Black Diamond Credo Pants - Women's

Practical and stylish with the Black Diamond logo clearly sewn onto the back of these trousers, they are a multi-purpose trouser for climbing as well as casual everyday use.

They are lightweight and are great for summer climbing with a slight stretch in the material which is made of 97% cotton and 3% elastane. The waist has a zip front, a small button on the inside and also a tie cord so the waist can be adjusted tighter if need be. These trousers also include a drawcord around the ankles, allowing to wear them tight around the ankles whilst climbing so you can see your feet for perfect footwork, or as a standard leg to cover footwear, or even rolled up to create ¾ length trousers.

Also to add to the praise of these trousers, they have pockets either side and two pockets behind which are cleverly disguised as a seam, and a small zip pocket on the right leg.  Although I would recommend these for summer climbing, I have also worn these in the winter with a pair of warm leggings underneath.

The Black Diamond Credo Pants being put to the test

 What Black Diamond say:

“Back Diamond recommended the Credo pants use for bouldering”.

This is true but they are also great for sport and trad climbing too as they fit snug under a harness! Because they look so great, you don’t have to wear them for just climbing. They can be worn as casual everyday trousers too.

 Colours come in Eclipse (very dark blue), After Dark (very dark brown), Denim (blue denim) and Lipstick (pinky/red).

To get an idea on the sizing; a medium fits a size 10.

The price depends on the retailer you buy from and will cost anywhere in between £58 - £65

Ruffwear Singletrak Pack

Singletrak Pack Low-Profile Hydration

WHY A DOG BACKPACK?
It gives my dog a job to do and a purpose when out on hikes or the long walk to the crag.  By carrying her own essentials such as water bottles, poop bags and snacks, it leaves me with more space in my own backpack for more of my climbing gear.

What sold this pack for me is that it’s streamlined and low-profile, it still looks like a harness without the bulk of big packs either side. It’s good for small loads as I didn’t want my dog to carry too much weight.

The Ruffwear Singletrak Pack contours close to my dog’s body giving the pack a streamlined effect, so she can still run through narrow spaces, up gullies and through vegetation without any problems of getting caught up. It doesn’t shift to one side as much as a bigger pack would, although it will shift a little if one side is heavier than the other.

The Ruffwear Singletrak Pack features an easy grip handle on the back, which gives me more control when assisting her up awkward terrain and the lead attachment loop is located on the back.

HYDRATION AND POCKETS
The Ruffwear Singletrak Pack consists of 4 zipped pockets. Two of which includes 0.6 litre collapsible water bottles in each pocket. These have a pop-up squirt lid that makes it easy to fill her water bowl. I would recommend emptying the water bottles evenly, to ensure both sides of the pack are an even weight distribution. It makes my life hassle free as I don’t have to search for the water bottle and bowl in my backpack every time she needs a drink. In the other smaller pockets I store her poop bags and sometimes her food and snacks, depending on the length of our outing.  

THE FIT
She doesn’t seem to notice when wearing it and the harness is easy to adjust. The straps under the belly and for the chest are padded for extra comfort. The straps clip in using snap-on plastic clips, making it easy to unclip and take the harness off quickly. Jayda the Labrador is modelling the L/XL Singletrak Pack.  

IMPROVEMENTS
The pack is great and there are only a few minor inconveniences worth noting.
One is having to lift my dog’s right leg through the chest strap before clipping the pack on. This could be solved by having an extra buckle.

Secondly the harness comes in grey with green trim, the light colour is designed to reflect heat from the sun and looks great when it’s clean. Although on muddy days in the UK, the pack can get pretty dirty in all that tempting mud she likes to run through.

Thirdly once the straps are adjusted, there can be some long loose straps dangling, it would be convenient if these loose straps had somewhere to tuck away more easily.  




CONCLUSION
Overall the harness is robust and practical and is the best low-profile pack I've found so far. Giving my dog a job to do by carrying her own essentials, leaves me with more space in my own backpack for more of my climbing gear. She can wear it all day with no chaffing or marks appearing. I would recommend this harness but do check what the maximum weight your dog should carry before loading the pockets. This will vary depending on your dog's size. As a guide it's recommended that a healthy fit dog carries no more than 25 - 30% of their body weight in their dog pack.

