The Best 4th of July Climbing Gear Deals
Fourth of July celebrations typically involve some combination of fireworks, hot dogs, and family time. If none of those activities scream “a good time” to you—or if you want to make a good day even better—climbers can benefit from some new kit at a heavy discount this week. Our editors sifted through the giant 4th of July sale on Backcountry.com to pick out which items are truly a steal right now. We have independently field-tested all of the items listed below: on alpine scrambles in the Cascades, long splitters in Squamish, backcountry ice climbs in Banff, and a whole lot more.
The Best Deals from the Backcountry Fourth of July Sale
Scarpa Gecko Lite Approach Shoe
Scarpa retooled the Gecko, their most technical, climbing-focused approacher, with an appealing cobalt-and-blue color scheme that scores big style points. Matt Samet tested them on long walks with his dog (pavement and gravel), wet, muddy, sloshy spring approaches on trails, talus, and slabs in the Flatirons, and on mellow warm-up bouldering at the cliffs. Like the original Gecko, they have a soft, intuitive, natural feel on technical terrain—you can dig into fairly small footholds (up to 5.10/5.11 jibs and crimps), the sticky rand/toecaps are stable in big cracks, and, with lots of forefoot flex, the Geckos smear extremely well. On the technical side, the new Geckos score the same high marks as their predecessors; they truly are top tier for scrambling and moderate rock. The full-foot lacing is great too—you can really ratchet down fit when needed. Read our full review here.
Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie
Lightweight and athletically cut, the Outdoor Research Superstrand LT Hoodie is an midlayer or outer layer for climbers of all kinds. The VerticalX SuperStrand insulation combines the principal benefits of traditional down insulation (lightweight flexibility and great warmth-to-weight ratio) with the principal benefits of synthetic insulation (warmth when wet and an animal-free materials). Meanwhile, the hoodie’s supple ripstop nylon fabric is wind-resistant, and the discontinuous quilting pattern reduces weight from excess stitching. Our tester Steve Potter wore it nearly non-stop for four months: bouldering, hiking, hangboarding, yoga, moving apartments—you name it. Read our full review here.
Mammut Sender Harness
They say you can’t be pretty and smart. If this harness were a person, it would be proof to the contrary. The Mammut Sender Harness is bright traffic-cone orange. It’s also a light, comfortable, and affordable harness, thus proving to be an excellent compromise that features everything we want in a harness. At just 320 grams (11.3 oz), it’s comparable to the Petzl Sitta. There are others on the market that go much lighter, but, at least in my experience, are also less durable. Read our full review here.
Scarpa Booster Shoe
“These are like a decked-out Formula 1 race car—they just scream performance,” one tester said after using the Booster on roofs in Wild Iris, Wyoming, and American Fork Canyon, Utah. “The ultra-downturned platform and perfectly chiseled toe combined with ample rubber on the top of the forefoot and a suction-cup heel make this a masterpiece of a rock shoe.” The Booster got a big makeover in 2020 with Scarpa’s PAF heel, which splits the tension rand behind your Achilles, letting you downsize for max precision. The resulting “bite” on micros is peerless, and the new heel is a soft, suctiony dream.
Hestra Ergo Grip Tactility Glove
Winter climbers: we didn’t forget about you! July 4th might be about as far as you can get from ice season, but that’s no reason to delay prepping for next season. Hestra’s Ergo Grip Tactility glove isn’t marketed exclusively for winter climbers, but we love its articulated fit for warm-ish weather mixed climbing where tactility is key. The glove features a burly Duratan palm (ideal for belaying and rappelling), Gore-Tex Infinium backhand (helps block wind and encourages breathability), and is machine washable. Of note: this glove isn’t truly insulated; check out the Ergo Grip Active for a warmer solution. Cold-weather rock climbers should stick with the Ergo Grip Tactility.
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