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1 week ago | 
gearjunkie.com | Matt Bento
Plenty of food and water, a bluebird weather forecast, a pre-dawn start, and a fully charged headlamp are a good recipe for success for a one-day ascent of Moonlight Buttress. I had plenty of water and shot blocks crammed into our mini haulbag, the weather looked great, and we certainly were up early enough. Unfortunately, the headlamp I’d brought along to test was dead by the time we’d forded the Virgin River and made it to the base of the climb.
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1 week ago | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Matt Bento
By Matt Bento ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 4, 2025 The Best Climbing ChalkWhether you like natural chalk or appreciate drying additives, want a simple block, ball, or a big old bag, or even want a tube of liquid chalk instead, we've tested them all. Our team of climbers conducted blind tests at the boulders of Bishop and in the gym, allowing experienced lifers as well as fresh beginners to sample the different varieties and offer their opinions without brand bias.
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Jan 20, 2025 | 
gearjunkie.com | Matt Bento
The author handles the Trango Agility 9.1 at the base of a climb at Pine Creek Canyon; (photo/Miya Tsudome) Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More Coming up on 2 decades of climbing, I’ve never been seriously injured. I chalk it up to consistently safe practices, great climbing partners, and a lot of luck. I have a few friends who haven’t been so lucky.
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Dec 26, 2024 | 
gearjunkie.com | Matt Bento
As a climber, skier and gear reviewer, I’ve been lucky enough to test high-end puffy jackets in all manners of conditions. But, access to the best equipment still doesn’t keep me from getting excited about a bargain. The REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka comes very close to top-notch performance while costing around half of what you can expect from some of its more venerated competitors. The REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka isn’t the lightest backpacking or expedition-style puffy.
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Nov 26, 2024 | 
gearjunkie.com | Nick Bruckbauer |Matt Bento
We tested the best winter jackets for every climate and budget -- from Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Fjallraven, The North Face, REI, and more. We tested the best winter jackets during fun outdoor adventures, and along the day-to-day winter grind; (photo/Penney Garrett)Our team of winter warriors has spent many seasons testing the best winter jackets on the market in search of the warmest and most versatile styles.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
gearjunkie.com | Matt Bento |Austin Beck-Doss
Autumn brings a familiar crisp to the air and a chill to our hands. Investing in the best hand warmers for the upcoming winter season will help you make the most of a day outdoors, no matter the conditions. If you plan to spend time outdoors this winter, only the best hand warmers should make your gear list. With better run time, heat retention, settings, and reusability, hand warmers have evolved from simple single-use pocket warmers to rechargeable electric warmth machines.
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Nov 2, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Andy Wellman |Matt Bento |Jane Jackson
By Andy Wellman, Cam McKenzie Ring, Matt Bento, Jane Jackson ⋅ Nov 2, 2024 Welcome to the Holy Grail of climbing gear lists! Here you will find our top picks: the gear our climber-testers would recommend to their best friends. We buy every item at the store, just like you, then we test it… for months. Below, we recommend the top two items in each category. We start off with the best climbing shoes, arguably the most important item in your pack.
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May 21, 2024 | 
gearjunkie.com | Miya Tsudome |Matt Bento
A climbing rope is one of the most important pieces of gear you can buy. It is literally your lifeline, and can also make or break your experience climbing outdoors. There are a few important factors to look for when deciding which rope to buy, such as diameter, weight, performance, and feel, and you can’t discern all of these things behind the counter of a gear shop. That’s where we come in.
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Jan 23, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Sam Schild |Adam Paashaus |Matt Bento |Andy Wellman
Starting the hunt for a new down jacket is, without a doubt, one of the most overwhelming endeavors you can experience when it comes to shopping for outerwear. Down jackets are one of the more expensive parts of any layering system and typically will last you for many years. This makes choosing the right one all the more important. Down is the lightest and warmest insulator you can find, but not all down jackets are created equal.
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Jan 12, 2024 | 
techgearlab.com | Matt Bento
Capacity: 37 gallons | Assembly time: 1 minuteIf you have some cooped-up kids in your home, the FCMP Outdoor Hotfrog could be a great way to get them outside, where they can get some exercise while learning about the natural and intriguing phenomenon that is decomposition. This simple composter can be turned on its stand, but it's also perfectly fine (and more fun) to roll it around the yard. The Hotfrog arrives completely assembled.
