Ethan Caldwell

Nothing kills a project faster than a chalk-caked hold that should feel solid but slips like glass. I have been climbing for years, and I can tell you that the difference between sending and falling often comes down to one simple thing: a clean hold. That is where the best climbing brushes earn their spot … Read more

Changing out of a wetsuit on a freezing beach with nothing but a standard towel is an experience most surfers endure once and vow never to repeat. The wind cuts right through wet fabric, your hands are numb, and trying to keep a towel from slipping while peeling off a tight wetsuit feels like a … Read more

Every time you pull onto a boulder problem outdoors, you are committing to a ground fall. That is the reality of bouldering, and it is exactly why having one of the best crash pads for outdoor bouldering is non-negotiable. I have been climbing outdoors for over eight years, and I have taken plenty of spills … Read more

If you surf regularly in cold water, you have probably heard about surfer’s ear. The medical name is exostosis, and it is a condition where repeated exposure to cold water and wind causes abnormal bone growth inside your ear canal. Over time, this bony growth narrows the canal, traps water, and leads to chronic infections. … Read more

When you are standing at the base of a 20-foot boulder problem, looking up at a sequence that could send you flying from any number of heights, the crash pad beneath you is the only thing between a safe landing and a trip to the emergency room. I have been bouldering outdoors for over eight … Read more

Nothing kills a surf session faster than slipping off your board because you grabbed the wrong wax for warm water. I learned that the hard way during a trip to Costa Rica, where I showed up with cold water wax and spent the entire first day sliding around like I was riding a bar of … Read more

If you have ever peeled off a crux move because your hands turned into slippery sausages halfway up, you already know the struggle. Sweaty hands are one of the most frustrating barriers in climbing, and no amount of willpower fixes biology. I have been there more times than I care to admit, watching my project … Read more

Flying with a surfboard is one of the most stressful parts of any surf trip. I have stood at airport baggage carousels more times than I can count, heart pounding, waiting to see if my board survived the journey. After years of dinged rails, cracked fins, and one truly heartbreaking broken nose, I decided to … Read more

Every boulderer knows that moment when you are pumped out of your mind on a crux move and your hands feel like wet soap. That is exactly when a good chalk bag earns its place on your harness or crash pad. I have spent the last three years testing chalk bags across indoor gyms and … Read more

Winter surfing is a different beast entirely. When the water temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind chill makes your face hurt before you even get in the water, you need gear that actually works. I learned this the hard way after years of stubborn sessions without a hood, ending each one with … Read more