Students are back to school and climbers are flocking to crags, which for many of us can only mean one thing: the active fall season is here, so it’s time to shake off the summer rust if you haven’t yet and put our recharged batteries to good use. This issue has plenty of new releases to help fuel the forward momentum toward your professional and climbing goals, from high-tech advancements on and off the wall to fresh tools for training the body and mind, high-quality equipment for our gyms or own racks, plus inspiration to make our progress more sustainable. Enjoy!
BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– 8BPLUS – Apex Cool Labs – Approach – Asana – Beta Break – Boulder Bluff – Death Grip – Endless – Escape – Griptonite – Head Rush – Kinetik – Lizcore – Rhino Skin Solutions – Rise Above Consulting – Rúngne – Trango – Unblocd – WhiteOak – Wild Country –
APPROACH
Approach recently launched Approach Learning, an on-demand training portal built into their software that’s specifically designed for climbing gym teams. The self-guided digital resource covers essential workflows for staff, such as signing waivers, editing customer profiles, selling merchandise, processing checkins and more. Their goal for the portal is to make onboarding smoother. Approach Learning is included at no additional cost.
ASANA
Asana has expanded their flooring options to include the new Pallet of Pads system. A pallet consists of 6, 8, 9 or 10 modular pads that can be combined to create a wide variety of padded surfaces and fit just about any climbing wall. Each pad is 48″ x 36″ x 8″ in size and has dual-density open- and closed-cell foam, a 1000 denier nylon shell, two drag handles, Velcro around the top perimeter, and triple stitching in stress points. Each set comes with Velcro seam covers to attach the pads together, plus a custom fit 1680 denier ballistic nylon topper that is water-resistant and has Velcro around the full perimeter. The whole system is designed for easy service and maintenance, so it can be a long-term solution. $3,000 to $4,150, with free shipping to the lower 48 states.
DEATH GRIP
Death Grip is a new brand of high-performance chalk in plastic-free packaging. The line includes 100% pure magnesium carbonate chalk formulations: Doom Stones Block ($15.99 for 4x60g discs) and Doom Stones Chunks ($12.99 for 125g or $18.99 for 283g), made from 100% pure magnesium carbonate; and Bone Dust ($14.99 for 125g) powder, sourced from seawater and refined by solar radiation. They also offer Dark Tide Liquid ($9.99 for 60ml) using the same seawater/solar source plus ethanol.
GRIPTONITE
Griptonite has launched two new features for climbing gyms—API Integrations and Challenges—as well as introduced a competition-only pricing tier, allowing gyms to access just the competition functionality alongside a new web-based results service. The API Integrations allow gyms to leverage a two-way connection directly with select POS, CRM, booking and access control systems. The new Challenge feature equips loyalty/rewards programs with ready-made templates like Check-In, Bring a Friend and Climb of the Week. The new features are included with plans that start at $85/mo.
HEAD RUSH
The new TRU-ALERT Height Sensor from Head Rush Technologies is the company’s latest product designed to protect auto belay climbers who forget to clip in. If a climber is not clipped in, a warning sound is emitted at 1.5m, and if the climber reaches 2.5m, a full safety alarm goes off. The device attaches to the harness, so no wall alterations are necessary, and it’s compatible with all major sequenced connectors. Each TRU-ALERT Height Sensor is $300, and additional Reset Remotes are $300.
LIZCORE
Lizcore gymOS, a full-featured climbing gym operational software solution, is now available. The new platform has a wide variety of integrated features, including memberships, routesetting, access control, climber tracking and competitions, and it also works seamlessly with their Safety Gate® auto belay devices. Through Lizcore, managers get dashboards that provide quick access to key data and insights; climbers get performance tracking, route feedback, challenges and more. Plans currently start at €45/mo.
RHINO SKIN SOLUTIONS
Rhino Skin Solutions manufacturing is now 100% solar-powered. The facility in Redmond, Oregon, completed installation of their 12,000 kWh system this summer.
