The Edelrid Pinch is a new break-assisted belay device for sport and multi-pitch climbing that can be clipped directly into the central ring of the harness or with a carabiner.
"When we set out to develop a new product, we always ask ourselves the question about what different problems we can solve at the same time", says Philippe Westenberger, Edelrid’s Head of Product, when telling the story behind the Edelrid Pinch. More safety, ease of use, and improved braking rope control - these are some key benefits of the new Edelrid belay device, and most definitely some user problems that were tackled.
One of the standout features of the device is its low, close-to-the-body position when hooking it in the central ring of the harness. This mechanism eliminates the risk of cross-loading or the need for fixed placement when releasing the rope. The unique design of the Pinch also allows climbers to maintain a secure grip on the brake rope with all four fingers, providing unprecedented control and confidence during descent. The design of the Pinch extends the reach, enabling belayers to effortlessly give out 20-30 cm more rope at once, enhancing efficiency on the wall. Still, the Pinch can also be attached the conventional way with a carabiner, which is beneficial in some scenarios, for example during multi-pitch climbing. Steel inserts enhance the life span of the device and an integrated RFID chip simplifies the documentation of the application.
Navigating ropes during lowering and abseiling is made smoother with the linear rope running through the frontal steel braking grooves, reducing the risk of tangles and snags. Due to the lever transmission ratio climbers can perfectly fine tune their descending speed, particularly beneficial when working with thin or soft ropes. The ergonomic lever comes with rubber-coated grip inserts for intuitive handling with minimal effort.
Westenberger describes another topic during development: „There is this debate around the anti-panic function in belay devices: Some like it, some don’t. With the Pinch, you can have both.“ The anti-panic function adds an extra layer of safety, catering to climbers of all skill levels, while the integrated second braking tier offers controlled lowering for lighter individuals or high-friction systems. Not every climber is a fan of anti-panic, so Edelrid offers a way of customization and provides the option to permanently deactivate the anti-panic function, allowing for tailored control and preferences.
Moreover, its versatile design enables attachment to belay stations in four different directions, providing unparalleled flexibility for multi-pitch climbs. This way, the Pinch offers a 90-degree turn at the belay station.
Due to its almost symmetrical design, the Pinch can also be operated by left- and right-handed people. Furthermore, the device is double-certified and can be used for rope access and route setting.
"The Pinch is simply the most versatile device out there now and can be handled more efficiently than any other", Philippe Westenberger sums up the benefits of the Edelrid latest belay device innovation.
The Merrell SpeedARC Surge BOA revolutionizes trail footwear with futuristic design, innovative materials, precise fit technology, and a sole construction, that stands out.
What does the future of hiking look like and how can we really disrupt it? Here is what Merrell developed after years of consumer insights, research, testing, and prototypes. Merrell’s SpeedARC Surge BOA is a fusion of innovation, style, and performance. The look of the shoe is futuristic and disruptive for the hiking segment, with its technology components visible on the outside. The target group is younger and urban, valuing the outdoors but also wanting a cutting-edge design. With innovative Matryx materials, BOA dual dial fit, and a midsole package of supercritical foam sandwiching a flex plate, it redefines trail footwear.
„The hero of this shoe is the platform technology we have invented and what we are calling SpeedARC. It is a combination of our flexplate, a nylon based plate material, and a brandnew, supercritical foam“, explains Ian Cobb, Senior Design Director at Merrell.
This innovative sole construction is offering a new underfoot trail experience: The SpeedARC Surge BOA introduces Merrell’s new FloatPro+ foam, a supercritical foam that is nitrogen injected for better cushioning and response. Two dual-density supercritical foam midsole layers sandwich an exposed nylon flexplate for a cushioned yet stable and responsive underfoot experience. „The combination of foam, plate, foam creates a brandnew, cushioned propulsion, that we are super excited about“, Cobb adds.
