News Blog

Bigstone will be  in Hall A5 at ISPO, in the “Free Ride Village”, between 1st and 4th February. Please contact Jenny  to book appointments to see: 5.10 Arc’teryx Edelweiss Visit the show website here for full details. Read more about ISPO 2009 - appointment diary open.

Report just in from 5.10 climber Ned Feehally: I got out on Saturday for the first time in ages and had quite a good day… After warming up with Ben Morton and doing Brass Monkeys (good effort to the Morton!) we met up with Ryan Pasqual and did Shine On (E7 6C) ground up above pads, he then did Cemetery Waits... Read more about Careless Torque - Ned Feehally

GJs in London is the site for several Arc'teryx supported presentations this month from Henry’s Avalanche Talks (HAT). The talks will allow skiers and boarders to learn good practice on the mountain and understand more about avalanche danger. Following a similar format to the HAT talks in Val d’Isère and... Read more about HAT Avalanche Talks in London

December's 20th anniversary issue of GQ magazine has hit the shelves and includes the  '100 best things in the world right now'. Page 189 shows the Arc'teryx Fission SL Jacket - in at number 37 (just behind Indiana Jones Lego) under the heading "Canada's blue-chip outdoor apparel brand takes flight..." Buy the... Read more about Check out GQ December Issue

News just in from Dan Varian and Ned Feehally's day at Froggatt last Friday (Halloween): "Big Ron (Fawcett) did Toy Boy in 1986 for the first ascent, then Ben Heason head pointed it in 2001 after 6 or 7 roped sessions. Ned Feehally and I did it as a highball font 7c+ last Friday ground up. Only 2 ascents in 22 years... Read more about Dan and Ned do Toy Boy - 2 ascents in 22 years then 2 ascents in 2 hours.

Steve McClure has linked the classic Evolution into the top of Mecca extension, perhaps the last obvious hard link on the cliff. Jerry Moffat’s route ‘Evolution’ at Ravens Tor, though amazing, does end in the middle of the cliff. Though there’s an obvious ‘good hold’ by the belay... Read more about Steve McClure: Evolution - Mecca extension linked

Check out the Dealer Map page in About Us click here to locate your nearest Arc'teryx, FiveTen or Edelweiss dealer. Read more about Bigstone Dealer Location Maps now online

"Every now and again somebody in the climbing world comes up with something truly revolutionary. Ray Jardine did it in the early 1970's with his prototype camming devices. Arc’Teryx have done just done it again with their WARP technology. It’s a simple concept, and one which has no doubt been tried before,... Read more about Rave review of the R320

With the Arc'teryx Autumn/Winter 09 Sales Meeting starting in Vancouver on Sunday, Andy has left the Big Stone office early to meet up with German rep Reiner Kopf to do a few routes in Yosemite before the serious work begins. We haven't heard much from them but the photos show they are having lots of fun and we're... Read more about Andy enjoys Yosemite

"Arc'teryx is aware of and sensitive to the environmental impact of our business practices. We evaluate our processes and continually implement new strategies to improve efficiencies and minimize our ecological footprint." "Arc'teryx designs and constructs products to perform better and last longer. We believe that a... Read more about Arc'teryx Environmental Statement

The Walk Of Life, E12 7a, 48m James Pearson writing on his blog on October 8th noted the following: “ The Walk Of Life is harder than anything I have done or tried before. It is easy to compare it to my own repeats and first ascents including Equilibrium, The Promise, and The Groove (which in hindsight and... Read more about James Pearson: The Walk of Life E12 7a.

I just finished a conversation with one of  the best climbing shoe resole guys in the county, you don’t need to ask who he is,  and  this is what he said.... “I’ve never been asked to resole a 5.10 shoe in another brands rubber, ever,  but I’m regularly asked to resole  other brands shoes in... Read more about FiveTen Rubber

We are all tempted by a bargain, and more often than not we are quite happy with what we have purchased. However, sometimes deals can go bad.   I recently had an Arc'teryx jacket returned to me, which was not the value for money that the customer thought. It would not be an exaggeration to describe the... Read more about When Bargains go Bad

Arc'teryx sponsored athletes John and Anne Arran have just returned from their most adventurous big-wall expedition yet. They climbed the first ever ascent of Amurí tepui in Venezuela up a clean wall near the line of an incredible 600m waterfall which is so off the beaten track it doesn’t even yet have a name! ... Read more about The World's Steepest Big Wall?

