There are still barriers to entry for the outdoors. Shelma Jun’s solution is simple: create opportunities that welcome people in. Hear more from Jun in the ‘Finding Space’ film. Shot in February of this year, Arc’teryx’s “Finding Space” film profiles Flash Foxy founder Shelma Jun. This film jumps right into talking about accessibility in the outdoors, what it means to be part of the outdoor community, and what we can all do to “find our space” outside. Jun, who founded Flash Foxy — a women’s online climbing community — in 2014, builds events and programs for women in climbing and works to ..read more

The Edelrid NEO 3R 9.8mm will use 50% recycled material from cords the company would typically discard. The climbing world will witness a huge milestone this summer when Edelrid launches the first climbing rope made from used ropes. This new rope signals a higher level of sustainability from a brand already profoundly involved in minimizing the impact of climbing gear manufacturing. Edelrid Recycled Climbing Rope: How? Edelrid invested 5 years of development into producing the world’s first rope with recycled materials. The German brand conjured up special processing techniques during fiber we ..read more

Get the scoop on rock climbing difficulty grades and safety ratings here: what they are, what they mean, and why they’re important. Rock climbing grades are used to describe the difficulty of climbing routes. Grades are used in rock climbing gyms and outdoors at the crag. Before starting up a route, it can be helpful to be aware of the route’s grade, which is determined by the consensus of those who have climbed the route. Grades can be a helpful framework for measuring your own climbing progression as you acquire new strengths, skills, and techniques. Climbers use many different grading syste ..read more

Adidas Five Ten released the Hiangle Pro today, a shoe the brand specifically designed for World Cup competitions and the Tokyo Olympics. Over the last few years, several climbing shoe brands have launched indoor or bouldering shoes adapted to the more gymnastic and athletic style of modern gym climbing. These shoes are usually softer, more sensitive, and better at toe hooking and scumming than “regular” sport shoes. But adidas Five Ten went a step further with the Hiangle Pro ($160), addressing a key issue for the high-end climber. Because of the parkour-style setting that has infiltrated the ..read more

Bouldering, which was once considered a simple training activity for longer climbing routes and big walls, has become one of the most popular forms of rock climbing. With each passing season, boulder fields see higher visitation from eager groups of crash pad-wielding enthusiasts. The simplicity of bouldering is responsible for its rapid surge. Compared to other climbing disciplines, bouldering is approachable and easy to understand. All you really need to get started is a pair of climbing shoes, chalk, and a good crash pad. The object of the game is simple: Climb to the top — no rope required ..read more

How do 13 pitches of climbing up to 5.14d sound? Oh, and it’s the tallest artificial multipitch route in the world. Late last year, Slovenian world-class climbers Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic ventured into the biggest climbing project of their lives: attempting the longest artificial multipitch route in the world. Garnbret and Škofic chose to set their sights on the highest chimney in Europe (360 m high): the Trbovlje Power Station, a rising concrete dagger of a building that stands over 1,100 feet tall. That’s taller than the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler building. And ..read more

A good hangboard is the most effective tool available to rock climbers training to improve their capabilities. Check out the best hangboards of 2021. It is no secret that the popularity of climbing is actively booming. Before the pandemic throwing a wrench in the industry’s plans, 75 new climbing gyms were scheduled to open in 2020 — the most ever in a single calendar year. The allure of urban climbing facilities is clear — new climbers are discovering that climbing offers a rare combination of exercise and social interaction. Once hooked on the activity, the hunger for personal progression an ..read more

This stunning, zig-zagging crack feature is right up this climber’s alley. Jesse Dufton, a blind paraclimber, has put up first ascents in the Arctic, ice climbed in Norway, and was the first blind person to climb Scotland’s Old Man of Hoy. He also holds several medals from national indoor climbing comps in the U.K. This time, Dufton isn’t going for the tallest route or most pitches — he’s climbing to push his grade. Dufton, along with his wife and climbing partner Molly Dufton, are at Yorkshire Grit at Heptonstall Quarry in the U.K. to tackle a 5.10c, his hardest route yet. The Forked Lightnin ..read more

Here at GearJunkie, we test a lot of gear. And we’re fortunate to test new, cutting-edge products. Now, we want to give you the chance to win some gear too. This week, two lucky winners will receive a Session Climbing Harness and Session Quickdraw Set, valued at over $185! More on the Prize Wild Country’s Session Harness is a versatile harness that is designed with a unique V-Flex belt and Dura-Weave mesh construction. The Session Harness is made to handle everything from modern sport climbs to long mountain trad multipitch. The Session Quickdraw set is complemen ..read more

A natural curiosity mixed with a passion for climbing led this woman to carve out a niche in the outdoor industry. Here’s how. Lanisha (L.) Renee Blount’s smile is infectious. If you’ve picked up the latest Outside Magazine, you’ve seen her 1,000-megawatt grin. Jeans, white sun shirt, a stylishly tied red bandana. Hunkered over a bouldering pad, her smile beams out of the photo. “I don’t want people to think ‘I have arrived’,” Blount shared sheepishly. “I wouldn’t say it’s been easy!” Blount has been modeling for just a few years. She’s perfectly comfortable both in front of and behind t ..read more