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Reviews by dbrayack (6)

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Defy Climbing Shoe - Mens (Manufacturer link) popular Average Rating = 3.94/5 Average Rating : 3.94/5

In: Gear: Shoes: Climbing Shoes: Velcro

Good Shoes, The Defy 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: dbrayack, 2008-01-14


These are my standard shoe. If it doesn't look exceptionally edgy, I put on these guys. They're comfy and they smear very well. The rubber is sticky...pretty much on my feet 90 percent of the time (like I said, unless I'm doing some dime edging, then voila the Pontas)


Training for Climbing (Manufacturer link) Average Rating = 4.50/5 Average Rating : 4.50/5

In: Gear: Archive

Training for Climbing is exactly what it says 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: dbrayack, 2006-12-12


A good book. I read this thing cover to cover once a season (around winter) when its time for training season. Covers the fundamentals for identifying weakness, target training for these weakness, setting up a long term exercise schedule implementing these, and the proper eating for energy/accelerated recovery.

I bought this book for my "beginner-intermediate" buddy. Great buy, well worth it. Unfortunately, this book outdates both Flash Training and How to Climb 5.12. If you already have both of those, you should buy this also (I had both before).


Camalot C3 (Manufacturer link) Average Rating = 4.38/5 Average Rating : 4.38/5

In: Gear: Essential Equipment: Protection: Active

Pretty Honkin' (C3 that is) 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: dbrayack, 2006-12-08


Good places, both in horizontals and cracks. I was thinking about getting some TCUs for the above mentioned situations, but will likely but these guys instead. The best part is the flexible, protected stem and narrow profile.


Spirit Carabiner, Anodized (Manufacturer link) Average Rating = 4.74/5 Average Rating : 4.74/5

In: Gear: Essential Equipment: Carabiners: Non-Locking Carabiners: Straight Gates and Regular D's

Spirit's Got Spirit 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: dbrayack, 2006-11-25


THE standard in quality, this is pretty much the best and only quickdraw that a serious climber should use. Light, clips great, cannot beat it. Its been the same for years, why? Its so good, why change it.


Grigri Belay Device (Manufacturer link) popular Average Rating = 4.24/5 Average Rating : 4.24/5

In: Gear: Essential Equipment: Belay Devices & Descenders

Review 5 out of 5 stars

Review by: dbrayack, 2006-08-07


THE standard for belaying. I took a random girl from the climbing gym out "lead" climbing one day. I always teach people to lead belay using the gri gri. I pretty much tie in, rig the gri-gri, clip it to them, give them some basic "feeding" and "lowering" instructions and then just go. At the end of the day, I tried to onsight a 5.10 (hard for me). As I went into the crux sequence, I looked down, saw a loop or rope extending from her, down toward the ground, then up to me...."Well, at least she won't short rope me", I went, missed and took the big whip...no big deal, she caught me, it was a soft catch, life was good!

I figure I'll get short roped on the first several clips, but then the newb will get the picture.

These things are beautiful.

Its also very nice to belay someone working something/falling a lot, you don't have to lock it off, just sit back in your harness and chill, very good indeed.

Also, I use it in combination with an ascender to take photos. Its fast, and I can lower off it.

They're pretty hardcore and hardy; I've had mine for almost 7 years now, I've beaten the snot out of it, I've used it to bungy jump with my climbing rope (similar setup as see in Masters of Stone). Its overall the best piece of climbing gear you can get for safety as well as easy of use.

For 70 bucks, its more than worth it for both safety and ease of use. Its almost down to 10 bucks a year now, I'll probably get one in another few years, so that's like 7 dollars a year of use, not bad!

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