While Friction Holds has been around since 1999, few setters below the 49th parallel have heard of them. Nevertheless this Toronto based company, run by Luigi Montilla, is one of the top grip makers of the world.

It’s hard to stand out these days in the glutted climbing hold market. But if hold companies do want to stand out it wouldn’t hurt to follow the lead of Friction Holds.

Dominating the local scene on the east coast of Canada, they soon spread west with the help of the popular bouldering series, Tour de Bloc, which is also run by Luigi.

The Tour, Luigi’s marketing prowess and the precision craftsmanship of shapers & brothers — Matt and Luke Coles — have come together to create one badass organization.

From the first look at any Friction hold you get the idea that the Coles brothers’ shaping is inspired by a real rock aesthetic. With some of the most detailed shaping work I’ve ever seen it’s a wonder they have time to run a business.

“We’ve decided to put more emphasis on the natural aesthetic. Although we do every so often produce some ‘abstract’ shapes. It seems like a lot of people like the natural stuff as it closely simulates the feel of real rock,” says Luigi. It sure seems Luigi and the brothers have taken this desire to heart.

But to a setter these artistic details matter little compared to a hold’s functionality. But Friction stays strong on this aspect as well. None of the details ever get in the way of forcing a move or allowing a climber to cheat the sequence.

Over the years Friction has amassed quite a collection of holds and has one of the most extensive lines in the business covering all corners of the grip spectrum. Some of the holds we tested seemed to be straight out of the old school book of shaping. But most were very original, comfortable and functional.

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