We spent the start of the month catching up with brands at the big winter gearfest: ISPO. Despite the fact the show was quieter than usual, this in no way detracted from the quality of the clobber on show and hitting the shops in the near future. Below is a roundup of the most eye-catching and shiny new climbing gear.
Black Diamond - Raven Ice Axe Range
Please enable them to view the content
The Raven range has been updated for 2020, with three models. Each has a different set of features to suit your needs, irrespective of whether or not you want a grippy handle, or how spikey you want it to be.
CAMP - Corsa Nano Tech + Corsa Race + Corsa Alpine
Please enable them to view the content
TCAMP have updated their lightweight ice axe range with a bang, as their Corsa Race has won an ISPO Design Award. That said, this is just the start of the range, with various models available for those who aren't just looking for the lightest (the Race is 185g).
CAMP - Pure NanoTech Ascent
Please enable them to view the content
Two new crampons for 2020, both designed with ski mountaineering in mind. The Pure NanoTech comes in at an insanely light 524g without anti-balling plates. The Ascent is a heavier, but more durable alternative.
Climbing Technology - New Harnesses RRP £55-70
Please enable them to view the content
The Quarzo, Dedalo and Musa are new harnesses in CTs range. Lightweight harnesses, all featuring narrow ( but strong, they assure us!) belay loops. All have split webbing, and come in a unisex model only. Quarzo is more sport oriented, while the three buckle Dedalo (mens) and Musa (womens) would suit alpine, winter or general trad, both featuring an extra rear gear loop. They weigh 320 g, for the Quarzo (size M) and around 50g more for the Dedalo and Musa. At that weight it's nice to get good firm padding and decent gear loops.
Grivel - Ghost Tech RRP £120
Please enable them to view the content
The Ghost Tech is designed with lightweight ski mountaineering.
Grivel - Ice Screw Range RRP £120
Please enable them to view the content
The 720 ice screw is a development of the 360, with an integral QuickDraw and a neat handle that folds away within the ice screw itself. The Shadow is a 10cm emergency screw with five teeth for a quick bite. Finally, the Helium is Grivel's alloy/steel screw, designed to give the best of both worlds - lightweight but durable.
Grivel - Plume EVO and Stealth RRP £17-22
Please enable them to view the content
Two contrasting quickdraws for 2020: one is super light, designed with trad and alpine climbing in mind. He other is much more burly, designed for the high wear encountered whilst sport climbing.
Black Diamond - Ice Climbing Glove Range
Please enable them to view the content
The new range encompasses gloves for everything from dry tooling to crazy/cold Canadian conditions. A key development is the removal of the seam along the base of your little finger, which - with the advent of leashless tools - has a lot more pressure going through it that it did back when leashes were the order of the day.
Comments