News — Reviews

We’ve logged hundreds of miles in the latest shoes this spring to help you find the best running shoes

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These fit every style and budget. Running is an uncomplicated sport — which is the way it should be. But it all starts with a pair of shoes. This spring, we’ve sifted through the jargon, new releases, and venerable kicks, and ran miles of road and trail to tease out which shoes rise to the top. It’s worth noting that this article specifically covers men’s road-running shoes. We also have a separate gear guide for the best women’s running shoes. And if you’re not sure what’s the right shoe for you, check out our buyer’s guide at the end of this...

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The Black Diamond Solution Guide Harness offers support, comfort, and extreme durability in a trad-specific harness.

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Climbing brands usually reserve advanced technology in a harness design for high-end sport climbers. As such, these svelte models continue to get lighter, sleeker, and more minimalist. But when Black Diamond released its trad-oriented Solution Guide Harness last fall, it gave it both tech and materials on par with its sport climbing models. I’ve been testing a sample since its release on multipitch granite in Colorado and single-pitch granite in Texas. In short: The Black Diamond Solution Guide Harness ($100 for men and women) is well-appointed and extraordinarily durable. It focuses on the needs of trad climbers vying for long multipitch objectives...

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This is the freest-feeling setup for sport and competition climbing.

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Mammut released the original Realization Shorts in 2013, and like many climbers, I scoffed. “Is there really a need for this? Is this better in any way?” I thought. Essentially shorts with a built-in harness, the Mammut Realization Shorts presented a super-niche product. It seemed unnecessary and gimmicky. Sport climbing harnesses are super-lightweight while remaining comfortable, and I can take them off without changing pants. I just didn’t get it. I’ve been testing both the original Realization Shorts and the 2.0 version, launched last spring, for a full year. And, like the shorts, my thoughts have evolved. They do indeed have a...

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2020-05-15

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CROWDFUNDING REVIEW – If you’re going to be on a trip for a few days, you might plan to bring a small suitcase for all your clothes and other items.  But what if it’s one of those trips where you spend most of your time walking from place to place—maybe you’re sightseeing a big city like Washington DC, London, or Hong Kong—and you plan to stay wherever you find yourself.  It isn’t really practical to drag a suitcase around all day; what you really need is a good travel backpack instead.  Is the new IndieGoGo-funded travel backpack from Pakt the...

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When Adam Ondra speaks, Black Diamond listens

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The result is the Black Diamond airNET Harness. Black Diamond collaborated with rock climbing superstar Adam Ondra to develop a harness with a sole focus on weight reduction that could stand up to a performance at the Tokyo Olympics. The result was the airNET Harness, released to the public last month. We tested an early sample during the fall and winter climbing season and came away impressed. The (Really) Light Technology Black Diamond pulled out all the stops to develop the airNET competition and sport climbing harness. Not only is it the lightest featured rock climbing harnesses on the market, but...

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