A film documenting the 85 days Keith Bradbury spent bouldering in the climbing mecca that is Fontainebleau, France. Problems ranging from 7A+ to 8B are featured, so something for (nearly) everybody. "It’s finally finished. My random assortment of footage has been put together in a true “will it... Read more about L'Etranger - 85 Days in Font

Checkout this great video of one of our sponsored climbers: Ned Feehally on Neverland, 8A, Bas Cuvier, Fontainbleau. Neverland, 8A from pascal brown on Vimeo. Read more about Ned Feehally on Neverland, Font.

Good news for Jess Stone, a relatively new name in riding from the West Midlands. 18 year old Jess, the British Junior Champion, finished 23rd in the World Cup Downhill at Schladming in Austria, just missing out on the final by 8 seconds, which is a brilliant effort. Says Jess of the 5.10 Impacts… “I... Read more about Jess Stone - MTB Downhill star of the future!

Oct 3 - Swansea - Dynamic Rock - 01792 845655 - Masterclass & Lecture Oct 4 - London - The Arch - 0207 4070999 - Masterclass & Lecture Oct 5 - Sheffield - The Climbing Works - 0114 2509990 - Lecture Only Oct 9 - Ambleside - Lakes Climber - 015394 33660 -  Lecture Only Oct 10 - Durham - Durham Climbing Centre - 0191... Read more about Dave Graham European Lecture Tour

We've been based down in Wanaka NZ since mid June for the southern hemisphere winter season. I've been coaching a fair bit on the hill, but mainly trying to plan a few mission ski touring on the fun mountains down here. Mount Aspiring National Park is right on our door step and it's basically a huge playground. Mount... Read more about Chris Fecher - Wanaka NZ trip 2008 update

Tyler's report on Bang On, Ben Moon's legendary test piece from ages ago. Footage of this in its project from was immortalized in Rampage. The stunning line, goes directly out, over a steep bulge on the side of a boulder that looks like a space-ship. The first move is the crux, harder now, than in the first ascent,... Read more about Tyler Landman - Bang On

Last month we showed you Miranda keeping warm and dry in our gear . Here are a few photos of her fellow 'The One Show' presenter Ellie Harrison in her favourite jacket! Read more about Ellie Harrison - BBC The One Show

Earlier this year Arcteryx athlete Ian Parnell headed out to the Canadian Rockies with Nick Bullock to test himself against some of the big classic mixed and ice routes there. Ian been going well in Scotland during the winter and was intrigued to see how the big Canadian routes compared.   Stanley Headwall is one of... Read more about Ian Parnell Canadian Ice Tour

The new Five Ten Anasazi Lace Up V2, or Blanco as it's termed in the new Five Ten catalogue, is the latest incarnation of the famous pink Anasazi Lace Up, originally released in 1996/97. Over its lifespan the Lace Up Pinks, or “Pinkies” as they were affectionately known, became the trusted weapon of choice... Read more about Lace Up V2 Review from Greg @ Rock and Run

"This is where skateboarding was 30 years ago," says Laura Sanders, global sales director for U.S.-based climbing shoe maker Five Ten, who flew in from California to watch the event. Confident in the sport's potential, the firm has designed shoes for free runners, and is even looking into sponsoring top athletes. Free... Read more about Free Running Jumps onto World Stage

Welcome to climber Jonathan Siegrist, the latest to join the growing Arc'teryx team of sponsored international athletes.  "My first days at the crag were spent confined between a barricade of backpacks that my Dad and his climber friends would set up a sort of make-shift crib, ensuring that I wouldn’t wander... Read more about New international Arc'teryx climber - Jonathan Siegrist

Together with Rock and Ice and US retailer Mountain Gear, in 2007 Arcteryx launched a used-harness testing initiative to look at the reliability of used harnesses - an area with little information available. 227 harnesses were tested in total. Nathan Van Volkenburg reports on this in September's issue of Rock and Ice... Read more about Arc'teryx report on Harness Testing

Vertigo. Tales from the Eiger North Face to the summit of Everest. Arc'teryx sponsored mountaineer Ian Parnell brings his unique blend of stunning photos and films together with hilarious tales from the notorious North Face of the Eiger through to cutting edge new routes on Denali, North America's highest mountain to... Read more about Vertigo. Tales from the Eiger North Face to the summit of Everest.

