With it’s thick dogbone and easy to clip carabiners, The Crag Express Set Quickdraw not only will fit your budget but will make you a better climber in the process. We had the opportunity to field test the Crag Express Quickdraw over a six month testing period here is what we thought.

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For those looking for a robust quickdraw that never wears out, the Edelrid Bulletproof Quickdraw is a no brainer. Thanks to the innovation over at Edelrid, the Ederid Bulletproof Quickdraw features a steel inset that sits inside the biner that makes contact with the rope while climbing, drastically reducing wear and increasing the life of your quickdraw. Placed within an aluminum biner, the steel inset of this draw packs a punch. Over our six week field test of these draws, they showed no signs of wear after being used in some very sandy conditions.

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It was not long ago that Scarpa had almost gone quiet on the North American climbing shoe front. It was the introduction of the Scarpa Instinct via international competition that pushed Scarpa back into the spotlight and helped Scarpa with, what now feels like, a domination of the North American shoe market. The Scarpa Instinct, from velco to lace-up, is a high performance downturned climbing shoe that can be used as an ‘everyday performance shoe’ for those seeking a great blend of power and sensitivity. Performing best on overhanging terrain, the Instinct VS also has the ability to handle slab and vertical climbing well, making it reliable in almost any situation Now with the introduction of the lace-up version, which provides stability and strength on vertical terrain, the Instinct line may simply be unstoppable.

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As the sport of climbing grows, both responsive technologies and thinner rubbers have influenced the technical design of the modern climbing shoe. As these technologies evolve, shoes are becoming much more refined, moving from the traditional full foot last to multiple connected lasts that work together to create a symmetry of precision. With the re-design of the Evolv Shaman, the designers at Evolv have taken a big step forward in the ever changing climate of the modern climbing shoe. The Evolv Shaman is a technical, downturned climbing shoe that really shines on overhanging terrain and technical heel hooking. It’s natural downturned shape combined with its padded tongue makes it one of the most comfortable climbing shoes we have ever reviewed.

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The Petzl Arial 9.5 Dry Climbing Rope was designed for the experienced climber looking for a good balance between performance and maximum durability. Treated with Duratec Dry and EverFlex handling, this rope is ideal in all conditions and will keep you climbing throughout the seasons. During our six month testing period, we found that this rope can be defined by its durability. The Petzl Arial was able to take substantial abuse when climbing on a regular basis and continued to perform well throughout its lifespan.

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