OutDoor 2018 - Packs
The UKC/UKH team have just returned from the final OutDoor show at Friedrichshafen. We saw hundreds of innovative, colourful and exciting new products and in this roundup you can see some of the best packs that we came across
The UKC/UKH team have just returned from the final OutDoor show at Friedrichshafen. We saw hundreds of innovative, colourful and exciting new products and in this roundup you can see some of the best products in the climbing equipment category:
Black Diamond - C4 Camalots RRP £60-£110
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10% lighter than the previous version, with an innovative retainer on the larger sizes. They also feature a new tread pattern and a slimmer sling. The stems are also graded for their size, so larger cams have stiffer stems to avoid that annoying flop that sometimes occurs. The cam retainers have also been designed so there is no fatigue to the cam springs.
Edelrid - Giga Jul RRP £60
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The Giga Jul is the latest in Edelrid's assisted braking device range. Their commitment to assisted breaking is first for safety, but also because it is a mandatory requirement within German climbing walls. The Giga Jul can be used as an assisted or a normal device, both as a guide plate or a standard belay. 100g.
Edelrid - Jay and Jayne Harnesses RRP £55
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Edelrid's two best selling harnesses have received an environmental make over, now receiving Bluesign certification. Alongside that they have new slimline buckles and removed the plastic retainer that was formerly around the belay loop.
Grivel - Clepsydra RRP £17
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An update of the classic Clepsydra, with a re-designed gate that's easier to use and a round top bar for smooth lowering and extra durability.
Grivel - G22+ RRP £190
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A good general mountaineering crampon, designed for lightweight use in the alpine environment. The points are also replaceable, so it's suitable for a long-term use. Adjustment wise they're designed to fit almost all boots.
Grivel - Sport Daisy Chain RRP £32
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A short sport specific lanyard, designed for use while sport climbing. Each loop is rated at 23kN, providing a greater degree of safety than your average daisy chain.
Petzl - GriGri RRP £65
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The GriGri has received a few improvements courtesy of its cousin the GriGri+. The result is a greater range of ropes compatible with the device, plus greater safety.
Petzl - Meteor Helmet RRP £75
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The latest incarnation of Petzl's popular Meteor is designed to provide more protection around the back and sides. It is rated for both climbing and ski mountaineering, making it perfect for the all-rounder. The outer shell provides additional wear and tear compared to the likes of the Sirocco, which largely focusses on weight reduction.
Petzl - Ange Finesse Quickdraw
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The Petzl QuickDraw range as a whole has had an update, but in particular the Ange, which features a new dyneema sling, making it ideal for onsight sport climbing.
Beal - Back Up Crevasse System RRP £252
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A pre-assembled and portable crevasse rescue system. It fits into two small bags which contain a 5mm rescue line and rope blocking devices. The rescue line can be lowered down to the victim and then used to haul them to safety.
Beal - Birdie RRP £66
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An assisted braking belay device which works with a rope diameter of 8.5-10.5mm. Works well with their 8.5mm Opera rope. It has an option of adding a screw so you can hold the rope captive inside the device for group use.
Blue Ice - Addax Harness RRP £110
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The lightest cragging harness available at 140g! An extension of the Choukas range. Made from Polyethelene webbing like Dyneema. Maintains a firm supportive feel which spreads the load on the waist and leg loop. 4 gear loops
Climbing Technology - Fixgym
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Designed to protect the maillon at a climbing wall. The Fixgym clips easily to the maillon and prevents rubbing and rotation of the maillon and QuickDraw.
Climbing Technology - Tricky
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An interesting "reach tool" for clipping a bolt that would otherwise be just out of reach. CT are keen to point out that it's not for use as a QuickDraw, but for those long reaches where it might make all the difference.
DMM - Dragonfly Cams RRP £64
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The new DMM micro cam. 6 different sizes, with the largest sizes overlapping with the smaller dragons. With very narrow head widths and flexible stems they also feature thumb loops and the classic DMM extendable slings. The thumb loops in particular are useful for aid climbing. Although the head width in narrow there is a large amount of lobe surface area in contact with the rock. The bar below the lobes allows you to check if the cam is properly seated when in deep placements.
DMM - Phantom HMS RRP £15-£19
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Each one weighs 56grams. 25kn strength on its major axis. Ideal for belaying due to its small size and a long basket at the top which will take two clove hitches as well as letting ropes run through the belay device smoothly.
Snap - Hop Pad
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An entry level pad from snap, made with recycled polyester on the outside. The filling is lighter than the previous generation, with two densities. The styling includes new softer colour schemes... in fact the whole catalogue has been entirely restyled to better appeal to new climbers coming from a wall background.
Ocun - Neon Harness RRP £68.95/£82.95
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It's easy to see why they're called the Neon harnesses! Each harness has 4 gear loops and they are available in two versions: one with fixed leg loops and the other with buckles on the leg loops. The waist and leg loops are made of highly breathable mesh. The rear of the waist is very supportive for increased comfort. Available in neon pink, green and orange.
Ocun - Rope Range RRP £149.95-£169.95
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Vision 9.1, Spirit 9.5, Cult 9.8, Guru 10. All made by Ocun in the Czech Republic. Entirely PFC free. A lot of research and design has gone in to the weaving giving a rope with zero sheath slippage. Due to the lack of adhesive the ropes are very supple. As such they handle very well. They each come with a rope marking pen.
Comments
Assisted braking is not mandatory within German walls, simply recommended and used by the DAV (German BMC).
Plenty of folk happily using tube style devices everywhere.
Hey Mischa, my understanding after attending a lecture/ training with Daniel Gebel from Edelrid was that assisted braking devices are mandatory in climbing gyms in Germany. Apologies if we have the facts wrong.
I'm assuming the use of a thumb loop and doubled sling on the Dragonfly instead of the pig's nose design of the Dragons is due to the lower strength rating of the new Dragonflies?
They do look very nice........
That makes sense but it might also be due to them being more likely to be used for aid climbing where I'm told the loop is particularly useful for connecting as close to the placement as possible.
And because everyone knows that thumb loops are better!