There is a plethora of information about Fontainebleau on the internet, from logistics information: how to get there, where to stay and when to go, to climbing information: which areas to go to, what problems to try. Rather than reiterating this easily findable information, the aim of this article is to give the reader a summary of the different guidebooks that are available in the UK.

Following on from Greg’s review of the popular Evolv Bandit Lace I’ve also been testing out the Bandit in its more recent guise – the Bandit SC. How would this shoe weigh up in the crowded all-rounder market? As Velcro is a trade name, and isn’t actually used on these shoes Evolv can’t call it the Bandit Velcro, so SC stands for...

Evolv have brought out an update to their popular Optimus Prime shoe – the new version being known simply as the Prime SC [strap closure]. Having had a pair of the previous incarnation – and liked them so much they became one of my main shoes for bouldering and trad climbing – I was keen to see how the new Prime performed. 

With a flat profile, semi asymmetrical last and medium level of rigidity the Bandit Lace embodies the all-round rock shoe. Having quite a broad forefoot, I did find the toe box a bit narrower than is the average and as such it did pinch a little straight out of the box. Fortunately however, due to a fairly soft compromising upper the shoe does give pretty rapidly, and after just one full session down the wall...

In an era when the modern traveller seems to be under increasing pressure to keep luggage weight and bulk to a minimum, particularly when using air travel, one of the first considerations when purchasing a new holdall is finding a balance between features, durability and of course weight.

Nationally recognised as one of the best summer bouldering destinations in North America, if not the world, the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and nearby Mount Evans host an array of gloriously positioned bouldering locations in a picturesque alpine setting throughout the mountains immediately west of Denver, Colorado.

George reviews the new Boulder Britain guide by Niall Grimes. This magnum opus has been an immensely ambitious project in that it covers 180 venues and 3,200 boulder problems across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Does it work as a guidebook though?

Greg gives the low-down on the versatile Rock + Run Lepton Crash Pad. Conceived and built by Rock + Run, the Lepton Crash pad is currently a unique take on bouldering pad design - the Lepton is both a starter or secondary pad, a circuiting pad and a way to transport your clobber to the crag.

Bleaustone’s Training Range is my favourite series of holds for use on a training or systems board. With the possible exception of well made wooden holds, I find the Training Series to be the best option from both a versatility and skin-friendly point of view, whilst most holds are also very good from a space saving perspective.

Fingerboards have come along way since the first hefty great offerings from the likes of Entre-Prises and Bendcrete. Those original old boards were often hulking, tombstones of resin with skin searing edges at highly aggressive angles, and certainly not something that anyone, bar the keenest 'cellar dweller'...