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Angela Hawse

La Sportiva Batura Boots: Comfort and Performance

La Sportiva has created another fine technical boot with the new Batura. I’ve used the Nuptse in the Himalaya, the Nepal Top all over the North Cascades and Ouray, the Trango Ice Evo and Women’s Trango Evo GTX in Patagonia and at home in the San Juans. I’ve been happy with all of these La Sportiva models, which tend to fit narrow feet, like mine, especially well. I’m psyched on the new Batura because it fills the gap between the warmth of the Nuptse, as a quasi-double boot, and the technical performance of the Nepal Top or Evo. Its weight-to-warmth ratio sets it apart from the pack of other boots I’ve used over the years.

Lowe Alpine Summit Attack 30 Hyperlite: A Solid Little Pack

In my decade-long quest to find the perfect little pack, one that has all the right features and none of the bells and whistles, this one comes as close as it gets. The Lowe Alpine Summit Attack 30 Hyperlite is the only pack I’ve owned that’s been spared the knife and trimming that my other packs have been subjected to. It may not be the beefiest, but as long as it lasts, it’ll be comfortably on my back.

Petzl Nomad 9.8mm Rope: The Workhorse

Petzl has a long history of developing quality and innovative products, and their new line of ropes is no exception. Aside from the bright green color, the Nomad immediately caught my attention out of the bag with a manufactured “ready for action” butterfly coil that required no painstaking uncoiling or restacking. Sweet! I hadn’t even tied in yet and the rope already won points with me.

Rab Power Stretch Grip Glove: Almost Too Sticky!

This lightweight glove packs a punch for as light as it is and as well as it climbs. Had the temperatures been more normal in the Tetons this season, I probably would have squeezed more milage out of the thin Rab gloves, but global warming had most of us stripped to light sleeves–and certainly gloveless–many a day up high.

Petzl Luna Harness: Everything a Woman Wants

In the midst of searching for the right lightweight alpine harness for this season, Alpinist’s call to review the Petzl Luna couldn’t have come at a better time. Out of the slick mesh bag it comes packed in, my first critical look quickly revealed that the harness had the features I desired: lightweight and compact; four gear loops that would be compatible with wearing a pack; adjustable leg loops; a full-strength loop in the back for a tag line; and mesh construction that offers enhanced breathability. I’ve had the harness for over a month and used it for typical guiding days in the Tetons, where its lightness and breathability is an asset.

Petzl Corax Harness

This harness is a Cadillac for comfort and Petzl’s slick buckle system helps keep you safe without having to double back the waist belt or leg loops. This feature also makes it super fast to change layers on the move. I’ve used the Corax extensively for rock climbing, ice climbing and alpine routes.

Having a Petzl Reverso means one-stop shopping

Petzl again led the pack in bringing us this super versatile, self-braking belay device. Most other manufacturers have scrambled to follow suit, but the Reverso still gets my vote for simplicity and smooth feed in all categories.

La Sportiva Exum Ridge Approach Shoe

When La Sportiva first came out with the Exum Ridge approach shoe, it was a winner. I wore mine up and down the Grand Teton guiding moderate routes during many long days in the mountains until they practically fell off my feet, threadbare.

Vasque M-Finity boots bring you back home

For me, a good mountain boot not only has to climb well, it has to get me to the climb. I’m not carrying a boot on my back, I’m going to wear it all day, there and back. I checked out the Vasque M-Finity on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton during the early part of last summer.