re looking for a harness for your sport climbing needs, the Sama might be the harness for you.

Climbers who prioritize comfort and affordability might really enjoy the Black Diamond Momentum. Build with a well-padded waistbelt and quick adjusting TrakFIT leg loops, the Momentum is easy to customize to help you get that perfect fit.

It’s a lightweight harness with four gear loops and a haul loop to store all your gear. The Momentum is a great gym and sport climbing harness for hard sends and long days of belaying. There are two downsides to this harness - one, that the plastic leg loop buckles can be finicky and prone to breaking; and two, that all that extra padding means the harness doesn’t breathe that well.