Following on from Greg’s review of the popular Evolv Bandit Lace I’ve also been testing out the Bandit in its more recent guise – the Bandit SC. How would this shoe weigh up in the crowded all-rounder market? As Velcro is a trade name, and isn’t actually used on these shoes Evolv can’t call it the Bandit Velcro, so SC stands for...

As with many subjects, there's an absolute wealth of information available on the internet on how to keep your skin in primo condition for rock climbing. However I believe that much of this advice is a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Being a believer that prevention is better than cure I've laid out some top tips to keep your fingers primed for crushing.

George reviews the new Boulder Britain guide by Niall Grimes. This magnum opus has been an immensely ambitious project in that it covers 180 venues and 3,200 boulder problems across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Does it work as a guidebook though?

Who would have thought that something seemingly so simple as a bouldering mat could be the cause of so much debate? Barely a week seems to pass without some apparently bewildered individual popping up on an internet forum to seek guidance in the confusing world of the crash pad.

Whether you’re just starting out at rock climbing, or a seasoned veteran looking to refresh your mind on a few long forgotten techniques; instructional books are a great tool that many climbers have benefited from. However, with over 70 titles to choose from amongst rock climbing techniques books alone the choice can be a bit overwhelming!

Here at last! The new Eastern Crags guide is now available nearly 90 years after the FRCC produced their very first guidebook to Dow Crag in 1922. No longer are the proud crags of the Eastern Fells piggy-backed on to what some might see as the inferior area of Buttermere...

Being a big fan of the original HB brass offsets I snapped up a set of the new DMM HB Brass Offsets as soon as they became available and have used them ever since to provide many a sneaky gear placement. I was at first unsure as to how they’d fit in with my existing wires, however since investing in them I’ve placed them on every route I’ve done...

April 2011 seemed to be the time when most of the Rock + Run staff migrated up to the West Coast of Scotland at some point. George North was up there first, based around Torridon and then Reiff. A couple of weeks later Andy Hyslop and Mike Binks worked their way up from Gairloch to the far NW, stopping at...

I must admit that I’m a bit of a contrary character; over the last 10 years when each pair of rockboots that I’ve owned have been relegated to warming up duty and I’ve been on the lookout for a new pair I’ve always fancied something different. Believing that another brand or model may offer a superior fit, or greater performance...

The first thing I have to say about this jacket is that it's light – really light! The size medium that I have been testing weighs in at only 370g. The fabric is a mixture of Cordura and Lycra...