Nestled between REI and Momentum Indoor Climbing Millcreek is a slice of paradise: International Mountaineering Equipment (IME). Carrot and I were in Salt Lake City, UT after a wonderful International Climbers’ Festival (ICF) in Lander, WY, and we wanted to see all of the climbing sights in SLC. At ICF, we met a delightful climber named Shingo. I could talk all day about Shingo; how he has a ton of FAs, how he is an amazing climber, how he is a fantastic trad teacher, etc., but today I want to talk about IME, a treasure co-owned by Shingo.
You’d think that both Momentum and REI might tower over IME and leave them no chance to thrive, but when you walk in, you immediately notice why that is not the case. Wall to wall, there is mountains (pun intended) of gear from hang boards to cams to backpacks to stick clips…the list goes on and on. The issue with most gear shops is that they don’t have a selection to choose from…they just have one item for each purpose or use. At IME, you can choose amongst nearly all possible options. For example, at other stores you can usually only find Black Diamond cams and maybe Wild Country if you’re lucky, but at IME, there was Metolius, Black Diamond, Wild Country, Trango, Fixe (Aliens), and DMM to name a few. They have a selection that you’d only expect on a website.
IME also offers a historical experience. In the back, they have old/used gear for great prices…which also includes gear from the previous century. Going back there is like traveling back in time, and it makes you think about how much climbing has changed since its inception. Then, when you walk out, there is gear that makes you feel like you’re in the future. In pure IME style, there isn’t just one ultralight backpack, but a wall of ultralight backpacks. None of them seem real, yet somehow they are.
In the center of the shop is where the real draw is: the staff and/or Shingo. If you need some cordellete cut, they’ll cut you some. Any question you could possibly have, they can answer. Yet, as we know, climbing, especially climbing safety, doesn’t have easy answers. When you ask them a question, they give you proper, nuanced answer with different perspectives. This way, you can get the gear that fits your needs as you see them.
You might think a small shop must have crazy prices to stay in business, but you’d be wrong again! IME has some of the best prices I have ever seen. It’s gear for everyone.
Lastly, Shingo has the most adorable, well behaved dog out front who wags their tail as you come and go.
If you’re ever in SLC, UT, IME is a must visit! Nowhere else can you be in such a paradise of high quality gear, great advice, and fantastic prices! Check out their website here.
thedihedral.com 