Evolve Optimus Prime

What can I say about the Optimus Primes they are beyond description. These shoes fit like a glove and perform like no other. The down cambered design makes them excel on overhangs but also they smear and edge quite well. Lets just say the only way you are not going to stick to a hold is if you don't place your foot on it in the first place. One thing that I would warn you about is not to get carried away with downsizing, with full synthetic lining and wrap-around rubber, this shoe does not stretch. I also own the Pontas shoe from evolv which are a half size smaller than my optimus primes but in reality the optimus are actually smaller. When it comes to performance though I would definitely recommend this shoe to anyone looking for something more agressive for bouldering and single pitch sport climbing. (Needless to say the destroyer of boulder problems and Decepticons)

Evolve's Website.

For more info, call 417-877-8855 in Springfield and 913-851-2244 in Kansas City.

Arc'Teryx r320 Harness

For anyone who knows anything about Arc'teryx, a review on this harness should not even be necessary. Unless these guys are certain that a product is going to be better than anything else like it on the market, they do not release it. I am always blown away by any new product that these guys put out. That being said, they just raised the bar for themselves with this line of harnesses! One look at it will tell you its in a league of its own.

Utilizing the new WARP technology, this harness is not only less bulky but more comfortable than any harness I have ever been in. To put it simply, the weight of the climber is distributed on a greater area than most harness, resulting in more comfort while hanging without adding the weight and bulk most harness add to increase comfort.

Let me put in this way, the first time I wore this thing at HCR I dug around my pack for a good 5 minutes looking for this harness before I realized I ALREADY HAD IT ON! I was ready to run back to my tent to look for it before my partner pointed out I was wearing it! This translates to greater freedom of movement while climbing, which translates to better climbing! Never a company to skimp on details, Arc'teryx used bright orange fabric underneath the outerfabric to serve as a safety mechanism. When you see the orange, time to get a new harness! It doesn't get much easier than that.

At $135 it's one of the most pricey harnesses we sell, but it's also the #1 selling harness we have. So that is a major testament right there. Get this thing NOW!

Arc'Teryx Website.

For more info, call 417-877-8855 in Springfield and 913-851-2244 in Kansas City.

Trango Cinch

Ever since I started climbing I have been an outright advocate for the Petzl Gri-Gri. Everytime I saw someone using a Cinch, I assumed they had just never used a Gri-Gri, so they didn't know what they were missing. Although, lately I had seen people lead belaying with the Cinch with what appeared to be little to no effort. This seemed odd to me because all of my Gri-Gri touting friends hardly ever belayed a leader with this device, instead preferring to go back to the standard ATC.Well, last week at HCR my buddy Dick all but forced me to belay him with his Cinch, despite my great protest. What I found was that this thing fed slack easier than ANY device I have ever used. On routes that were protected in a relatively vertical line, I didnt even have to feed! The leader could just pull rope through on his own! I was in disbelief! Plus it is significantly lighter than the Gri-Gri! This will definately be the next piece of gear added to my arsenal! The only thing I did not like about the Cinch is that it is a little clunky to lower people with, and the lever is harder to handle once the rope has been weighted. But the ease of feeding more than makes up for this! I will not retire my Gri-Gri, because it still has a few things it does better than any other device I know of. I will continue to use it for route-setting at gyms, belaying someone from above (like in Ouray), and when my partner plans on doing a marathon session of Hang-dogging. Of course the ATC- Guide will continue to be the go to device for Super Hard Core Trad-Nasty belaying, and belaying a second from above on multi-pitch routes where weight is an issue.

I know a lot of my co-workers will argue with me on this, but the proof is in the pudding!

Trango's Website.

For more info, call 417-877-8855 in Springfield and 913-851-2244 in Kansas City.

La Sportiva Mythos

Whether you're looking to hit the gym or try your skill in the great outdoors, the Mythos is one solid climbing shoe. As someone who is fairly new to the sport, I found the Mythos to be most form molded to my foot. This climbing shoe has an uncanny ability to know precisely where your foot arches and how it can best accomodate to the greatest comfort of your climbing experience. I have not once had a blister or an uncomforting and sore experience with the Mythos (not to mention the various compliments of the bright purple leather emanating from below). For an all-around great climbing shoe that will last you for years and support any climber from beginners to the pros, the Mythos is a dependable option.

La Sportiva Website..

For more questions, call 417-877-8855.