Reviews

Petzl’s new bouldering chalk bag is cleverly designed and comes with some really cool features. The bag is fleece-lined and big enough to get both hands into comfortably, so you can get a good old rummage around to get that chalk over all the areas you need, and slap off the excess. And the liner …

As most of you know, my wife, Patsy, is a marvel at sport massage and does wonderful things to a tired and aching body. She is also always on the lookout for new and interesting creams, balms and lotions to use in her trade. So when a range of ClimbOn skincare products landed on my …

review by Tony Lourens Little did I know that when I was given the BD’s new Distance Carbon AR trekking poles to test, my very first foray with them would be a crotch-deep crossing of the Molenaars River at 7.30 on a chilly mid-winter’s morning. We tried in vain to find a shallow crossing, but …

review by Tony Lourens I remember that day, about 30 years ago. A group of us were going down the Riviersonderend Canyon, a famous Western Cape kloofing trip. I had packed my trusty flask of hot coffee along with all my other stuff. Anyway, at the top of the ‘big’ jump, we all threw our …

review by Tony Lourens About 24 years ago I broke my ankle in a stupid accident. My leg was placed in an old-style plaster cast up to the knee for about eight weeks, then in a boot for another few weeks, and for many weeks after that it was still extremely tender. The consequence of …

review by Tony Lourens A softshell jacket is one of those garments that once you have one, you simply can’t do without it. You get windbreakers, you get rain shells and then you get the softshell. The softshell sort of fits somewhere between a windbreaker and a full blown rain shell. Its purpose is to …

review by Tony Lourens The Tempo Shell Pants are the perfect companion to the Kilimanjaro ’19 Shell Jacket. They are manufactured to the same rigorous standards and specifications, guaranteeing to do the job they are designed for. They come in three-layer durable nylon, with fully taped seams. Waterproof to 15,000 millimetre, vapour permeable up to …

review by Tony Lourens Your choice of a waterproof shell in the mountains can be the make-or-break between an enjoyable day out, braving the harsh weather often found in the hills, and a desperate fight for survival, as the warmth is leached from your cold wet body, reducing you to a shivering wreck, on the …

review by Tony Lourens Singing Rock’s new urban style shoulder bag is a bag of many talents. It is the ideal size for stashing your kit, whether you are off to the gym for your regular workout, or on a bouldering mission, and even for a day at your local sport crag. Constructed from a …

review by Brenda Marx When I was asked if I would be willing to review this bag, I immediately knew what I would do to test it out. The pack is the perfect size for a day outing, and with the generous three-litre reservoir, it would be the perfect opportunity to take it on a …