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Climbing - Heason Events

Climbing

Wideboyz Crack Gloves 14th Nov 2023 Review - Wideboyz Crack Gloves

Where would we be as climbers without sticky rubber? First came shoes. They truly revolutionized all aspects of climbing. The act of standing your toes on small holds lends itself well to...

Screenshot 2022-11-10 at 11.31.25 10th Nov 2022 Moon Cirrus Crash Pad

Over the years I've seen enough twisted and broken ankles due to poor matting that I'm actually surprised how long it’s taken me to get around to getting hold of a Blubber pad. I've no idea if...

DMM WallDo Karibiner 13th Oct 2022 DMM WallDO Karibiner

Last summer I had a week in Pembroke trad climbing above the sea. A bit out of practice at selecting the right protection I think I lost three wires over the week, fumbling them before watching...

c63 12067 HW103PR-XS-Puma 1st Feb 2022 DMM Puma Climbing Harness

The Puma fills a fairly niche space in the world of climbing harnesses 13 year old (12 when we got this harness) boy is on the small side. He loves all types of climbing and has recently taken to...

Screenshot 2022-01-27 at 10.51.58 27th Jan 2022 Alpkit Waffa Pad

I was after a small, thin, versatile pad to take out alongside my regular bouldering mat. Something to use as another place to stand in my rock shoes on muddy ground, to span gaps between pads, to...

Screenshot 2021-11-11 at 15.55.02 11th Nov 2021 7 & 8 - 3748 Straight Ups In Fontainebleau

Now on its fourth edition, and growing ever fatter as more and more problems and areas are added, this is still unquestionably the go-to guide for any upper-grade or aspiring boulderer in Font....

Screenshot 2021-09-10 at 11.55.36 10th Sep 2021 Bleau Blocs

I think it's fair to say that there can't actually be too many books about Fontainebleau. I was sat on a beach this summer chatting about the magic of Font, and how literally incredible it is...

Peak District Gritstone 26th Apr 2021 Peak District Gritstone - Graham Hoey

Peak District Gritstone Over 2,000 classic trad routes on Eastern, Western ad Moorland grit. Grahm Hoey, Vertebrate Publishing If there's one thing I've learned over the years that I've been...

Screenshot 2020-11-05 at 14.00.08 5th Nov 2020 Montane Prism Jacket

Love this jacket. It very confidently treads the right line between a smart jacket I am happy to wear to work or out in town, as well as my go to choice for cragging and being out and about...

d22d6efc-fd3c-4c4b-9ebc-1ee7b0597815Ocun-Jett-QC 9th Oct 2020 Ocun Jett QC Rock Shoes

Isn't it nice when you ask somebody's advice, they listen to what you are after, and then give a considered answer that results in you getting exactly what you were after? So it went with my...

Peak-Limestone-20201 6th Jul 2020 Peak Limestone - Rockfax

It doesn't seem too many years ago that Northern Limestone was published, but it was clearly time to up the ante and produce a guide to limestone just in the Peak District. With bouldering...

Ocun Paddy Dominator 15 14th Nov 2019 Ocun Paddy Dominator Bouldering Mat

It’s funny how a brand can become so prevalent in a relatively short space of time. A few years ago I think if you’d asked me to tell you what I knew about Ocun I’d have guessed that they...

warrior-pad-true-red 25th Jul 2019 Moon Warrior Bouldering Pad

Ben Moon's parents will have had no idea what a cool surname their son was going to bring to the world of climbing. As one of the leading sport climbers and boulderers of the 90s Ben gained a...

Boreal Velcro Joker 6th Jun 2019 Boreal Joker Velcro Climbing Shoes - Women's

With two growing boys who are into their rock climbing it's a fairly constant battle to keep them in decent rock shoes. My eldest is now 12 and has grown out of the kids models which aren't really...

Edelrid Ace Harness 3rd Apr 2019 Edelrid Ace Harness

A super lightweight harness that’s surprisingly comfortable. This comfy yet minimalist harness, with 4 gear loops and fixed leg loops, is one I’d choose for pretty much any and all climbing...

Classic Routes Of The Ecrins 5th Sep 2018 Classic Routes Of The Ecrins -0 Sbastian Constant

This is a delight of a guidebook. It's A5 portrait and 200 pages (but only 75mm thick) so fits into a rucksack pocket pretty easily. The cover is plastic laminated so it will stand up to a bit...