WHAT RUFFWEAR SAY

Low-profile saddlebags ride close to the body, allowing dogs to be agile.

Two soft-sided 0.6L collapsible water bottles are BPA-free and taste-free.

Customizable fit with five points of adjustment allow for full range of motion.

Foam-padded chest and belly straps for comfortable, extended wear.

Light color is designed to reflect heat from the sun.

Low-light visibility with reflective trim.

RRP £94.99 - Initially this may look pricey but it's worth it for a good quality pack.






















Review by Emma Harrington

The North Face Gentle Stretch Cami Tank Top

The Fit

The North Face gentle stretch cami tank top feels so soft and lightweight; it doesn't cling to your stomach and is made of a stretch material which fits snug around the bust but slightly loose around the stomach. The back is very sporty yet elegant and crosses and twists over at the back. The top skims nicely over the contours of the body, with the front straps not being too thin and a big bonus is that they do not cut into your shoulders or back.


The top does have an internal shelf bra fitted inside, but I do sometimes wear a sports bra underneath as I thought the front might be a little low when doing certain gymnastic climbing moves. For you brand hungry climbers out there, there is a small North Face logo stitched on the bottom hem which is double sided, so if the top slightly rides up or overturns at the bottom, the North Face logo can still be seen.
The top comes in many colours, blue, pink and yellow to name a few. Some of the tops are one block colour whilst some have swirl patterns which blend softly into the design and looks quite pretty.

Any downfalls to the top?
The positive aspect is that it has a lightweight and soft material but this can also be it's downfall if you want to climb coarse or sharp rock. The material isn't abrasion resistant, and if you plan to climb on gritstone, or any coarse rock for that matter, and accidentally graze your top on the sharp rock, it wouldn't last very long. Just something to keep in mind.

Sizing
The top come in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL.
To get an idea on sizing, a size small fits a size 10.

What North Face have to say:
Ultraviolet Protection Factor UPF 15
Suitable for climbing, travel or kicking back Lightweight cotton blend with stretch.
Weight 100g Fabric 96% Cotton, 4% Elastane

 RRP £24

The North Face Gentle Stretch Cami Tank Top in Action

Ruffwear Webmaster Dog Harness

There’s nothing better than going out in the great outdoors with (wo)man’s best friend. Sometimes you come across obstacles like gates, boulders and styles, and depending on the size, age and agility of your dog, they need that extra little helping hand to get through difficult to access areas.

Tried and tested:

Webmaster Harness

At first glance to the untrained eye this harness looks like a stylish dog jacket. I have had many comments when my dog is wearing this as to where I got it from.

The handle on the back allows you to lift your dog over awkward terrain. The padded foam straps go under the belly area and the chest area providing balanced lifting with good load dispersion. Although the belly straps are padded, they could do with being a little wider to make it a little more comfortable when lifting, but this harness is only designed to provide brief lifting and assistance for the dog, for example in and out the car, over styles  and up gullies. This harness is not a double back harness and is only secured by plastic clips, so therefore is not suitable for any bigger lifting.
The harness seems very comfortable to wear for my dog and she has worn it for long days out at the crag with no chaffing. 

There are two points of connection, the aluminium V-ring lead attachment or a webbing loop at the rear. I only tend to use the metal V-ring to attached the lead to as this seems the most secure.  Located on the inner part of the harness there is a label inside to write your dog's details (name and telephone number). This is helpful if you have more than one dog with the same harness or for extra peace of mind if your dog goes missing, although I would recommend your dog still wear a collar and identity tag or attach the identity tag to the small webbing loop on top of the harness.

The harness comes in two colours, red currant and twilight grey and has a reflective trim that works well in low visibility when a light is directed at it.

There are three adjustment points on the front chest area and adjustment points around the widest part of the chest and also around the belly. This is great to enable to get the perfect fit.

My dog has had this for three years and it's been through, rain, snow, mud and other mucky smelly stuff, and with a quick wash it is still in good condition.  It can be hand washed and I have put it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.

