Climbing & Bouldering Archives

Advice

Alpinetrek-Expert

Guest author

Tips & Tricks: When to replace your climbing harness

Your climbing harness is something that you need to be able to completely rely upon. When cams and bolts break, it’s still entirely possible to survive a fall. A climbing harness, however, doesn’t have a backup. You’re just as reliant upon this as you are on your rope. But, many climbers tend to use their […]

Fabrics & Technologies

Alpinetrek-Expert

Jan

DWR coatings – Blessing or a curse?

DWR stands for “Durable Water Repellent” and refers to a coating that is added to fabrics used for functional clothing and footwear. Thus, DWR is not a name for a specific material or system, but merely a description of a certain property. However, there are chemical and technological differences between the various treatments that manufacturers […]

Buyer's Guide

Alpinetrek-Expert

Wiebke

A buyer’s guide to climbing harnesses

You went to quickly buy a climbing harness before the climbing course and wonder why the leg loops look so funny? Or whilst unpacking asked yourself why the strap is not padded or has such a ridiculous strap on the rear? Buying a climbing harness is actually quite simple, but if you do not take […]

How-Tos

Alpinetrek-Expert

Stephan

Confidence in the mountains – Improving your surefootedness and getting a head for heights

Who wouldn’t want to do all the spectacular things that the professional mountaineers who grace the covers of all our favourite magazines do? You know, those superhero-like characters who make climbing big walls look easy and run along terrifyingly narrow ridges like it’s no big deal. It’s amazing, they seem to have absolutely zero interest […]

How-Tos

Alpinetrek-Expert

Lisa

IRON PATHS THROUGH STEEP ROCK – VIA FERRATA, HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?

Fixed rope routes have experienced a real boom in the last few years. In many places, new iron routes are being developed and numerous vacation brochures advertise this “new” type of mountain sport. But what actually makes the via ferrata a via ferrata? Where are the limits to hiking or climbing? And what on earth […]

Size Guides

Alpinetrek-Expert

Wiebke

Are your climbing shoes too tight?

We see it much too often: climbers putting on their climbing shoes with pain written all over their faces, only to take them off as soon as humanly possible with a huge sigh of relief. Or what about those poor souls who run to the wall on their heels so that they don’t put too […]

Gear & Maintenance

Alpinetrek-Expert

Sebastian

Care instructions for GORE-TEX-footwear

Sometimes the best trips include some rough weather. Conquering a summit feels twice as good if you have made it through the elements. Modern equipment turns bad weather into something you can deal with. GORE-TEX footwear has really developed in recent years and should be a definite consideration as you piece together your kit. Wet […]

Buyer's Guide

Alpinetrek-Expert

Stephan

The proper boots for via ferratas

While there is special equipment you need for via ferratas, like a via ferrata set, most of the stuff you need (clothing, a backpack or a harness) you probably already have, provided you’re into climbing or mountaineering. The one thing you may not have is the proper footwear. Proper footwear? Can’t you just wear the […]

Gear & Maintenance

Alpinetrek-Expert

Wiebke

How to waterproof hardshell jackets

Hardshell trousers and jackets offer us daily protection against the elements. They do a lot for you when it comes to staying dry in rough weather. On a trip to the mountains this is already half the battle. To keep this up our clothing needs a bit of care and maintenance. After each tour we […]

Fabrics & Technologies

Alpinetrek-Expert

Wiebke

Tips & Tricks: Waterproof vs. water repellent

Worst case scenario: it’s the second day of a two-week camping trip. Your backpack is stuffed with the necessary equipment and the only clothing you have with you is what you’ve got on your back. Extra clothes get left behind to save weight and space. But then, the weather takes a turn for the worse […]

Climbing & Bouldering

Chose a category

Hallo ...