Edelrid OHM 4th Sep 2018 Edelrid OHM - Assisted Braking Device

I'm a big guy. I'm well used to being belayed by people who are lighter than me and have had my share of exciting falls / drops in my time. I now also have two boys who climb. They are both...

North Wales Bouldering 4th Dec 2017 North Wales Bouldering

I can safely say that this is the biggest climbing guide I have yet reviewed. At 668 pages it's a mighty tome that comes with a hefty price tag of £36.95. It may sound expensive, but it's...

edelrid-shield-lite-climbing-helmet 3rd Oct 2017 Edelrid Shield Light Climbing Helmet

Weighing 220g the Edelrid Shield Lite helmet is amongst the lightest on the market. It's a single-piece moulded foam construction with a hard outer shell. Inside there is a removable lattice of...

Edelrid Apus Pro Dry 26th Sep 2017 Climbing Ropes - Edelrid Apus Pro Dry 7.9 60m

Climbing with new ropes is a great feeling. One of security I guess. When I started out climbing a half rope was usually 9mm, with full ropes coming in at 10mm+. Obviously technology has...

Via Ferratas Of The French Alps 25th Sep 2017 Via Ferratas Of The French Alps

Via Ferratas are perhaps one of the oldest forms of adrenaline-based mountain activity. However they weren't originally designed with pleasure in use. Originating in the Italian Dolomites they...

Berghaus Fastpacking Extrem Shell 12th Jun 2017 Berghaus Fastpacking Extrem Shell

Part of Berghaus's Extrem lightweight range the Fastpacking Shell retails at £170 and weighs 250g. 250g for a fully waterproof jacket suitable for extreme mountain weather is impressive. It...

1001climbingtips andy kirkpatrick ofc485pxsticker 13th Oct 2016 1,001 Climbing Tips - Andy Kirkpatrick

1,001 tips on anything has to be a pretty tall order. 1,001 tips on a niche activity like climbing must be virtually impossible. Not so if you have the mind of Andy Kirkpatrick. I checked out...

punk in the gym 01 andy pollitt 13th Jul 2016 Punk In The Gym - Andy Pollitt

Andy Pollitt’s book was given to me by Vertebrate Publishing, the Sheffield-based business responsible for the majority of the recent climbing biographies, with a twinkle of the eye and a...

Mallorca-Cover-2015 15th Jun 2016 Spain: Mallorca Guidebook Rockfax

I lose track of whether this is the third or fourth edition of Rockfax’s Mallorca guide (actually, I just looked it up and discovered that it’s no less than the 7th!) such is the popularity of...

5&6Part2 17th May 2016 5 + 6 - Western & Northern Fontainebleau (Part 2)

I’ve been a long-time fan of Bart Van Raaij, the Fontainebleau fanatic who has singlehandedly reinvented the guidebook to what is probably the world’s most complicated climbing area. Bart’s...

41H2NBa+ApL. SX395 14th Oct 2015 Berghaus Vapour Claw Running Shoes

The Berghaus Vapour Light Claw is a running shoe aimed at trail and long distance runners. I have worked them hard by running in all weathers and over some distances, used them as approach shoes...

img-thing 16th Mar 2016 Prana Continuum Trousers

I’ve not owned a pair of specifically-bouldering trousers for a few years. The Continuum are a comfortable and stylish pair of trousers with some nice micro features. Made from organic cotton...

Prana Bridger Jean 13th Jan 2016 Prana Bridger Jean

Prana have long been high in my estimation of climbing clothing, but I;ve never had the pleasure of actually testing any of it before. The Bridger Jean - sorry, I can't but help calling them...

One Man's Everest 24th Nov 2015 One Man’s Everest - Kenton Cool

One Man’s Everest  Kenton Cool Review by Sam Schofield One Man’s Everest is a book of adventures woven into a bright, entertaining and inspiring tapestry of a mountaineering career. The...

Petzl-WL-Scorpio-Vertigo LowRes 19th Nov 2015 Petzl Scorpio Vertigo Via Ferratta Lanyard Set

Some time in the dim and distant past I remember tackling what was a petty serious Via Ferrata in the Italian Dolomites. It was a rest day activity on a proper old-school climbing trip. I remember...

P7180163 29th Jul 2015 Petzl Kids Macchu and Body Harness

I've written a few reviews recently on kids kit and the importance of putting them in the right sized stuff. Arguably it's never more important than clmbing harnesses as there's a genuine safety...

