From Climbing · Anthony Walsh · · 1m 10s
Best Climbing Gear of Fall 2026
After testing 122 pieces of gear, climbers find the best fall 2026 options.
In brief
After testing 122 pieces of gear, climbers find the best fall 2026 options. Climbing gear testers identified the top 122 pieces of gear for fall 2026 after field testing. Originally reported by Climbing.
Gear Testing Results
Our team tested 122 pieces of gear including 28 harnesses, 27 pairs of climbing shoes, 30 pairs of approach shoes, 9 ropes, and 28 backpacks.
Best Climbing Shoes of 2026
The year of hyper-specific shoes: one felt stiff as a crampon with carbon insert, another had support like a woolen sock.
Best Climbing Harnesses of 2026
The harness makes or breaks your day on the wall, tested from cold Canadian alpine to steep Devil’s Tower walls.
Best Climbing Approach Shoes
Purpose-built approach shoes tackle technical scrambles and talus fields, letting climbers arrive with more gas in the tank.
Best Climbing Backpacks and Kitbags
One versatile alpine-climbing pack carries one to four days of mountain kit with ease.
Best Climbing Ropes of 2026
Ropes reveal true colors only after hard wear in rain, snow, and ice.
Best Climbing Helmets of 2026
Helmets are the best defense against rockfall and weird whippers while climbing outdoors.
The short version
Climbing gear testers identified the top 122 pieces of gear for fall 2026 after field testing.
