The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

To knee, or not to knee? That is the question. 

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the stings and arrows of sharp limestone, or by wearing a knee pad, crush them. 

For many climbers, this dilemma strikes when facing the idea of buying that first kneepad. But, let me reassure you - in today’s climbing world, a kneepad is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessary weapon and few models embody this better than the Red Chili Knee Rock Kneepad.

It’s here. The long awaited collaboration project between La Sportiva and Czech climbing demi-god Adam Ondra has descended from Mount Olympus in the form of the Ondra Comp. But what does that mean for the rest of us mere mortals of the climbing world?

For a bit of context most of my fell running is in the Lake District, and my go to shoe for years has been the classic La Sportiva Mutant. My only issue with these shoes is that during the colder months my feet get absolutely freezing, making winter running extremely uncomfortable. So when I got the chance to try a pair of the new La Sportiva Tempesta GTX I absolutely jumped at the chance! So let’s see how they have squared up over a few hundred frozen winter miles. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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?

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?

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.

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. 

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?

The Cuesta from Blue Ice is a sleek, modern rock climbing harness from the Chamonix-based French brand. While Blue Ice might be known more for their alpine gear, the Cuesta is very much a rock climbing harness – though the version that has adjustable leg loops would no doubt be at home in any mountain environment. I’ve been easing my way into the early season for rock climbing here in the south of the UK with the Cuesta in tow (along with gloves, hat and many layers!). 

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.