The Chamonix Mountain Festival team have been hard at work and the 2014 edition is taking a more definite shape. Many of our 2013 partners enjoyed the Festival and decided to join us again for this year’s adventure.

Valandre, a Pyrenees based manufacturer of “all things down” - technical down jackets, mittens and sleeping bags - is one of them. Their Moulin Rouge jacket received the prestigious Outdoor Industry Award 2013. The prototype of the jacket was tested on Denali, by Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, the first woman to have summitted all 8k+ peaks without oxygen - what better proof of quality could there be?

Tendon, the Czech manufacturer of climbing ropes, will be back for the Gear Fest, too. You can read more about their ropes here. Tendon have supported several climbers and expeditions, 3 of which made it onto the Piolets d’Or 2013 ascents list. We are happy to say that 2 of these partnerships (Domen Kastelic - Nachugo Kang (6,737 m) and Cosmin Andron - Ghandarbha Chuli (6,248 m), both in Nepal) were either coined or reinforced at Chamonix Mountain Festival 2013.

Last year, Black Diamond have provided ice axes, crampons, harnesses, helmets and skis to test. One of their most exciting product news for this year is the Jetforce Airbag which has been getting very good reviews. If you would like a closer look at how it works and how it compares to other airbags out there, see the video.