The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

We know that there is a vast amount of belay devices available on the market, so we thought it may be helpful to outline the different types of belay devices on offer and give a brief summary of the individual belay devices that we stock. Hopefully this will give you a better understanding when either choosing your first belay device, or deciding you want to try a different type.

Versatile training, excellent ergonomics, and the beautiful aesthetic that only a piece of the finest wood can deliver, it’s fair to say the new VerticalBoard range of fingerboards from YY Vertical has it all.

Climbing shoes are one of the first purchases made once we start climbing more regularly, and it’s one that can have a massive influence on how we engage with the sport throughout those first few months. Knowing which shoes to buy can prove a minefield of choice (and for some a pretty big investment) so take a look at our top picks. 

Purchasing rock shoes online can be a tricky undertaking, the following short article outlines our “suggested” rock shoe fit formula. This system offers the customer between 2 and 4 sizing options – in accordance with their pre-measured foot size – for each of the rock shoe models we stock, with each sizing option offered being appropriate to varying levels of performance.

The following article offers a buying guide for head torches, a simple but essential piece of equipment should you find yourself outdoors after dark. In our opinion, you should never go out without one.

If you're stuck on what sort of head torch you need, check out this guide to give you a better understanding and hopefully you'll be staying out when everyone else has gone home. 

As climbers, our skin is our most important tool, sensitively connecting us to the vertical world and creating the essential friction that keeps us on the wall. But, knowing how to maintain your skin and deal with its specific needs both whilst climbing and between climbing sessions can be tricky. Put simply, most of our climbing skin troubles will come as a result of skin that is either too wet or too dry, we’ll take a look at some of the specifics of each below and some of the products that can help you maintain superb skin.

What are the secrets to climbing well? Well, while there's no magic bullet solution to rock climbing mastery, some relatively inexpensive bits of kit can make a heap of  difference!

With summer and the outdoor climbing season fast approaching, you might be planning to make your debut on real rock, taking the skills you’ve learnt at an indoor wall to your local crags or boulders. In this mini-series we’ll be looking at some of the kit you’ll need to get started climbing outside. This week it’s the turn of bouldering pads, the portable blocks of foam that you’ll be taking with you on a bouldering trip to protect you in the case of a fall. Below we’ll suggest our top 5 picks (in no particular order) for your first bouldering pad, taking price and quality into account.

We’ve reviewed the whole range of EB shoes and, in this article we’re going to round it up with some technical insight and model suggestions to give you a better idea of which EB shoe will suit you best.