The Atom line of jackets by Arc’teryx have an established reputation as warm, light and stylish jackets that are best used as cold weather mid-layers and shoulder season outer-layers. The Atom Super light (SL) is similar in fit and appearance to the Atom LT and AR, but it has much lighter insulation that makes it best suited for high output activities or milder days. Squamish Climbing Magazine has been putting the Atom SL through its paces on snow, rock, and muddy trails over the past 10 weeks, and we’ve found it to be a versatile addition to an admittedly already packed gear closet.

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The Five Ten Team 5.10 is a very aggressive downturned climbing shoe that performs exceptionally well on steep rock. The shape of these shoes is their most defining feature, placing the foot in an ideal position for pulling in on footholds. Additionally, their mid range stiffness makes them very versatile, capable of both edging and smearing well. In fact, since trying them, the Team 5.10 has become my number one choice for performance on most sport climbs and boulder problems.

To guide our review, we have broken the shoe down into its specific components to give you a full summary of its features.

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For all those looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for your fellow climber, well look no further. Flashed Climbing has come up with some innovative products over the past few years that simply make life easier. Here is our review of a few of those products, including the Holster Chalk Bag, Sumi Brush, Bamboo, Brush, and Flashed Climbing Tape that can help anyone with their sending woes.

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Quickdraw design has come into wider scrutiny over the past few years. With the increasing practice of fixing draws, checking wear patterns on fixed draws has become the norm rather than the exception. Exacerbated by a need to reduce weight, the new H-style or concave design used in the modern carabiner has made prolonged-use of a carabiner a risk factor depending on the design. Now more than ever, climbers from all different disciplines are taking into consideration prolonged-use and the design of a quickdraw before shelling out a load of cash for a new set of draws.

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I have used a ‘duffle style’ backpack for years. I love the ‘stuff it’ packing style and the quick accessibility for times when I think I have forgotten something at the crag. However, over the past few years, I’ve had some trouble with my lower back when hiking to the crag. The pack that I’ve used in the past didn’t provide the support I needed for long hikes and I often ended up carrying my rope separately just to make room for all the hot/cold weather essentials. I needed something that was going to give me both the support for my lower back and the convenience of easy access. With this in mind, I decided it would be a great idea to check out Patagonia’s Crag Daddy Pack 45L.

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On a rainy Friday night in Squamish, the Squamish Academy of Music played host to The Unveiling by Ground up Climbing Centre. Catering to a packed house, the event was an information session and membership drive all in one. With good food and drink, the event was surely not to be missed.

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