By Emily Stifler
climbing
gear review
Belay device: Petzl Reverso 4 The Reverso changed multi-pitch climbing. Petzl’s newest belay/rappel device, the Reverso 4, is 25 percent lighter than its predecessor. In Reverso-mode, it sits parallel to the wall allowing the rope to run smoothly when belaying a follower; a larger carabiner hole allows easy release of a loaded device—big improvement. Magically, it doesn’t heat up while rappelling. Hot-forged aluminum; 59 g; works with various rope sizes. $24 petzl.com Black Diamond Distance FL Trekking poles After 25 years of skiing my knees are trashed, so my pair of hiking poles get me to the crag (and back down) in the summer. Deployed in seconds, the Z-poles are strong and sturdy when I need them, and lightweight and easy to pack away when I don’t. The comfy grip extension makes choking up on side-hills easy-steezy, and BD’s FlickLock allows 20 cm of height adjustability. Available in men’s and women’s specific models. 430 - 445 grams; interchangeable carbide/rubber tips. $119.95 Asolo Sunset hiking shoes The Sunsets fit right out of the box—no blisters, just solid footwork on spring mud, slippery wet rocks and steep dusty trails. The mesh side panels keep my feet cool, and the water-resistant suede upper keeps them relatively dry. With lacing that extends to the toe and anatomic footbeds, they’re like a custom fit. Asolo-Vibram Tènèrè rubber sole; 340 grams/shoe. $120 asolo.com
Expert’s pick:
Petzl Ange Finesse Quickdraw Adam Fruh, rock warrior In the realm of high performance, we’re always attempting to eliminate redundancy and carry only the lightest equipment. The evolution of the carabiner has come a long way, and the Ange quickdraws have quickly ushered in a higher order. Petzl has made a sturdy yet delicate reinterpretation of a single gate while maintaining a key lock closure combined with a logical color code, and an improved rubber stay to make these danglers and the user one mean competitor. $25.95 - 27.95
92 Mountain
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