This article was taken from the May 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Five high-spec pieces of kit to have you scaling the summits
Ultralight carry-all: CiloGear W/NW Dyneema 60 WorkSack
This award-winning, super-tough climbing pack is made from woven/non-woven Dyneema. This means it is waterproof, has three times the abrasion resistance of 1000D Cordura and weighs just 1.75kg -- including extra straps, framesheet and bivy. The strapping and clip system are highly modular, allowing you to hang items off the pack and compress unused sections.
Cost: $775
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Energy-efficient torch: Petzl Nao
Reactive lighting technology means this headtorch senses ambient light levels and adjusts its beam to suit. This cuts down fiddling and maximises battery life by reducing times when the beam is needlessly high. It can also be programmed via computer to set custom activity modes and levels of the two LEDs. The Nao weighs 187g, including its Li-ion rechargeable battery, and can operate between -30<sup>°</sup>C and 50<sup>°</sup>C.
Cost: £135
The art of training: Lunar Europe NOVA
What sets the stylish NOVA climbing wall apart from other training options is an embedded lighting system that illuminates behind cracks, footholds and handholds to display map routes of varied difficulty, all controlled via your smartphone. The same app also tracks your ascent, and when you're done climbing, selecting the "Ambient" mode converts the wall into a light installation.
Cost: £tbc
Slick spring-hook: Black Diamond Magnetron carabiner
A magnetic closure system is the trick here. The 78g design uses magnets rather than twistlocks or screwlocks, meaning that once opened, the opposing magnetic fields keep the gate open and clear. The carabiner's closed-gate strength is 22kN (enough, in theory, to carry the weight of a 22-man squad of 100kg footballers). There are also no abrasive edges on which to snag rope, and it can be deployed one-handed.
Cost: From £22
Surface-sensitive shoes: La Sportiva Futura
La Sportiva's "No Edge" construction with a Vibram XSGrip2 sole is innovative because the toe box - rounded in all directions - brings the foot closer to the rock. This allows a greater, more natural push on the hold. Weighing in at 450g for the pair and with a fast-lacing system, the Futura doesn't compromise on sensitivity and comfort. It is particularly suited to tackling indoor walls and to bouldering.
Cost: £140
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
