Camp ROCKSTAR Helmet
This is a simple no frills helmet. Possibly good for a beginner where price is a factor. Helmet does not fit big heads like mine, so if ya got a big one you should go elsewhere. Nice colors. I call it, just what it is, no frills just ok.
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Superclip by Rock Climbing Tools
This is Stick Clip heaven. The Superclip clips and unclips virtually any carabiner on the market using a spring action. This is the best stick clip on the market. Did I mention unbreakable? I dig it.
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Ice Holdz Ice climbing wall holds
One of a kind climbing hold for your home climbing wall. You can stick your axe in them or just hang off them with your axe. I think if you climb ice you would do good by having a few of these for practice. They have a nice feel when sticking them with an axe. I got em and I dig em!
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Mad Rock Headlamps
These have got to be the cheapest headlights on the market. Not the best in any way. But I got a couple to put in my cars and gear bags for emergency and they cost next to nothing. For that I dig em.
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Black Diamond nForce Ascenders
Well I just got around to pulling these out and playing with them. I have a rope doubled up, hanging in my shop for misc demo stuff and also so I can rehab my shoulder from a snowboard accident doing Euro carves. I usually do pull ups and other misc stuff. I was using a pair of Yates Rescue Ascenders that weighed a little under a pound each and looked like you could use them for a hammer. Well I first noticed the weight difference, almost half the weight of the rescue ascenders. Next I noticed the sweet ergonomic handle that actually fit my hand which is grotesquely huge compared to the rest of humanity. The thumb release was a bit to get used to but was easier when it was on the rope. Sliding the ascender up and down the rope was nice and smooth. Hanging on them with all my weight while doing pull ups and bicycles, the grips were actually pretty damn good. I totally recommend these.
Pros: Super light, great ergonomic handle, hole in top for locking in rope.
Cons: Can't use as hammer, getting used to thumb release.
3/6/08
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Mad Rock
Sentinel Hangers
Well it's been about 6 months now that I've been using these hangers by Mad Rock and the more I use them , the more I like them. Instead of your biner sitting on a sharp edge, like on other hangers the biner sits on a curved lip that is nice and wide. Much easier on the biner, great idea Mad Rock! The metal thickness is somewhat thinner than most others but I don't think that should be a problem.
Pros: Smoother lip, easier on the biner
Cons: A bit thinner than other hangers
5/12/08
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Wild Country Helium Quickdraw I love these biners. They are by far the easiest
biners to handle with big hands that I've ever tried and I've got big
hands. I dig the no snag nose too, one less problem when you don't need
it. I do have to admit that the price is outrageous but well worth it if you fumble around with smaller biners. Made with I beam construction and a real no snag nose plus a solid wire gate makes one bulletproof carabiner. Add a dogbone with a rubber tadpole and you have one really nice quickdraw.
Cons: Price
5/16/08
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MAD ROCK PARADOX BELAY DEVICE
The overall look of the Paradox belay device is nice and clean looking. Its a forged aluminum tube style belay device that you can adjust friction by turning the device around. I found that my rope tended to get sticky on occasion. It's possible that it may have been the size and stiffness of my rope that was the problem, I should have tried it out with more ropes. Aside from that, It worked like any other tube belay.
Pros: good price, Basic proven design
Cons: Rope stickiness problem with my rope