This is the Technician, a new climbing harness with adjustable leg loops from Black Diamond. It’s more of a all around, four season Harness.
I apologize for the lighting, but it’s in Denim, a very deep blue, and incorporates five gear loops (one at the rear) and four ice clipper slots. It rolls in at 376 grams. Available August 1.
While most companies start out by offering commercial colored mountaineering and then add earthtones for tactical customers, CTOMS has done the opposite. Founded by Canadian SAR Tech Chris Kopp, CTOMS had tactical colored kit from the outset and has just started to introduce Orange versions of their TRACE systems for Search and Rescue work.
These two Green kits are identical except for the SOF and SAR colorways.
They have an ever expanding lone of Orange offerings, to supplement their existing line of Matte Grey and Olive Drab. Interestingly, they’ve also introduced Blue carabiners for the rope end of any devices.
They are also introducing Orange pouches for the kits.
During DSEI 2015 I spied a pair of outdoor Salomon X ALP MTN GTX discretely on display in the Edgar Brothers booth, which were undergoing wear trials with several European military and civil rescue organizations at the time. Salomon took feedback from those operational assessments and created a version for the Forces line.
Salomon is set to launch another new shoe addition to its high-performance Forces collection when the X ALP MTN GTX® Forces becomes available on January 1, 2017.
The X ALP MTN GTX® is designed to be the one boot to get you to wherever you need to go-from the bottom of the mountain to the top…and back again. It’s calling cards are waterproofness, durability, protection and stability. Available in all black, the X ALP MTN GTX® Forces features a seven-inch upper that offers stability and protection from the elements, as well as a GORE-TEX® membrane for waterproofness.
It’s designed with a mountaineering last and a protective rubber toe cap. The 3D edging chassis gives it stability on rugged ground. The X ALP MTN GTX® Forces is the toughest and most rugged shoe in Salomon’s Forces range, allowing the user to attach crampons and push the barriers even farther. Whether you’re crossing a glacier, scrambling over loose ground or carrying, this shoes will do the job.
Now that you’ve read the press release, let’s take a look at what makes these special. To do that, we’re going to share a series of graphics from Salomon which depict key features.
The edging chassis is a single piece and key to the boot’s flex, front-to-back, and high rigidity, side-to-side.
The boot’s ability to flex while retaining edge stability, also aids with grip.
The X ALP MTN may feel more flexible to you than other mountain boots because the mid-sole is not a big slab of plastic or carbon with no flexion.
Here’s a view of the outsole.
These two graphics offer information about the outsole design.
The ALP MTN GTX also features lacing to toe.
North Vancouver, BC (November 3, 2016) – ARC’TERYX, the technical leader in outdoor performance apparel and equipment, is proud to announce a new partnership with Exum Mountain Guides, the year-round mountain guiding service that specializes in rock, alpine and ski mountaineering. Effective immediately, ARC’TERYX will serve as Exum’s exclusive apparel partner for the 2016/17 winter season and into the future.
Along with outfitting over 70 of Exum’s professional guides with the latest ARC’TERYX apparel, the partnership is underscored by a scholarship program that has been designed to offer next level support for Exum’s guide development, assistance that goes beyond traditional product sponsorship. This fiscal support will allow for the continued development of Exum Mountain Guides with regard to mountain safety, judgment, risk assessment, and critical leadership skills through further education and training.
“ARC’TERYX has a long history serving the international guiding community and since its inception, the company has been committed to creating the world’s best gear for the world’s best guides,” said Kyle Goertzen, Manager of Global Commercial B2X, Professional & Industry Sales for ARC’TERYX. “Similar to our company, Exum places a very high priority on the professional development of their guides and creating a positive work environment. This new partnership speaks genuinely of our shared commitment to the guiding community and we’re excited to create programs that provide opportunities for a guide’s personal development and evolution.”
With over 80 years of experience, Exum Mountain Guides are some of the most experienced and respected guides in the world. Exum is an AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association) accredited guide service with the highest number of certified guides of any mountain guiding service in the United States. Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Exum Mountain Guides not only offers their clients unparalleled service, they also offer avalanche education courses and provide pre-deployment mountain training to various military special force units and private security firms.
“We are very proud of this new partnership. ARC’TERYX is the true leader in mountain apparel, and we’re excited to provide our guides with the most innovative, functional and dependable products that exist for the mountain environment,” said Nat Patridge, President of Exum Mountain Guides “Moreover, ARC’TERYX’s commitment to the development and continued education of the guiding community made this agreement absolute. We couldn’t have chosen a better, more appropriate partner to share the future with.”
