Last April, claimed the first female ascent of Ambrosia鈥攁 huge, 50-foot V11 highball on the in the Buttermilks near Bishop, California. The Boulder, Colorado鈥揵ased climber is spending this winter training for more first ascents in 2018, culminating鈥攕he hopes鈥攊n a free-climb on Yosemite鈥檚 El Capitan. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to build a reservoir of power that will carry me through the rest of the year as I shift my focus from bouldering to traditional climbing,鈥 Williams says.
For a professional climber taking on ambitious projects, having the right kit can mean everything. Here are Williams鈥檚 favorite pieces of women鈥檚 climbing gear that help her train and send.
Adidas Outdoor Terrex 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Multi Pant ($99)
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A great-fitting pair of pants is the holy grail for female climbers, who often struggle to find women鈥檚-specific bottoms that are durable yet not confining. Williams鈥 search ended with the , made with a blended elastic and 91 percent nylon fabric that鈥檚 stretchy but super-tough. 鈥淚鈥檝e worn these pants everywhere鈥攕liding down boulders, jamming into cracks, and hiking through sand and snow,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been wet, dirty, forgotten about in the back of my truck鈥攁nd a combination of all three鈥攜et they have never smelled. No matter the temperature or environment, they always feel just right. The Multis are truly the best all-around pants I鈥檝e ever owned.鈥
Black Diamond 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Ethos Harness ($125)
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Just like the men鈥檚 Chaos, the features huge gear loops and replaces many of the stitched seams with welded ones (which are more durable and abrasion-resistant). It also boasts mesh inside the waistbelt and leg loops for better breathability over many hours of wear. The leg loops aren鈥檛 adjustable, but, Williams says, 鈥淔ear not. They give just the right amount of tightness.鈥 She also praises the padding: 鈥淪omething about the cushy waist gives me an extra confidence boost.鈥
Five Ten 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Hiangle ($165)
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鈥淭his is the best women鈥檚-specific piece of gear I鈥檝e used,鈥 Williams says. Unabashedly pink, is stiff enough for bouldering鈥檚 toughest moves (at 4.2mm, the Stealth C4 outsole is thicker than most). These are Williams鈥 choice both outside and at the gym. 鈥淭he leather molds perfectly to your feet,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut as with any climbing shoe, try them on first to make sure the shape is right for you.鈥
Adidas Outdoor Terrex Climaheat Agravic Down Hooded Jacket ($349)
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鈥淭here鈥檚 a saying I adhere to after spending time in the Colorado alpine and learning (several times) the hard way: Always bring a puffy,鈥 Williams says. 鈥淭he is light and durable and has a self-packing pocket, so I can save space for other important gear. It also makes a great pillow during long flights.鈥
Toesox Legwarmers ($35)
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鈥淭here鈥檚 just something so comforting about ,鈥 Williams says. 鈥淚 like wearing them while I鈥檓 warming up inside and out. And once I鈥檓 ready to try hard, they just slide right off.鈥
Organic Climbing Full Pad ($185)
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鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough about the durability and grace that this pad delivers,鈥 says Williams, who admits that the is expensive but worth it. It鈥檚 big (36 by 48 inches), thick, and, she attests, 鈥淚t has saved my joints more than a few times.鈥
MusclePharm Organic Protein Bars ($2.50)
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During gym training, Williams rounds out her healthy diet of whole foods with high-protein snacks. 鈥 have the highest amount of protein without tasting like it,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e also great for the crag鈥攖hey fill me up, but I never feel too heavy to send my project.鈥