# ClimbingCriteria

> Climbing gear guides: climbing shoes, harnesses, belay devices, carabiners, dynamic ropes, helmets, crash pads, hangboards, ice axes, crampons and mountaineering boots, with UIAA and EN certifications explained.

ClimbingCriteria publishes climbing gear reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://climbingcriteria.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://climbingcriteria.com/glossary): climbing gear terms defined
- [How we test](https://climbingcriteria.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Climbing shoes](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/shoes): Climbing shoes for beginners, bouldering, sport, trad and gym climbing.
- [Ropes & protection](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/rope-gear): Dynamic ropes, harnesses, belay devices, carabiners, slings, protection and helmets.
- [Bouldering & training](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/bouldering-training): Crash pads, chalk and chalk bags, brushes, hangboards and home walls.
- [Ice & alpine](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/alpine-ice): Ice axes and tools, crampons, mountaineering boots, alpine packs and approach shoes.
- [Gear care & retirement](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/gear-care): Inspecting, cleaning, storing and retiring climbing equipment according to manufacturer instructions.
- [Gyms & routesetting](https://climbingcriteria.com/category/gym-routesetting): Climbing holds, home walls, routesetting tools and equipment for gyms and professionals.

## Buying guides
- [Belay Device Types Compared: Tube, Assisted Braking and Guide Mode](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/belay-device-types-compared): Tube devices are light, simple and versatile, and work with single and double ropes for rappelling. Assisted-braking devices add extra braking help: passive designs use geometry, active designs use a moving cam. Guide-mode devices can belay seconds from an anchor. Every device has a rated rope diameter range, and none removes the need to keep a hand on the brake strand. Learn from a qualified instructor.
- [Climbing Harness Fit and Certification Guide](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/climbing-harness-fit-guide): Choose a harness certified to EN 12277 and UIAA 105, sized so the waist belt sits snugly above the hip bones and the leg loops are snug without pinching. Gym and sport harnesses are light with few gear loops; trad harnesses add padding and four or more gear loops; alpine harnesses have adjustable leg loops for layers. Inspect the belay loop and tie-in points every time, and retire per the maker.
- [Climbing Helmet Guide: Hardshell, Foam and Hybrid](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/climbing-helmet-guide): Climbing helmets protect against falling rock and dropped gear and against impacts in a fall. Hardshell helmets are durable and cheap but heavier; foam (EPS) helmets are very light but dent easily; hybrids balance both. Choose one certified to EN 12492 and UIAA 106, that fits snugly and sits level, with headlamp clips for alpine use. Replace after a significant impact.
- [Climbing Shoe Sizing and Types: Flat, Moderate and Aggressive](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/climbing-shoe-sizing-and-types): Beginners do best in flat or moderately shaped shoes that fit snugly with toes touching the end and slightly curled, but are not painful. Aggressive, downturned shoes help on steep bouldering and sport routes but hurt on long sessions. Unlined leather shoes can stretch up to about half a size; synthetic uppers stretch little. Closure type is mostly preference.
- [Crampon and Boot Compatibility: B Ratings, C Ratings and Ice Axes](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/crampon-and-ice-axe-compatibility): Crampons must match your boots. Strap-on crampons fit most flexible boots; hybrid (semi-automatic) crampons need a heel welt and suit stiffer B2 boots; automatic (step-in) crampons need toe and heel welts on rigid B3 boots. Very flexible B0 footwear is not for crampons. Ice axes certified to EN 13089 are Type 1 (B) for general mountaineering or Type 2 (T) for technical climbing.
- [Bouldering Crash Pad Buying Guide: Size, Foam and Folding Styles](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/crash-pad-buying-guide): Crash pads soften falls when bouldering outdoors. A full-size pad around 3 by 4 feet and 4 inches thick is a good first pad; smaller pads fill gaps and bigger highball pads cover more ground. Layered foam, a firm closed-cell top over softer open-cell foam, spreads impact. Hinge, taco and hybrid folds trade gaps against flatness. For high problems, use several pads and a spotter.
- [Dynamic Climbing Ropes: Diameter, Length and Types Explained](https://climbingcriteria.com/guides/dynamic-climbing-rope-guide): Single ropes, certified to EN 892 and UIAA 101, are used alone for gym, sport and most trad climbing; diameters around 9.5 to 10 mm balance durability and weight, while thinner ropes are lighter but wear faster. Half and twin ropes are used in pairs for wandering trad and alpine routes. 60 meters covers many routes and 70 meters many modern sport crags. Dry-treated ropes suit ice and alpine. Never lead on static rope.

Contact: info@climbingcriteria.com