Shout out to  Paul Darnell 'PD' who represented at the Barclaycard World Free Run Championships at the Round House, Camden, London last night.  Five Ten were there on the front row enjoying the action.  Check out the other members of the Five Ten team who include; King David, Austin Majors 'the st0ne' Brian Orosco... Read more about Barclaycard World Free Run Championships

Find out just what makes Arc'teryx jackets so good:   Read more about Trail Magazine talk to Arc'teryx

"Hi guys, We are off to climb a big wall in Venezuela and very excited!  Maybe the worlds steepest big wall? We are just packing to head off on expedition to Venezuela in 2 days time to climb a new big wall which is over 500m high and looks to be over 100m overhanging! We’re also psyched to see the amazing... Read more about News from the Arrans - Big Wall in Venezuela

Welcome to the new season for Arc'teryx, FiveTen and Edelweiss. From today you should be using our Fall 2008 pricelists. Please register on the Partners  page of this website to access these or email info@bigstone.co.uk if you have any queries.   Read more about Autumn/Winter 2008 starts today!

Our very own Jenny Johnson built on her orienteering successes from earlier in the year to finish 2nd in two local Fell Races last week. Jenny was under a minute down on Kelly Candy from Australia in the Barrel Inn Fell Race at Eyam and just 20 seconds behind Christine Howard of Matlock in the Longshaw Sheepdog Trials... Read more about Fell Race Silver Medals - Jenny

Arc’teryx win at the North American APEX awards with the Gamma SV Hoody:   Read more about North American APEX Award for Arc'teryx

The annual Crankworx  biking event finished last week and the local Sheffield-Peak 5.10/Hobo Team of Tim Pearson, James Swinden, Rob Stokes and Joe Bowman - all living out in Whistler for a year of riding on the dirt and in winter on the white stuff - showed the locals how it's done!  Garbanzo DH Seniors - 1st James... Read more about Sheffield/Peak Team conquer Crankworx Whistler

On the 26th August Gaz and a Euro Team left for Pakistan. They arrived today and will be attempting to climb The Eternal Flame on Trango Tower. You can follow their progress at www.trango08.blogspot.com/ Read more about Trango 08 - Gaz Parry and team

Here is Wildlife Television Presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff photographed with a "Wasabi Archeopteryx" and a slightly younger sandpiper, thanks to Simon Baxter for the photography. Read more about Wildlife Television Presenter - Miranda Krestovnikoff

Going up has always been the hard part. For those who wouldn’t have it any other way, Arc’teryx rolls out the new Alpha LT Jacket, using W.L. Gore’s latest and best fabrics and ultimate Arc’teryx technology.  The Alpha LT jacket is built around 320N three layer... Read more about THE ARC’TERYX ALPHA LT JACKET

A true climbing festival in a country with barely any rock! There is barely any rock in Denmark but there are still plenty of climbers and the scene is as vibrant as in any country. When I was invited to a 'rock' climbing festival in Denmark I was sceptical. However, flying over the 40 km wide Danish island of... Read more about DWS Denmark - Steve McClure

Big Stone are proud to announce the addition of Edelweiss Ropes to their portfolio of high end brands, which already includes Five Ten, and Arc’teryx.     Big Stone sees a great opportunity in the UK rope market to reinvigorate this historically important brand, whose handling and performance are so well suited... Read more about PRESS RELEASE Big Stone and Edelweiss Ropes.

