In today's world of online ordering - or even if we have packaging that gets in the way of actually touching the product - it can be hard to tell if a ferro rod will be a softer material that throws bigger sparks or a harder material that lasts longer. Well, we can get a good clue from the specifications, but we need to do a little thought work, too.

We all look for many different features when we are looking for a climbing harness, and I am no exception. But there is one feature that I find to be a must have on my alpine harnesses that maybe isn't always available when looking for the lightest model or a model for different styles of climbing. I want to make sure I can easily and fully open up the leg loops.

When I did a video about a new type of wrap I was going to try on my ice tools, I got a question asking about why we wrap our ice tools at all. Well, here’s some of the reasons.

There is nothing that says you can climb with a backpacking park nor backpack with a climbing pack, but they have differing features for specific reasons. I got asked about why climbing packs have zippered pockets in their hoods (or brains), and it has a lot to do with having a secure place to get to items without having to go through all your items.

Just like there is a difference between climate and weather, there is a difference between today’s weather and weather patterns. When we climb in a new area, understanding that difference, can help us strategize our ascents. Various local communities can be a fountain of information in this regard.

Getting our tent packed up and stowed away can be very difficult in windy conditions. By being tactical about when we pull  up our last two tent stakes, we can greatly simplify our task.

One of the most dangerous hazards in the mountains is lightning. Here's how we can use some facts about lightning, and some very simple math, to help assess our risk when we see the clouds roll in and start hearing thunder.

There are a lot of ways we can use all of the data that now comes from our smart watches. But using that data to better plan my next trip has been the most impactful way my watch has helped keep me safe when climbing.

Lead belaying is more than holding the rope during a fall. It's more than keeping a middling amount of slack (too much means big falls, too little means it's hard for the leader to clip). If we are really paying attention to our climber, who should be anticipating their "slack" and "take" needs.

When we need to pack 10, 20, 30 days of food for a big expedition, there are lots of ways to do it. What I like to do is create a Ziploc bag of food for each day of the trip. Here's why.

Climbing is full of tradeoffs. It’s hard to have a simpler anchor for a rappel than a rope around a tree or rock, but that same system can be environmentally damaging (especially to trees) or can have too much friction to easily pull the rope (often when around rocks). So, here is an option that potentially addresses these issues, but it does mean more material is used, which increases the likelihood of the rope getting stuck, say, in a crack, when pulled.

While I look at a lot of different metrics when choosing to buy a tent (peak height, length, water pressure test results, etc.), once I have made the purchase, there are a few I want to be able to find at a glance so that I can choose from amongst my various tents as I select one for a particular trip. Here's what I mark on my tent stuff sacks to make this easier.

Some climbers love BOA lacing systems - using a cord and a dial (or two) to tighten the boot as opposed to regular laces. Some climbers don't trust the durability of the system. But if you are one of those climbers that use BOA systems, that ease of adjustment can make protecting our feet when moving downhill as easy as a few cranks of the wheel.