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Buyers Guide 2004

 Outside Buyers Guide 2005

2004 Buyer's Guide: The Essential Climber
Photograph by Chris McPherson


Rock On
Gear, apparel, and accessories for flashing routes in high style
By Jeff Purton

HARDWARE STORE » Crag-bound? You need simple, ultrareliable equipment. Get started with (1) BLUEWATER's bicolor 9.7mm LIGHTNING PRO rope ($59). It's lightweight—eight pounds for 60 meters—but durable enough to be your workhorse. Should your belayer space out, (2) PETZL's oft-imitated GRIGRI auto-locking belay device ($70) will help prevent you from decking. (3) SINGING ROCK's RHYTHM harness ($45) boasts adjustable leg straps, a waist belt designed to evenly distribute the stress of a fall, and flared plastic gear loops for painless access to your (4) METOLIUS QUICKDRAWS ($84 for six). STONE STYLES » The lugged Terrenno soles on (5) CHACO's Z1 sandals ($95) offer superior traction, while the single-strap design provides a comfortable fit for hanging at the crag. (6) FIVE TEN's new ANASAZI SLIPPERS ($101) incorporate the superior edging and increased power transfer of the company's most technical shoes, but with more of that tasty Stealth rubber for extra durability. Lava Gear designed its (7) RACE PANTS ($90) for adventure racing, but their four-way-stretch crotch gusset and reinforced seat and knees make 'em perfect for clipping bolts. (8) PRANA's AXIS TECH short-sleeve top ($36) has the feel of a well-worn cotton tee, but its wicking poly will keep you dry. ESSENTIAL ETC. » With a heat-molded external frame and a full-zip front-access panel, the 2,100-cubic-inch (9) GREGORY EKKO pack ($159) is perfect for stowing your gear and grub. Every (10) KRIEG CHALKBAG ($20) is handmade to last your climbing lifetime and available in umpteen patterns, from hippie hemp to hot-pink sequin—or any fabric you send in. Protect your lifeline with the (11) METOLIUS ROPEMASTER ($36). The one-pound duffel morphs into a tangle-free 60-meter-rope burrito, sheltering its cargo from dirt and UV rays.