Chris is the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the GearLab websites. Chris is the author of 10 books, a big-wall climbing expert, and a recovering ex-Wingsuit BASE jumper. Climbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris's life on earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan—an accomplishment that has left friends and family pondering Chris’ sanity. He’s climbed Yosemite's daunting 3,000+ foot El Capitan over 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. In 1998 Chris did the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan, an epic 75-pitch route that begs the question, “Why?” Outside Magazine has called Chris one of “the world’s finest aid climbers.” He’s the winner of the American Alpine Club's prestigious Bates Award and the founder of the American Safe Climbing Association, a nonprofit group that has replaced over 14,000 dangerous rock climbing anchor bolts. Chris is also the founder and lead author of the rock climbing guidebook publisher, SuperTopo. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley. You can follow him on Facebook and ChrisMcNamara.com.
Author Profile
Chris McNamara
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Showing 1-15 of 498 by Chris McNamara
Best Hiking Gear of 2024
Our experts list our favorite hiking gear picks so you can have the best experience on the trail.Best Bike Gear of 2024
Whether you've just started riding and want to start with a fresh setup, or you have been on a bike for years and want...Best Climbing Gear of 2024
Looking for the best climbing gear we've ever tested? Come check out our hand-selected list of the top gear of 2022.The Ultimate Camping Gear Checklist for 2024
Looking for the best camping gear on the market? Waste no time and get in here to see the best of the best when it...10 Best Patagonia Jackets, Pants, & Gear of 2024
We have exposed ourselves to the weather for over a decade to test over 270 different Patagonia goods, including more...10 Best Sandals of 2024
Trying to figure out what type of sandal the one you need is? We've spent years testing hundreds of pairs of flip...Best Fire Pits of 2024
Were you looking to take your next evening around the fire up a notch? We researched and tested the top-performing...Best Bike Phone Mounts of 2024
Our extensive testing of bike phone mounts turned up some expensive high performers (no surprise) but also (nice...10 Best Gloves of 2024
There's no wrong season for hand protection. Over the past 11 years, we've tested more than 200 of the best gloves for...Free Electric Bike? Why a $1500 eBike is Practically Free
E-Bikes are sorta free. They are also a smart investment for your wallet, health, and the planetBest Electric Mountain Bikes of 2024
We put six of the best electric mountain bikes to the test, riding them side-by-side to find the best in our detailed...Best Bouldering Crash Pad of 2024
Looking for a new crash pad? This review examines the best pads on the market to help you find the right model for...Best Climbing Gloves
Want to keep your hands safe while climbing? Whether you're rappelling, belaying, jamming cracks, or aid climbing...Best Climbing Nuts and Stoppers
We researched the best climbing nuts and chose the top options to test side by side for months on end. We tested both...Best Avalanche Beacon
An avalanche beacon is an essential part of a backcountry ski kit. But which one is best for you? We purchased 13 of...
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