Great photos of Nick Dixon at home in Nesscliffe, Ian Parnell on the grit, Tim Emmett Deep Water soloing, Ned Freehally and Shauna Coxsey winning the BBC, Steve Mclure and Rhapsody, Mike Robertson in Devon, Gaz Parry at his wall Boulder Uk in Blackburn. Read more about Climb Mag Issue 43 September

5.10 cover boy Sonnie Trotter Cruising in Scotland. Sonnie Trotter and Steve McClure on Raphsody is the main feature of this issue filled with lots of great pics. Read more about Climb Mag Issue 42 August

News just in from Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall: Hi Mark Just to let you know that me and Tom did the 500 routes in a day challenge on Tuesday, managing to beat John's 536 and Shane's 502 record and both do 550 routes. We started climbing at 4.30am at Wharncliffe then moved onto Burbage North, where we both had a... Read more about 500 routes in a day challenge

Apart from winning the British Bouldering Championships, Ned has been sending outside as well. This is his ticklist from May. Peak district: Mutton busting – 8a/8a+ first ascent Recreational violence (LH) - 8a Candyman – 8a first ascent Hard Candy – 8a first ascent Neil’s wall (sit... Read more about Ned Feehally Update

We have just got some updates as to what the Arrans have been up to lately. This is what they have to say   Rain then new route in the Dollies  “We had our eyes on some big new lines to try completely trad, but the weather was awful so we were only able to occupy ourselves on small... Read more about John and Anne Arran News

Ian will be on one of his very popular lecture tours again soon. Entitled Vertigo, it deals with Ian's mountaineering experiences, and includes some incredible photography from the man himself. Teaming up with Kenton Cool, it tours through October and November, and is not to be missed. These are the details   ... Read more about Ian Parnell Lectures

Shauna Coxsey and Ned Feehally both had good days at the British Bouldering Championships held at Cliffhanger, Sheffield. Ned Feehally won the Mens Senior against very stiff competition, and Shauna Coxsey had a very good result by winning the Female Junior. Well done to both of them from the Big Stone team. You can... Read more about A good day for 5.10 at the British Bouldering Champs

Yes, that's right, the new White Anasazi Lace up has finally made it to the shops, a little earlier than expected. Many climbers will see this as the true replacement for the Pink Lace Up, probably rightly so. It is a stiff, flat lasted shoe with a double slingshot rand, which makes for a the ultimate all round... Read more about The new 5.10 Anasazi White Lace Up has landed!

Ok, so we have now moved into our new office and showroom. We are still settling in, but it is a big improvement over the old place. The showroom works really well for displaying our products, and we have already had dealers come to see the Spring 09 Arc'teryx range. The good thing about the area, is that we all can... Read more about Our New Office

Hi Mark Just a quick note to fill you in on my Yosemite trip. Had a great time insane amounts of crack climbing and base jumping.   Ended up doing El Cap and Half Dome free in a day with a mate called Sean Leary.   Please see brief report below.   Ended up climbing Freerider in T-rocks and using Anastasi Velcros and... Read more about Leo's Report from the Valley

Hi Mark   Just a quick update for you. I went out to Baldstones last Tuesday and managed the 5th ascent of Ray's Roof (E7 6c, it's definitely E for effort, I was knackered when I got to the top), it was really awesome. My friend Tom also did it straight after me.   There is a little piece about it on UKClimbing... Read more about Pete Whittaker - Repeats Rays Roof

On Sunday June 15th Steve McClure made the third ascent of Dave MacCleod's Rhapsody, E11 at Dumbarton Rock. It looks like Steve dispatched it in relatively quick time, on the 3rd Redpoint attempt spread over 4 days, taking 40ft falls along the way. A really good effort. You can read about this impressive feat of... Read more about Steve McClure Climbs Rhapsody

The Outdoor show at Friedrichshafen is 17 - 20th July, and we are taking bookings from dealers wanting to see the Spring 09 ranges. Arc'teryx will be in hall B2 - 300 Five Ten will be in hall B2 - 301 If you have not done so already, please contact Mark to book a presentation time. Read more about Friedrichshafen, have you booked us up yet?

