We all know that UV harms nylon, but if I sweat in my harness and I weakening it?...

Webbing doesn't stretch and a rope does, but does either make a difference when you are constructing a belay?...

I'm a big guy, a novice, and am wondering which cam will be more reliable for me, the Black Diamond Camalot or the Wild Country Friend?...

Is a static rope just for toproping, or can you lead on it if you place gear close together and limit the distance you might fall?...

Climbing bolts are usually really designed for use in concrete, so if your climbing wall is made of cement, you are good to go. ...

Falls held and breaking strength are both important, and ideally a rope will do well in both areas, but there is a lot more to selecting a rope than simply weighing those two factors....

What to do when the unthinkable happens, and how to stay sanitary out at the crag.
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I have rigged my homemade draws with rubber bands to prevent the carabiners from crossloading, but I'm not sure if I am compromising my safety. Help! ...

Gear Guy sounds off on budget quickdraws, wire and bar gates, and everything else relevant to making a smart carabiner purchase....

Ice-climbing hardware such as tools, screws and crampons will have to be checked, but what about the other stuff?...

After Todd Skinner’s death due to a broken belay loop, Black Diamond tested belay loops and slings that were 75-percent cut and they were still 90 percent of full strength...

I checked the helmet reviews and settled on the Petzl Elios, size 2. Great helmet, except it doesn't fit my noggin. Couldn't even buckle the chin strap and I had the adjustable wheel all the way open. What helmet is equal to the Elios and will fit a huge noggin?...

I am going to start leading ice this season, but don't know which length ice screws I should get. I only have the ducats for eight screws. Should I get long screws, or short screws, or in between?...

Are adjustable leg loops actually useful? I rock climb, and ice climb some, and need a new harness. I'd rather have a less expensive and lighter harness with non-adjustable leg loops, but I've heard that you need adjustable loops to accommodate winter pants. Really?...

Screamers are break-apart quickdraws that absorb some of the energy in a fall, but will using one on an ice screw make it less likely to rip out?...

I work at a camp center in the Alps in France and we teach beginner climbers on one of the building's concrete walls. Until now we've used the iron beams as anchors (using a redundant sling set-up) for toproping, which is safe and works well, but it takes 40 minutes to rig. ...

I reversed and flipped a front point on my DMM Terminators to make a heel spur. This required cutting a notch in the frame of the crampons to fit the point. Have I seriously compromised the integrity of the crampon?...

What variables should I consider when choosing between gear that is hot forged versus cold forged?...

How do I heal cracked fingertips? How do I prevent them from cracking in the first place?...

A knotted sling might appear strong because the webbing is doubled through the knot, but in actuality it is weak because the bends in the knot are stress-concentration points. ...