The Lapis Brush
You may think a brush is a brush when it comes to getting chalk off holds. Well, you would be wrong. While you can get by with a 50p toothbrush from Asda (other supermarkets are available) nothing comes close to the Lapis for getting that last grain off.
I don't know what it is, but be it limestone, gritstone, or even sandstone, the friction just seems to be better after cleaning a hold with a Lapis.
Now they aren't without their faults. The biggest problem seems to be how long they last. Though that could be down to the material of the bristles. They are made from horse hair so, as you would expect, they wear out quickly. The other problem is that you need to be gentle with them. The neck is quite brittle, so any over zealous brushing might land you with a snapped brush. Maybe a wider neck would sort this problem out?
"They are between £4 and £5 depending on the shop. This might seem a lot compared to an Asda basics toothbrush ..."
The final downside to this brush is the price. They are between £4 and £5 depending on the shop. This might seem a lot compared to an Asda basics toothbrush ... and it is a lot, but then, Ferraris and Rolls Royces are expensive cars, and you get what you pay for. What's more, they come in a lovely range of colours, including violet, blue and orange.
In conclusion, these are the best brushes bar none, so I am more than happy to put up with a few little faults, and more than happy to stump up that extra bit of cash. Now you can't get a better recommendation than that, can you?
“Never be far from The Bar!”
Ingredients: Grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, yellow beeswax, wheatgerm oil, tocopherol (Vit. E.) and Climb On!'s proprietary blend of 100% pure essential oils.
Climb On! Bar Intensive Hand Lube
As any serious climber knows, looking after the one thing that spends most time in contact with the rock is imperative.
A lot of climbers just use standard hand creams. These will probably do a good job at keeping hands soft and supple, but what is going to promote skin growth, what is going to start repairing those little nicks faster, what is going to do this all in one pocket-sized bar? Believe you me, I have tried a lot of different creams, and Climb On! does it well. In fact, as of yet, I haven't found anything better.
It comes in a really handy metal container, which can take a lot of abuse and yet still keep the bar inside intact. It lasts a pretty long time too. A standard 1 oz bar will last you a month with everyday use. Now at around £10 a tub, that is really good value. You may only need to use it on climbing days, in which case it will last even longer.
Also, as it comes in solid form, any deep cuts and flappers can be packed with the cream, and taped up, thus improving healing time. The solid form also helps in using just the right amount. Standard hand creams you can buy off the shelf generally leave quite a bit of excess, but with the Climb On! Bar, you don't seem to ever end up with sticky hands.
Conclusion: Thumbs up.
About Adam Lincoln
Adam is a lifer. Addicted to every aspect of climbing. He classes himself as an all rounder. He has clipped his way up to 8b+ on bolts, scared himself up to E8, and bum dragged himself up V12.
His blog is: adamlincoln.blogspot.com
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