GearFlogger

Mad Rock Alpinist Glove

I'm not by nature a violent person, but when I walk around with the Mad Rock Alpinist gloves on I feel a certain... attitude, if you will. Like Mad Max about to close the dealio with the mutants with heads sticking out of their chests.

Fantasy life aside, the Alpinist is a first rate ice climbing glove. The hard plastic knuckle protectors do the job and don't interfere with mobility at all, and the fingers are curved a bit to naturally grip your tools. The drawcord cuffs will keep the debris out as you cavitate your way to the top of your favorite icicle.

But best of all are the features geared towards minimizing the natural enemy of the ice climber, the feared screaming barfies. Sticky patches on the palm and fingers will help you to not overgrip and thusly cut off the insulation to your hands. And the shell is windproof, waterproof and lightly insulated. Sizing runs a tad small. The Mad Rockers don't do things by the book, and their innovation has really paid off with this nice glove. It's just gravy that it's priced below its quality level.

$69.95 at Mad Rock

Mad Rock Venus women's harness

I got your Venus, I got your fire... when Bananarama goes climbing, this is how they roll. If you want to be the goddess on the mountain top, check out the Mad Rock Venus women's harness.

She Who Must Be Obeyed was barking commands at her belay slave in no time as she hung comfortably, yet stylishly, from an autolocking, offset buckled, contoured, thermo-molded waist belt. The tapered and angled leg loops with embroidered pink flowers kept her regally upright, and the four plastic gear loops kept all her gear at her once-manicured-but-now-destroyed-by-granite fingertips.

The Venus is fully SheFlogger compliant with its slick good looks and top-end performance and comfort. It's a great working woman's harness: you get a lot for the price - three buckles, four gear loops, molded waist and shaped legs - and even a little style to boot, if you don't mind climbing with pink flowers on your no-doubt shapely and toned derriere.

$40.00 at Eastern Mountain Sports

Mad Rock Fanatic approach shoe

The holy grail of shoe design is, of course, a flip flop that comfortably climbs 5.10. I wouldn't be surprised if the mad docs at Mad Rock are working on just that, but in the meantime they've given us the Fanatic approach shoe.

If you're looking for a hiking shoe that climbs look at Mad Rock's Frenzy. If you're looking for a climbing shoe that hikes, the Fanatic is your tool. The laces cinch up snug to the toes, and the burly tongue is leather reinforced to let you really crank 'em down tight. The toe box is rubberized and is more comfortable than any straight rock shoe for camming in cracks, and even the heel is serrated rubber for light hooking duty.

It's stiff enough for serious slabbing and easier edging, and the arches are cut just enough to straddle an etrier if big wall aid is your fetish. A mild lug system built out of sticky #5 Mad Rubber makes short work of scrambles. Overall the Fanatic will get you there and back again, and crush most grades up to 5.10+ without having to resort to your dance shoes.

$74.00 at Zappos

Mad Rock Flash climbing shoes

These award-winning shoes are good performers at a great price. Mad Rock's line of climbing shoes is competitive with those of other major manufacturers, and they appear to not be adverse to buying market share; their shoes are smokin' good deals that often undercut the competition.

I wore these shoes for last year's climbing season and found them to be comfortable if a bit stiff. Since I do a lot of friction smearing I find myself frequently going retro with my early 1990s vintage Five Ten UFOs (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller..?), which are oh-so-buttery soft and smell so skanky I climb extra fast to get away from them.

The extra stiffness of the Flash will be welcomed by beginners or anyone who likes a little extra support for edging and pockets.

$69.96 at REI