Five Ten Tennies 21st Jul 2015 Five Ten Tennie Approach Shoe

I was 13 in 1985. It was a formative time for me. Lots of fairly major things in my life happened around that time, but sadly my parents didn't buy me a pair of the world's first approach shoes,...

Webee Harness 8th May 2015 Ocun WeBee Kids Climbing Harness

Our eldest boy is 8 and recently took part in a climbing competition for the first time. We arrived on the day with his full body harness that he'd been wearing whenever he climbed for the past 5...

Edelrid Crocy 7th May 2015 Edelrid Crocy Oasis Kids Climbing Shoes

It's all too common to see young kids climbing in a pair of trainers. The common thinking seems to be that kids feet grow so quickly that it's not cost effective to buy specialist shoes as they...

Terra Nova Bothy 4 28th Apr 2015 Terra Nova Ultralight Bothy 4

Essentially an emergency shelter this bothy is one of those bits of kit that you may well never use, and you certainly won't want to, but it's useful to have one in your pack if you are out in...

Scarpa Zen Pro 21st Apr 2015 Scarpa Zen Pro Approach Shoes

Almost my favourite Approach Shoes ever. But not quite. I don't usually start a review with a summary, but they are that good that I thought they deserved it. In essence they have everything an...

Seal Skinz All Season Gloves 20th Apr 2015 Sealskinz All Season Gloves

Introduction Sealskinz have been one of those brands that I've (not deliberately) somehow avoided over the years so I thought I'd best try them out. A month or so back I took part in an overnight...

TNV Paramount Convertible Trousers 1st Apr 2015 The North Face Paramount Convertible Trousers

OK so convertible trousers may not be hip, but they are just the ticket when going light is important and the weather is mixed. I've had a few pairs of convertibles before - convertible, if you're...

vpbeyondlimits ofc485px 31st Mar 2015 Beyond Limits - A Life Through Climbing - Steve McClure

Steve McClure is one of the best rock climbers in the world; and undoubtedly the best sport climber in the UK over the past 15 years.  With climbing parents, growing up within easy reach of the...

Adidas Terrex Solo Approach Shoes 21st Nov 2014 Adidas Terrex Solo Approach Shoes

Introduction It took a while, but the acquisition of Five Ten by Adidas has finally resulted in some Adidas shoes carrying Stealth rubber. The Terrex Solos are the first of these that i have had...

Rab - atmos jacket quince 3rd Nov 2014 Rab Atmos Maya Jacket

Introduction I'll dispense with the intro about lightweight gear as it's a recurring theme in many of my reviews. Suffice to say that this one fits the bill neatly. A minimalist waterproof jacket...

Rab Boreas Pull On Breaker 20th Oct 2014 Rab Boreas Pull-on Jacket

Introduction If you've read any of my other reviews you'll know that I am a keen advocate of lightweight kit. The Boreas Pull-on is just that. Weighing just 259g and packing down into a fist...

DMM Highball Bouldering Mat 14th Jul 2014 DMM Highball Bouldering Mat

Introduction A reassuringly tough, chunky and easily portable hinge style mat in a lovely shade of yellow (unless you get the green one). Landing I’m very impressed with this mat.  As well...

rab-mens-vapour-rise-lite-alpine-jacket-maya-l 103202 3rd Jul 2014 VR Lite Alpine Maya Jacket - RAB

Introduction I have two young boys so whenever we are out and about I am invariably carrying my kit and theirs, be it spare jackets on a day-walk, or full camping gear if out overnight. It means...

Smart Wool Merino NTS Baselayer 12th Jun 2014 Smart Wool Merino NTS Baselayer

A Rambling Introduction  on brand loyalty As event organisers Matt Heason and I spend oodles of time designing eye-catching documents to woo potential sponsors.  We have solid stats on ticket...

Rockfax Peak Bouldering Cover 14th May 2014 Peak Bouldering Guidebook - Rockfax - Review

Introduction I've reviewed a fair number of Rockfax guides over the years, but this one sets some new records. Had they made the cover from high density foam it could almost have doubled as a...

Berghaus Aiglun Stretch Climbing Trousers 12th May 2014 Men's Aiglun Stretch Climbing Trousers - Berghaus

I'd been in need of some new climbing trousers for a while, something I can climb and walk comfortably in. Enter the Aigluns.  First off they look nice. In recent times Berghaus seem to have...