When I first walked into a climbing gym five years ago, I grabbed a pair of rental shoes that smelled like they had been through a hundred sweaty sessions. My feet ached, my toes cramped, and I spent more time thinking about the pain than the wall in front of me. That experience is exactly … Read more
Getting to the crag is half the battle. Whether you are slogging up a loose talus field, scrambling over granite slabs, or navigating a sketchy descent through wet rock, the right approach shoes can make or break your day before you even tie in. Our team has spent the past three seasons testing approach shoes … Read more
Getting your surfboard to the break should be the easiest part of your session. But if you have ever watched a board slide sideways on a bare roof at 65 mph, or spent twenty minutes wrestling with tangled straps in a parking lot, you already know that the wrong rack setup can turn a dawn … Read more
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