RISE ABOVE CONSULTING
Recently Rise Above Consulting brought on Pete Ward as a partner and expanded their services. The network’s turnkey solutions for gym start-ups are customized and include benchmarked data, market research, a 7-year financial model and full business plan for $10,000. They also offer a three-day, facilitated strategic planning process—both onsite or remotely—as well as customized one-on-one coaching, group programs, and two-day immersive bootcamps focused on leadership, people operations, crisis management and more. Their consulting packages begin at $2,000 for 10hrs.
RÚNGNE
Rúngne now has three chalk products available. Their Magdust ($24 for 200g) blend is 30% chunks and 70% powder, while their Magdust Superdry ($26 for 200g) blend is 100% fine powder and formulated for humid conditions. And their Magball ($17 for 60g) is a refillable mesh ball. Rúngne’s chalk products are 50% off to wholesale customers through their partner program.
TRANGO
Trango has released their Reaction World Cup Quickdraw, the official quickdraw of the IFSC World Cups. Available in five lengths (15cm, 25cm, 50cm, 70cm, 100cm), these quickdraws use 2.5cm-wide webbing and rubber keepers to add stability for clipping. $29.95 to $35.95.
UNBLOCD
Unblocd just launched Climbing Injury Recovery. The new online course addresses psychological challenges during rehab, including motivation, fear of re-injury, and regaining enjoyment in climbing. Gyms can offer Unblocd memberships—which include this course—to customers as part of a partnership. Those memberships start at $15.84/mo with a partner discount.
8BPLUS
8BPLUS has dropped two new chalkbag designs, Eddie and Oli. Both chalkbags include a belt, a harness clip, two brush holders, and a 12.5cm-wide opening. $34.90
APEX COOL LABS
Apex Cool Labs has upgraded their Narwhals palm-cooling devices. Designed to mitigate heat stress, accelerate heart rate recovery and improve strength gains, they utilize an insulated reservoir, specialized freeze pack and heat pipes to provide 2+ hours of cooling. The 11″ x 4.3″ devices weigh 3lbs when full and can be setup in 60 seconds if the freeze packs have been prepared overnight. $399 for a set of 2.
BETA BREAK
Beta Break is a new card game made for the climbing gym. After choosing a bouldering problem, each card drawn directs the player(s) to climb the problem in a certain way. Designed to be played alone or with friends, the game is available in both a pre-printed format ($19.99 to $24.99) and as PDFs you can print yourself ($7.99).
BOULDER BLUFF
Boulder Bluff is a new bouldering-themed bluffing card game. Players draw tokens from the ‘chalkbag’ to help (or hinder) their climb, with a goal of topping as many routes as possible. Designed for 2 to 4 players and takes 30-45 minutes to play. €27.23
ENDLESS
Endless Climbing is now selling The Ultra Chalk Bucket. It’s made with Ultraweave 400 TX, a fabric with tensile strength that’s designed to be strong—15x stronger than steel at the same weight—as well as lightweight and abrasion resistant. It also features their Magnetic Brush Sleeve, a magnetic roll-down closure and a storage pocket, is available in a variety of colors, and weighs 210 grams. $89
ESCAPE
Escape recently released their RockRidger Hoodie for men and women. The jackets are designed for long reaches, with extra arm material, and has a hood designed to fit comfortably under a helmet. $99.95
KINETIK
Kinetik’s latest pad is the KiloNewton Prime, which has three layers of foam that are combined to make a 5″ deep, 56″ x 48″ landing zone. The pad features an adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, load lifting straps, as well as their ‘houdini’ flap, drag handles, and a multi-pad carry system. $325
WHITEOAK
WhiteOak has introduced their Footwork Panel, a dual-sided footwork trainer that’s designed to help climbers develop precise foot placement, balance, and control. It has an engraved grid, is adjustable from -25° (slab) to +25° (overhang), and is made from birch plywood. $119 for the panel, or $139 with 16 footholds included.
WILD COUNTRY
Wild Country recently launched their Progress Backpack 18L, which is built to be light, compact and streamlined for multipitch use. The ‘high-on-back’ fit keeps the pack away from gear loops and chalkbags, and the main compartment can be accessed from the top drawcord or side zipper. It’s compatible with hydration bladders, has a removable hip belt and internal back for packability, and has integrated daisy chains. $109.95
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