While the midsole foam is constructed to offer enhanced rebound, durability, and an increased lifespan, the nylon flex plate stabilizes the midsole platform. This construction offers great energy return. Lab tests conducted by Merrell and its third-party lab partner Heelux prove its superiority among the competitive hiking set. The midsole also reduces energy loss in the gait cycle.
Out-of-the-box comfort in combination with innovative upper materials delivers fit and the ultimate ride underfoot. Crafted with Chamatex’s Matryx material, the upper of the SpeedARC Surge BOA is lightweight, durable, and breathable. Then, a double BOA lacing system ensures precise fit adjustment of both the heel and forefoot areas. Utilizing Matryx material, a knit bootie collar construction and the double BOA in the upper ensures a snug fit. „We are using a BOA dial, that can be adjusted both ways, so you can adjust on the fly - whether it is your feet swelling or a change in terrain“, Ian Cobbs says. He is also sure about the overall package and its potential for disruption in the hiking market. „The shoe shows, where we are headed for the future.“ And the ISPO Award jury also agrees: While Merrell has been doing great work at delivering not your typical granddad’s hiking boot over the last years, the SpeedARC Surge BOA is a progressive shoe packed with style and technology to speak to future generations on the trail.
The Climbing Technology Morfo BG carabiner features a re-invented screw gate mechanism that is “involuntary opening” proof and easy to handle with gloves or one hand. It caters to a variety of sports from mountaineering to paragliding, where safety is a priority.
The Morfo BG is an ergonomic carabiner with a patent pending locking sleeve. The big idea behind the product is to have the definitive locking mechanism needed for most of the mountaineering, climbing and paragliding activities but with a new and re-invented screw gate mechanism. It features the new BriLock Gate (BG) by Climbing Technology, where the brand married the simplicity of a classic screw-lock with the added safety of a self-locking gate.
This BG locking system for carabiners is a patented new locking system aiming to solve all the problems that old screw-gate carabiners had in the past, without adding extra weight or issues in ergonomics or user experience. The result is a locking system that is safer, as it does not open accidentally. As the new technology adds no weight, it makes the carabiner compact and lighter than those with a triple lock and quad lock locking mechanism. Grabbing, holding and handling it is intuitive and the slim carabiner weighs light in hand.
In addition to its lightness, using it is easy: The Morfo BG is also simple and intuitive by design. The locking sleeve features an arrow indicating the direction to pull when opening the carabiner. Once pulled, it can be unscrewed easily, even using one hand only, once you get the hang of it. The same is true for the use with gloves on. Closing it is equally quick and simple. After screwing, the sleeve will automatically close. In this configuration, the sleeve becomes vibration-proof and will not open involuntarily due to jarring or rope movement.
Every part of the system is made in Italy. The carabiner is made entirely in 7075T6 Aluminum. Forging, turning, and riveting are the main production technologies involved and are all done in-house by Climbing Technology.
Overall, the Morfo BG carabiner has an extremely broad field of use in various sports focused on safety and performance, from mountaineers and climbers to paragliders. Its versatility, easy handling and straightforwardness in approaching a known problem with a new technology convinced the ISPO Award jury that the Climbing Technology Morfo BG carabiner is worthy of an ISPO Award.
The Silva Smini Fly headlamp weighs only 38.5 grams but boosts 250 lumens and has a sleek modern look and feel - an optimal compact light for daily runs, lightweight trekking or as a race backup. With different modes of lighting and an eye on circular design, the tiny lamp is a great product for modern adventurers.
Sleek and bright, this headlamp packs a punch but feels like a feather when worn. Its thoughtful features and design are a result of direct user input. Philipp Ausserhofer, who is an ultra athlete and Silva ambassador, initiated the Smini project in the first place. “Let's build a Silva Mini - small and light, but powerful and reliable. That was my big wish to Silva”, he remembers. “A reserve lamp for alpine adventures, but which can also be used as a position light in urban running or cycling. One that fits everywhere and where there is never a question of whether it should be taken on an adventure.”