Ruffwear

What Ruffwear say:

• Efficient, easy to clip sheltered buckles keep straps firmly in place over time
• Anatomical design provides controlled,comfortable and balanced lifting with good load dispersion
• Customiseable fit with five points of adjustment allow for full range of motion
• Secure design for even the best "houndini dog"
• Foam padded chest and belly straps for comfortable, ex-tended wear
• Two points of connection: aluminium V-ring leash attachment up front or the webbing loop at the rear
• 3M Scotchlite reflective trim assists visibility in low light

RRP £59.99

Black Diamond ATC XP Belay Device Review

This device features multiple friction modes to offer more hold and stopping power than a standard ATC.  It gives more control when lowering a climber or rappelling, especially on thinner ropes, but still runs through smooth and fast. According to Black Diamond it gives three times greater hold and stopping power than in regular-friction mode.
The ATC XP is reversible, allowing you to use it with the grooves for extra control or without the grooves like a standard ATC for smooth abseiling. 

It must be made clear that this device is not an auto-locking device and still works the same way as a standard ATC, but gives that extra control and breaking power, especially if you climb with someone who is heavier. This makes me feel a lot more in control when lowering my climbing partner who is a few stone and lbs heavier than me. I would recommend this for anyone looking for more control with the rope, especially if you use thinner ropes.

It is 30% lighter than the original and only weights 64g. It accepts rope from 7.7 to 11mm.

Colours come in Anthrecite, Orange and Mocha.
(The one shown in this review is Anthrecite).

It costs around £20 depending on which retailer you buy from.

Use this way round to use with the grooves for more friction                    

Use the other way round so the rope runs through smoother                 

Southern Sandstone Climbing Equipment

Sandstone climbing in the South East of England requires different types of gear than in other climbing areas. The sand eats through the climbing gear so you need to consider investing in a separate set of equipment if you are a regular visitor or even just planing a trip to the area. Its not that expensive and most of it is self explanatory in relation to the code of practice on sandstone.

Due to the rock having only a thin outer layer, the rock is very fragile and can only be soloed or top-roped.  Lead climbing is prohibited and placing gear would easily rip out and damage the rock.

Check out the Southern Sandstone Climbs Website for more information on what type of gear to use on the Sandstone rock, including static ropes, slings and rope and rock protectors.

 

 

Wild Country Balance Pant Review - Women's

Overview
The Wild Country Balance Pants are an excellent choice for those climbers needing tougher more hard wearing  pants for gritstone and granite, trad and bouldering although in the cooler months they would be a great choice for sport. They class them as 'real climbing pants for real climbers'. They are loose fitting with a Y-cut crotch area to give that extra range of  movement needed in climbing. Low front pockets on each hip do not interfere when wearing a harness and one rear flap pocket is handy.  Elasticated waist around the back, and they do up at the front with a button and zip. The drawcord on the waistband makes it easily adjustable to tighten even further if you're having a 'slim' day. The knees are 'ergonomic pre-shaped knees', basically this means the fabric has been gathered and stitched at the knee giving extra space for bending them whilst climbing.
Another advantage is that there is an adjustable elasticated cord around the ankles, giving the option to tighten the base of the trousers or have them loose.

Colours
The women's colours come in Moon and Cobalt. Why they just can't call them grey and blue, I do not know. I ordered a pair from an online shop, and because of the colour names they give them, they ended up sending me the wrong colour, as I think they got confused too.
The men's versions they have in the grey and black. I could not find these in black for women.

Sizing

A UK size 10...on a UK size 14 (They fit perfectly)

A UK size 10...on a UK size 10 (They are too big)

One major disadvantage I did notice was the women's sizing's are completely wrong for UK sizing.

I ordered a UK size 10, and when I tried them on they were hanging off me. A friend of mine who is a size 14 tried them on, and they fitted her perfectly!  

Their size 10 is more like a UK size 14

I would usually be a UK size 10, but I ordered another pair in their UK size 6 (XS) and they were a perfect fit for me.

They come in UK sizes on the label, but I am almost certain that these are US sizes. So beware when ordering your size, get a size or two smaller!

Overall they are sturdy trousers, that will be good for cooler days. Wearing these in the summer are just too hot. They look good, with the Wild Country logo on the back and side and are extremely comfortable.