For the 2016/2017 winter guiding season, Exum Mountain Guides will be outfitted in a core assortment form ARC’TERYX’s alpine oriented Ascent Collection, including the Alpha AR Jacket, Proton LT Hoody, Procline AR Pant, and Nuclei AR Jacket.
Offering mountain experiences for all abilities, ages, and areas, for more information on Exum Mountain Guides and any of their programs, please go to www.exumguides.com.
Arc’teryx Equipment is a technical high-performance outerwear and equipment company based in North Vancouver, Canada. Our relentless commitment to design, craftsmanship and performance delivers breakthrough experiences. The company’s industry-leading design and unique in-house manufacturing center creates technical products that can be trusted to perform in moments of extreme need.
Arc’teryx distributes its products through more than 3,000 retail locations worldwide, including ten branded stores in Europe, North America and Asia. www.arcteryx.com
Arc’teryx is named for the Archaeopteryx Lithographica, the first reptile to develop the flight. Evolution in Action.
One military unit looking for an American made ski package could find skis but not poles. Then, they found the US Ski Pole Company and they developed the Commando to fulfill the need.
The Commando is their first pole model at retail with an adjustable feature. It extends from 75cm to 155cm with the ease of two push buttons. Sporting a bare carbon shaft, this pole is ready to go without any hassle of removing grips to resize. This pole has a 13mm tip and weighs in at 62gpm.
Shaft:
Their ski pole shafts are made from 100% USA-made carbon fiberglass. Certified technicians roll the carbon fiberglass, precisely controlling the thickness throughout the shaft.
Strap:
This strap is specifically designed for the US military and features both white and black 2″ nylon webbing with added front support. This single-loops straps have easy on/off capabilities and are heavy-duty materials to withstand the toughest of conditions.
Grip:
Their exclusive grip is designed with a synthetic foam that’s not only lighter than cork, but has thermal properties and is more resistant against wear. The grip is designed to be parabolic for a perfect fit to your hand, which means less chaffing and no blisters.
Tip:
This component is made from an extremely dense polymer, which makes it withstand harder impact and sub-zero temperatures. The shape is designed to work specifically with their quick-release basket system. These also feature a tungsten-carbide alloy tip, which was designed extra long for a longer lifetime.
Basket:
Specifically designed in-house by US Ski Pole’s team, this baskets’ shape was carefully constructed to allow air to flow freely through the keyway channel, eliminating suction effect during warmer conditions. This front lip allows full 360’ of support around the structure of the pole instead of 100% of the pressure from the back forcing the pole to arc forward in a loss of important power. These are also designed so that they snap into the opposite end of the respective pole, making them easier to transport and store.
www.usskipoles.com/products/ski-poles/commando
In Spring 2017, Metolius will release their Belay Glasses which incorporate a prism to reduce neck strain on the person on belay. They can be worn over other eyewear.
I’ve received several inquiries regarding delivery of the Trango Cube GTX mountaineering boot in Kryptek Highlander from La Sportiva. Well, they’re shipping now. A good friend told me his had arrived just the other day, so if you’re in the market for a militarized mountain boot, they’re available.
The Trango Cube GTX features a new seamless, waterproof upper with protective rand and direct-inject lacing system. Additionally, this Gore-Tex lined boot offers an integrated removable tongue made from a soft stretch fabric to increase comfort. They’ve also reduced the weight from previous versions, yet increased abrasion resistance. One of the ways they’ve reduced weight is with the La Sportiva “One” sole made by Vibram which offers a lower profile meaning lower weight.
Specs:
Weight: 26.2 oz / 743 g
Sizes: 37 – 48 (half sizes)
Upper: QB3 Waterproof fabric/ Kryptek Highlander Print Cordura/ FlexTec2 fabric/ Thermo-Tech Injection
TPU lacing system/ PU Eyelets/ Vibram Rubber Rands
Lining: Gore-Tex Performance Comfort
Insole: 4mm graded Nylon
Midsole: PU in toe and heel/ EVA in the central zone and in the heel / TPU insert for rear crampon attachment
Sole: La Sportiva “ONE” by Vibram (exclusive) with Impact Brake System
Construction: Board Lasted
Last: Trango
www.sportiva.com/products/footwear/mountain/trango-cube-gtx-highlander
Wild Country’s Revo is an award winning, bi-directional, self locking belay device. It can be loaded from either side and if the rope moves too quickly through the device, it locks, regardless of which direction the rope is oriented. What’s more, it can’t be overridden when belaying or lowering a climber which will reduce brainfart accidents.
This video shows how the Revo works.
The Revo from Wild Country on Vimeo.