Ausserhofer can’t be more pleased with the outcome, also noticeable when he talked about the project: “Now the baby is here. Smini - Silva Smini, combines all the usual and expected virtues of a Silva in a small format. My small, reliable partner - whether for trail running, mountaineering, climbing or even ski touring.” Also, the ISPO Award jury was impressed with the features and the sustainable approach Silva took with the Smini Fly.
The Smini Fly comes with a tactile button for glove compatibility, and the lamp house allows a smooth tilt with one hand. Battery status is indicated in four steps and the lamp comes with an integrated USB-C rechargeable battery, which offers convenience and a more sustainable power source compared to standard batteries. The minimalistic 3 mm headband can quickly be swapped for a wider 15 mm version, depending on personal preference.
Silva’s Intelligent Light technology provides both a long-reach spotlight and a close floodlight, while the red light mode preserves night vision. Plus, the super-low mode of 10 lumen is great for reading and saving battery. So does the lock function: the light will do its duty when it should and not when stored away in backpacks or pockets. No loose cables and a water-resistant construction make it reliable and durable.
In the design and development process of the Smini Fly, Silva also placed value on sustainability, from the materials used to thoughts about the lifecycle of the product. Emma-Louise Gustafsson, the responsible Product Developer on Silva’s product team, explains: “Step by step, we are working hard to make our products better for the environment. We have already started using recycled material in our products, so this time we wanted to explore something new. Smini is our first step on a circular design journey, and it is a completely modular product. Smini comes with two headbands to fit different activities and users, and we have made product specifications available with a QR code on the product, enabling re-use.” The QR code makes product info easy to retrieve, even on the go, too. Recycled polycarbonate and PET were used in the lamp housing and headband. Manufacturing the lamp housing and lens, Silva used the same polycarbonate material.
“We have assembled the lamphouse with screws to make it easier to take apart, and once the product reaches its end of life, the lamphouse and lens are made of the same material to improve recyclability”, Gustafsson goes on to explain.
Overall, the Smini Fly is a reliable companion offering versatility, durability, and user-friendly design, while being small and light enough to bring on any adventure. So it is a great little product that offers everything necessary for ultra runners during training or as a backup during races but also for weight-conscious trekkers and fast packers pondering about every gram of their equipment.
The Altimate by Climbing Technology is an adaptable mountaineering harness with two configurations, one for skiing, and one for climbing - offering safety, support, and freedom of movement.
Climbing Technology’s concept behind the Altimate is to create a versatile harness for mountaineering and ski touring without compromising on weight, performance, and user experience. The harness is a dual-configuration device that allows its user to switch from a ski touring to a climbing set-up without removing the harness. It also offers an easy way to put the harness on without getting out of your skis, which can be a safety risk when traveling across a glacier.
Switching is simple, safe, and functional with just hooking the toggles to different loops and thus allowing different weight distribution and comfort during movement. The ski touring mode of the harness offers a good range of movement during the approach and lets the user enjoy the mountain with unlimited freedom, without wasting energy or friction. In climbing mode, the harness gives improved support for a lightweight device, making it more comfortable when climbing to the summit or rappelling.
The fabric of the waist belt and leg loops is supportive and abrasion-resistant yet flexible when weighted, thanks to its anisotropic properties. Nonetheless, its construction and features like belay loops are durable and safe. It is made of ultralight sail-cloth fabric that is 100 percent made in Europe and climate neutral.
The harness is very easy to put on, even with skis or crampons on. It features innovative toggles that allow a fully adjustable fit tailored to individual body shapes. This also allows the switch in the configuration: The CT Altimate can be easily changed when entering different terrain during the approach, from skiing to climbing. Two reflective bands are positioned on the tie-in points to help the user rope up in flat light or when it is dark.
With its streamlined design, flexible structure, and different options for wear, the Climbing Technology Altimate harness allows freedom of movement and packs away nicely as it is super foldable and light.
