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Innovative Gear: Avant Climbing Innovations

John Godino

This section of Alpinesavvy highlights small companies, inventors, artists and other superb humans who make exceptional climbing-related gear. 

  • If you know a company that belongs on these pages, please let me know.

  • I don't get any sort of advertising fees / benefits / kickbacks from these pages. I simply want to showcase cool companies to a wider audience.

  • Occasionally these companies may give me a product to review. If that happens, I’ll tell you.

  • Listings are alphabetical.

Avant Climbing Innovations founder Brent Barghahn free climbing El Corazon (5.13), El Capitan.

Image: https://www.brentbarghahn.com/climbing-blog/el-corazon-ground-up-2022crux

Avant Climbing Innovations, based in Flagstaff Arizona, makes specialized gear focused on top rope solo and lead rope solo climbing.

Avant Climbing Innovations was founded by Brent Barghahn. Brent, a product designer, professional climber and humble bad-ass, knows a thing or two about hard climbing on big walls. He has some very impressive free ascents on El Capitan, such as El Corazon, El Nino, and Golden Gate. He is also an leader in spreading the gospel of proper technique and gear for lead and top rope solo technique. Oh yeah, and he has a few patents as well!

  • Top rope solo neck lanyard - If you ever done top rope soloing, you might've tried the DIY method of some sort of DIY bungee cord thing around your neck. This adjustable neck lanyard works a lot better.

  • Snack Pack multi pitch storage pouch - If you want to leave your backpack on the ground, but still have some room for a few essentials like snacks, phone, windbreaker, and headlamp, check this out. It's basically a smartly designed chalk bag with a nice closure and zipper to store a few extra goodies; plus it has a phone tether.

  • Flex-Link Anti-Crossload Protector - Cross loading your carabiner is not a good thing, especially when you’re rope soloing.  This clever device keeps this from happening, and it looks like it could be helpful in lots of cases other than rope soloing.

Top Rope Solo Neck Lanyard

image: https://avantclimbing.com/

Snack Pack multi pitch storage pouch

image: https://avantclimbing.com/

Flex-Link - Anti-Crossload Protector

image: https://avantclimbing.com/

Learn more about Brent from these videos.

Great documentary video produced by Arc'teryx with Brent free climbing one of the hardest routes on El Capitan with Amity Warme.

An interview with Ryan Jenks of hotNOT2.com, with a deep dive into top rope solo technique.