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Welcome to our Blog where you will find a large collection of informative articles and videos for new and experienced climbers, runners and outdoor enthusiasts.

We are particulary proud of our in-depth Product Reviews and associated Buying Guides. We have a series on The Basics, for those new to, or are interested in climbing. We also have a wealth of Product Information and Brand Profiles and much much more.

Welcome to our Blog where you will find a large collection of informative articles and videos for new and experienced climbers, runners and outdoor enthusiasts.

We are particulary proud of our in-depth Product Reviews and associated Buying Guides. We have a series on The Basics, for those new to, or are interested in climbing. We also have a wealth of Product Information and Brand Profiles and much much more.

The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

Precision and power in a refined Pro package, the new Flagship Pro might just be the crowning jewel in Unparallel’s latest lineup, taking American climbing shoe design to lofty new heights. Released alongside the all-new Qubit, these two models mark a new age for Unparallel, leaving us asking, “5.10 who?”. Designed in collaboration with Tomoa Narasaki, the Flagship Pro takes everything great from the original model and cranks it up to 11. So, it’s been built for the best competition boulderer of our age, but how will it fare on my fine feet? Let’s dive in and find out.

  • 4 min read

La Sportiva has blossomed this spring and brought unto the climbing shoe world not just one, two or three new offerings, but a family of four! The freshest of the bunch, the Mandala, promises to grant the wearer support, sensitivity and versatility— a confidence inspiring crescendo of climbing shoecraft. 

  • 4 min read
A shoe for the many, not the few. The V6 is a superb example of the recent strides Evolv have taken with their shoe design, creating a shoe in the V6 that does the impossible - fit, suit and support pretty much everyone. It really is a shoe that can do it all.
  • 4 min read
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.
  • 4 min read
Bigger, bolder, better. The new Evolv Zenist Pro truly earns its name as one of the most cutting edge climbing shoes Evolv has ever made. Locked and loaded with a lot of the same new tech as its more outdoor focussed cousin, the Shaman Pro, the pair spearhead a revitalised Evolv and thrust it firmly in a modern direction. But, is this new look bang or bust for Evolv?
  • 4 min read
In a world where all kit is getting lighter and lighter and lighter is it such a bad thing to consider an advanced piece of kit that isn't quite at the cutting edge of development? This is a review for the Blue Ice - Aero Ice Screw. It's important to note this is different to the newer Aero Lite screw from Blue Ice. 
  • 5 min read
Sleek, slim and supremely soft, the Unparallel Souped UP is the epitome of the modern climbing shoe, refined and ready to hook, jam and jump its way into your gym climbing heart. But, write this one off as just another volume hopper at your peril - the Souped UP might just be the perfect shoe for some outdoor climbers too.
  • 3 min read
Refined simplicity in a versatile pack designed to tackle the fastest and lightest mountain adventures, the Vertrail 16 comes in as the most intriguing addition to the 2023 Deuter pack range. Hybridising elements of a trail running vest, a roll top dry bag and a conventional mountaineering day pack in a compact 16 litre offering, have Deuter nailed it or have they bitten off more than most of us can chew?
  • 2 min read

Dynamic precision in a newly conceptualised take on a classic, the Evolv Shaman Pro seizes its family line and thrusts it firmly to the pinnacle of the performance shoe world. Used and no doubt co-designed with Evolv's elite rostrum of top athletes like Daniel Woods and Alex Johnson, the Shaman Pro is the shoe for hard projects and that next level in bouldering difficulty - so it's good, really flipping good, but is it the shoe for you?

  • 4 min read
Innovative brilliance in a versatile vehicle of climbing comfort and performance, it doesn't get any better than the modern day remake of the Scarpa Vapour S. Recent years have seen a renaissance for the climbing slipper with many of the top brands ranging one, although most seem to type cast their slipper into one of two categories; the left-field performance thoroughbred or the super-soft, comfy training shoe. But, as legendary inventor, Thomas Edison once said, "There's a way to do it better - find it", and I reckon Scarpa might just have done that with the Vapour S, here's why.
  • 4 min read
From easy-going, summer trails to soggy coastal walk ins, the Mission Leather Lows from Black Diamond have been a revelation. Like a best hits album, the Mission Leather Lows combine a lot of the essential underfoot features of their superb approach shoe range with the best bits of a sturdier leather walking boot to produce the ultimate approaching machine. 
  • 3 min read
Faster, lighter, brighter, the Guide 30 is the quintessential Deuter pack within the new SS23 range boasting a range of subtle and some not so subtle improvements that put the new packs up there as the very best on the market. Perfectly sized for a day out in the UK hills, the Guide 30 sits at the fulcrum of the Guide range and will doubtless be one of the most popular options for UK mountaineers but, is it worth your money?
  • 3 min read