The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

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?

Deuter have been making some of the best packs on the market for over 100 years, and manage to keep surprising us with new ideas and designs of their packs. This season is no different with the release of updated versions of some much loved packs.

Organic pads have long been at the pinnacle of the bouldering mat market, becoming the premium go-to for keen boulderers everywhere with unique patchwork patterns and the unbeatable quality that can only come from a handmade product. But, are Organic pads still the best in the business? I've been test driving a full Organic pad set up with a Full Pad, Simple Pad, Slider Pad and the Muffin Protector and Load Flap accessories to find out just how good they really are.

A detailed review of the Sea to Summit Women’s Flame FmIII Sleeping System, incorporating the Flame FmIII Down Sleeping Bag, Ether Light XT Insulated Mat and Aeros™ pillow.

Having been in the Evolv line-up for many years now, the Shaman could be viewed alongside other stone cold classics such as the La Sportiva Miura or the Boreal Joker. The Shaman originally entered the range way back when as Chris Sharma’s signature model, and there was a time when nearly everyone had a pair. Over time the design has changed (evolved?) slightly, but the shoe itself never lost the broad appeal and features that made it popular in the first place.

Super soft sensitivity - the all new Red Chili Sensor does exactly what it says on the tin with an unrivalled set of supple skills that dominate indoor terrain. But beware, this is no one trick pony.

The Siurana rope is a keenly priced rope that I’ve been testing for the last few months. I’ve used it mainly sport climbing in the UK, with the occasional trad outing and a bit of top roping and indoor training thrown in. In a nutshell, the Siurana is a medium-diameter sport climbing rope that is suited to a wide variety of climbs. It clocks in at 9.6mm diameter, and comes in lengths of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 80 metres – a good range with something for everyone.

Sustainable excellence in a comfortable, breathable package - the Red Chili Ventic Air Lace is without a doubt the nicest climbing shoe experience I’ve ever had.

Like much of the competition, Red Chili have opted to make their latest all-rounder shoe with a knitted upper. Plucked from the big branded world of trainers, these softer knit fabrics have become synonymous with the comfy shoe in any brand’s line up. Promising a more forgiving fit on top of the foot and offering more breathability than the classic climbing shoe uppers, the benefits of this new material’s climbing shoe infiltration are clear. But, how will it affect performance and how will it stand up to the rigours of regular climbing? More on this below.

In an age where climbing styles and disciplines are growing further apart, that old moniker of the ‘all-rounder’ is becoming increasingly obsolete, pushing climbing shoe manufacturers to produce more specialist models designed for a particular purpose. Up steps the Mantra, quite possibly the most extreme version of this refinement we’ve ever seen. Is this a good thing? Keep reading to find out.

Here in the UK we share a lot with the Americans. Our taste in music, fashion and culture, the food we eat and even some of their climbing brands. The latest of which is Flashed, a bouldering pad company some might recognise having been on the UK climbing scene over 10 years ago. Now they’re back for another bite of the cherry with two pads that attack the premium end of the bouldering mat market but promise robust, unrivalled quality. A neat addition or more American trash? Read on to find out.

Dave Westlake has been testing two models of approach shoe from Black Diamond in recent months – the Mission XP and the Technician Leather. These are both what I’d call ‘cragging’ approach shoes, in a category of footwear which now covers all eventualities and all approaches. At one extreme, we have easy on/off trainer style shoes for approaching the indoor gym from the carpark. At the other, we have sturdy waterproof mountain shoes for treacherous 2+ hour walk-ins. Both the Mission XP and the Technician Leather from BD are somewhere in between – most similar to the classic Five Ten Guide Tennie. 

The evolution of an old classic, the La Sportiva TX2 EVO comes to the market packed full of fantastic features that revamp and refresh the original TX2. Will this second iteration live up to the name? Find out here as Rock+Run team member Pete gives them the runaround.

Aggressive precision in an updated, back-to-basics package - the second iteration of the Red Chili Voltage 2 is a no frills, no spills high performance shoe that just seems to make sense. Produced in the wake of Edelrid’s Red Chili takeover, the Voltage 2 came to market in 2019 as the flagship shoe for this new alliance but, did they get it right? Read our review to find out.

Choosing a new sleeping bag is never an easy task. With so many different well known brands and models on offer, why should you consider the Rock+Run own brand range? Hopefully, within the next few minutes, this review will give you pause for thought.

GB ice climber, Matt Foot, takes Mammut's Alpine Dry 8mm half ropes for a spin. Testing them in both summer and winter, Matt gives his full review from first impressions to 6 months in.

Cutting edge performance in a sublimely designed package - Scarpa’s new Instinct S is a real weapon of the vertical world, transcending any preconceived notions about the effectiveness of a climbing slipper with an example of excellence that truly changes the climbing shoe game. But how have they done it and what makes Scarpa’s latest Instinct slipper so special?

The Mystix was a superb 2020 addition to Red Chili’s high performance lineup, packed full of impressive new features and sporting a whole new last but, with most of their time on sale spent during a pandemic, is 2022 the year when the Mystix finally comes of age? 

The Balboa has already done it all. From 9c sport routes to bouldering World Cup finals, but, can this latest offering from EB mix it with the very best?

Classically EB in features and profile, the Django’s third iteration has been refined into a very recognisable EB shoe that embodies the brand but, whilst it shares many similarities with the other shoes in the range, the Django is a unique beast. Find out why here.

Coming in as the stiffest (and most eye-catching) model in the EB range, the Strange has been engineered to perform tremendously on real rock with a fast lace-up system that further enhances its suitability for a day at the crag. But, aren’t laces, as the name suggests, a strange choice? Although they might take longer to tie than the Velcro alternative, the lace-up closure on the Strange provides unrivalled adjustability that a Velcro system simply can’t match.

A serious step up in climbing skincare, Climbskin’s Hand Cream comes packed full of superb, natural ingredients which combine to provide the handiest healing solution on the market.

Sensitive and efficient performance in a versatile, comfortable package – the latest iteration of EB’s famous Guardian is an impressive addition to a range of shoes that already pack a serious punch. The previous version of the Guardian was an iconic model for EB and was certainly the most common EB shoe seen in my local gyms, so, the 3^rd generation has big boots to fill. Can they live up to the name?

The Scarpa Spin Ultra was a real blessing on this type of terrain and I ended up wearing them from Keld right through to the finish at Robin Hood’s Bay (some 100miles). I’m lucky in that I don’t seem to have to break in new shoes as my feet are probably hardened from the years of rock climbing and mountaineering, that being said I probably wouldn’t recommend running 100 miles in new shoes straight form the box but for me the Spin Ultra’s were perfect.