Some interesting statistics for you, fresh from the Arc'teryx meeting in Vancouver, the logistics of making all this into wearable product are amazing... Arc'teryx usage per day, every day for Gore Tex Hard-shell product, excluding Soft-shell is: 1.5 KM of Gore-Tex Proshell Fabric; 17,000 pieces of Gore-Tex cut to... Read more about Some interesting production facts

“It is simple and beautiful. Beautiful because it is simple, simple because it is beautiful.” - the R320 gets a great review in Vertical Magazine - France Read more about A great review for the R320 in Vertical Magazine

Andy, Mark, Mo and Jenny are all back in the office now, and normal service can be resumed. However, on Monday the office will be short staffed. This is because some of us are going up to the Gore-tex offices near Edinburgh. Read more about We are all back to normal now

Mo and Jenny are now back in the office, but Andy and Mark are still out testing gear in British Columbia. The picture shows Andy leading a pitch on Cruel Shoes, on the Grand Chief, Squamish. Mark is shown paying particular attention to the belaying... Read more about Andy and Mark are still away

All of Jenny's hard work paid off today. She came third in the Women's class of the 25K Iron Knee event in Vancouver, which bearing in mind she was still jet-lagged and on unfamiliar territory, is a fantastic result. The two hour training run she did earlier in the week obviously held her in good stead. Results here... Read more about A good Day for Jenny

Today is the final day of the sales meeting, and some of us are heading home (although some of us still have a bit of playtime left...). During the four days of meetings we have seen and done some cool things. There is a bigger and improved activewear range, some new colours in paclite, a couple of new softshell... Read more about Wrapping Up

So we have been here since Saturday, and the weather has held good. We have been up in Squamish, but spent most of the time in Whistler. There was some snow still on the higher ground, so some people were snowboarding and skiing. Now it's back to work, and the real reason we are here - the Arc'teryx sales meet. Good... Read more about Playtime is over

We are away for 26th - 31st May. Yes, its that time of year again, when all of the Big Stone team desert the office and head out to Vancouver for the Arc'teryx Sales Meet. As well as all the facts and figures that we have to trawl through, there will be lots of cool stuff to look at. Its not all work though, with the... Read more about Vancouver Bound

Bigstone have just been to the Five Ten Europe Sales Meeting in Brussels, it was a great meeting with the Californian Team coming over to visit. Rubber master Charles Cole had a few words of wisdom, but if you need to know more check this out. http://www.stealthrubber.com/ Read more about The Truth is Out There (somewhere)

Cover boy Steve McClure on Super Duper Goo (29) Blue Mountains on the front of the June issue of Climb Magazine. This month's issue also contains some nice articles including Pete and Katy Whittaker making family ascents of E7’s. Read more about Climb Mag Issue 40 June

Check out this video of 5.10 superstar Sam Hill (AUS) winning the first Downhill MTB World Cup of 2008 in Mirabor, Slovenia by an amazing 3 second margin:   Sam Hill Video   Read more about MTB World Cup Downhill - Sam Hill Wins

ARC’TERYX is pleased to announce its $10,000 donation to this non-profit organization formed to support the continuing legacy of Todd Skinner by funding endeavors in his spirit. Tyler Jordan, president of ARC’TERYX expressed that “Todd Skinner was a good friend of the company, and he was a personal... Read more about Arc'teryx donates $10,000 to the Todd Skinner Foundation

As from today we have new 5.10 tees available for the mountain biking fraternity. Sporting Sam Hill and Nathan Rennie graphics taken from our classic print advert, they can be ordered from your favourite 5.10 stockist. Read more about New 5.10 Descent tees

Steve is setting new routes at a bunch of walls in the next few months: Rochdale Wall - April Foundry - April Rochdale Wall - June Westway Wall - June Castle Wall - August Read more about Steve McClure new route setting dates

Our very own Jenny managed two bronze medals in the sprint and medium distance British Orienteering Championships at the weekend. The event was held near Warwick, and was victim to the best of british weather, snow in April... Jenny is hoping for a gold when she defends her title in the long distance event up in... Read more about Jenny gets Bronze