Metolius Climbing manufactures rock climbing gear and was founded in 1983 by master craftsman Doug Phillips.  Doug started in his Central Oregon garage, making gear and selling it in the Smith Rock parking lot or down in the Dihedrals.  Back then, much of the gear we now take for granted wasn’t available, so we just made it ourselves.

It started with the Slider Nut and was quickly followed by the first flexible-stem camming device, the TCU.  These two pieces of gear blew the lid off the technological barriers of our generation and opened up whole new realms.  And as it turned out, other like-minded souls wanted these items too.

Then, as gymnastic rock climbing began to take shape at Smith Rock, we realized that there was no substitute for finger strength.  The first Simulator training board was made to address this issue and it worked wonders.  Later, our line of modular holds made training for climbing actually fun!  These were magic times as Smith became the epicenter of the American rock climbing scene.  We forged friendships with people from all over the world.  Swapping beta, discussing training and ethics with the likes of Wolfgang Gullich, Johnny Woodward, Kim Carrigan, Ron Kauk, Lynn Hill and J.B. Tribout was just so cool . . . hell, we even got John Bachar up here (and “hang doggin’” to boot)!  Fresh new harnesses followed, as did new ergonomic chalk bags, and the first chalk specifically formulated for rock climbing.

We realized that if anything was going to allow the average climber to push his or her own personal limits, it was going to be gear that was lighter, stronger and safer.  As Peter Croft taught us, you don’t need gear to climb; you only need it if you fall off!  This is when our “Safer by design” philosophy really began to make sense to us and became a design priority.  By creating gear that is inherently safer, your mind is freed to climb.  The result has been cams with greater holding power, vastly safer harnesses, and new innovations such as the PAS and BRD.

We also have developed a complete line of bouldering accessories for this pure form of climbing.

Our roots in climbing run deep and it is with great pride that we offer the 2008 Metolius gear collection to YOU. Enjoy, be safe, and by all means, go down trying!