The Flash: Rock+Run Blog

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.

This week's video comes from the fantastic crags of North Wales where Dave MacLeod and co. are putting down some serious trad lines. The focus of the video is, of course, the epic line - Mission Impossible.

This week's video is a stunner. Coming to us from the lesser travelled bouldering destinations of South Wales, we get a glimpse at the untapped and underestimated potential of this somewhat forgotten land. South Wales clearly has plenty to offer and with developers like Eliot Stephens and Leo Skinner opening up a wealth of fantastic new venues and lines, there's plenty on offer to make a trip for.

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.

This week's video comes from Europe's current hub for elite sport climbing action - Flatanger cave in Norway. Here, Stefano Ghisolfi, as well as Jakob Schubert and Adam Ondra himself, are working on projects old and new with Stefano's main focus being Ondra's famous 9c route, Silence.

This week's video is the much anticipated, feature length film from Mellow showcasing Shawn Rabatou's epic new line, Alphane. Becoming the first 9A/V17 in Switzerland and only the third in the world, Alphane is the latest and greatest example of Rabatou's talents, clearing defining him as one of the very best boulderers we've ever seen.

This week's video comes from YouTube's resident climbing professional, Magnus Midtbo, as he shows us a very real, no frills training session from his home gym. Although Magnus has become famous for his bizarre training videos and freakish acts of strength, this video takes it back to basics with an intimate look at a regular training session. 

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.

In this week's video, Josh Rundle and free-running legend Toby Segar attempt to break the world record for the longest dyno ever.

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?

Scarpa are one of the oldest and most famous creators of mountain-based footwear in the world. What originally started as a mountain boot company in 1938 has since evolved and grown into one of the world’s leading producers of footwear for the outdoors. In recent years this success has come from their superb range of rock climbing shoes; in this article, we’re taking a deep dive into Scarpa’s shoe making process and the technology that defines their market leading status.

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? 

This week's video comes from Hannah Morris who takes us through climbing's weird and wonderful compilation of confusing terms. Hannah's accessible video unlocks many of the key words, breaking them down and explaining them wonderfully with demonstrations and even a few fun facts.

Originally named ‘Cascade Designs’, Thermarest began life in 1972 as a self inflating camping mattress company. Founded by Boeing engineers and avid mountaineers, John Burroughs, Jim Lea and Neil Anderson - Thermarest truly came to life when the latter two founders were let go in the now-legendary Boeing layoffs. With time on their hands, they dedicated themselves to the quest for a better night’s sleep under the stars. The idea for a self inflating mat? This came from Jim one day while gardening. As he shifted his weight on his foam ground cushion, he heard air escaping from within the pad. The rest, as they say, is history.

This week's video comes from our doorstep here in the Lake District where local lad and friend of Rock+Run, John Hartley, is tearing it up with daring trad ascents.

This week's video comes from Lattice HQ where it's finally the turn of training and dietary guru, Dave MacLeod, to put himself to the test. If, like us, you love nerding out over training content, climbing metrics and professional climbing insight then you'll love this one.

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.

This week’s video comes from one of our favourite Friday spots, Moravský Kras in the Czech Republic, local haunt of Adam Ondra and recent proving ground for British climber Will Bosi. Check out our weekly video to watch Bosi tackle an unrepeated Ondra first ascent.

This week's video is a bouldering banger from Will Bosi who's got to be one of the world's most 'in-form' climbers right now. This collection from Will features a series of his hardest ascents from the summers of 2020 and '21 with a particular favourite of ours being his impressive flash of Isla De Encanta 8B, a legendary local boulder problem for us here in the South Lakes. 

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?

Ever wondered what your head would look like if a huge rock fell on you? Ever wondered what difference a helmet could make if this huge rock actually fell on your head? Well great because this week’s video from Ben at Hard Is Easy is a masterclass in all things helmets.

We catch up with Seb Bouin in an exclusive UK interview to talk everything from his latest 9c route DNA and the French climbing scene to Adam Ondra’s new baby.