FEATURES:
Flat, elasticated, adjustable drawcord waistband
Loose fit
‘Y cut’ crotch
Ergonomic pre-shaped knees
Low set flat front pockets
Wind resistant
Rear flap pockets
Elastic boot hem adjustment system with cord locks
Garment dyed
Materials: stretch cotton twill / 98% cotton / 2% elastane
Sizes: 6-14
Moon / Cobalt
505g / 17.81oz

Review by Emma Harrington

3rd Rock Climbing Sports Bras

Photo: 3rd Rock

I want a sports bra that doesn’t cut into my shoulders, stays in place when I lift my arms, and doesn’t make my breasts look like pancakes.

Since climbing I have gained a lot of muscle in my back and shoulders.  Many sports bra makers just do not understand that sports women are more likely to be more muscular. A size small may fit my bust area well, it is then just too tight with it cutting into my back and shoulders.

I tried two of the 3rd Rock Saturn Sports Bras. Special Cut Eco Sports Bra in Tango Orange and the Pretty Sports Bra in Cherry Red and Bubble Gum Pink Cuboid Print.

The first main difference when you look at these bras is the back. Instead of a racer back like most sports bras, this one is designed with a rounded cut out back, which looks great and airs your back when you start to sweat.

Photo: 3rd Rock

The Special Cut Eco Sports Bra is designed for both bigger boobs and smaller boobs, so you can find just the right fit, and a bra that will stay in place whilst you climb. The BB cut (bigger boobs) have a higher neckline and wider sides. Whilst the SB (Small Boobs) have a lower cut neckline allowing to show just the right amount of cleavage.

It also comes with padded removable inserts, so that’s good for hiding nipples or just generally giving a nice shape to your bust. This bra won’t squash your boobs like most sports bras!

Not forgetting that it is  Eco-friendly, made of 95% organic cotton and is GMO free!  

3rd Rock Women's Pheobe Shorts

Photo: 3rd Rock

First of all I love the descriptions they put with the garment.
“Wedgy Proof Thigh Shorts”
 “Your lovely lady hump in the back is gonna look goooood”

They are true descriptions and to the point!

When wearing shorts sometimes the legs ride up under the leg loops and you end up showing your bottom cheeks. This then distracts you (and others) from climbing because all you can think about is that your bottom might be showing.  When wearing the Pheobe shorts it’s great that you get the option to wear them long or roll them up. Wear them long with a harness, and roll them up for bouldering or when you want some extra sun on your upper legs whilst resting.

They are extremely comfortable made from super soft 95% organic cotton. The elasticated waistband and pull cord make it adjustable to your waistline and will fit whether you are feeling at your fittest and slimiest and also when if you are feeling like a bloated whale.

Unfortunately the white panels on the inner thighs does not do my thighs justice and does not have a 'slimming effect'. Although you can get these in pink (deep coral magenta) with a black panel on the inner thigh instead.

They are certainly made with the environment in mind with soft and breathable 95% organic eco-friendly cotton material.

3rd Rock Women's Apache Reinforced Climbing leggings

Photo: 3rd Rock

These are very popular; they always seem to be sold out.

Sometimes you want a break from wearing your old baggy climbing trousers and want to feel more feminine and show off your curves. Normal leggings from the high street just won’t do. We’ve all seen those women wearing those thin material leggings that stretch on the bottom and become almost see-through, unaware they are showing their knickers to the world. And within minutes of climbing in your leggings you find you have caught them on a sharp bit of rock and made a hole in them already.

This is where the Apache leggings come in. They have a reinforced bum and knee area. They are abrasion proof patches which protect your delicate bottom from harsh wear and tear when sitting around at the base of the crag. The reinforced knee areas also act as a good protection when knee-baring and from general scraps. No more scratched up knees!  (Maybe I should just climb properly in the first place!) The leggings are made from organic cotton/lycra, which makes them stretchy, so you won’t feel restricted.
“Makes your behind look fine” is what they say.

If I had the chance I would have ordered the size up, as the size small is slightly tight around my upper legs (So you get a better idea; at the time of wearing these I was a UK size 10), but they can still be worn comfortably.