Akshayuk Pass, Baffin island, Nunavut | Photo: Jacob Cook
Grade VII Equipment
Grade VII Equipment is a climbing gear company based in Squamish, BC. We design tools that allow climbers to expand what is possible on alpine big walls. We fuss and obsess over our products so that when we bring them to the world we are confident to stand behind them.
Contact us at hello@grade7.com
The G7 team bivying in the Alcove on El Capitan, Yosemite, CA | Photo: Nic Vissers
Nathan Kukathas | Founder
Tom Schindfessel | Lead designer
Zack Goldberg-Poch | Designer and developer
From messes in the kitchen to messes in the design studio, Zack loves creating, building, and testing. He moves at a glacial pace with meticulousness and stubborn perseverance in everything he does, from putting up new routes on Baffin Island to fussing over the smallest details on a design.
Nic Vissers | Brand manager
From new routes in the Waddington Range, too Bigwall climbing on El Cap, Nic is a passionate climber and photographer. Nic enjoys climbing, ski touring, and more recently running around local Squamish mountains. He has a passion for travel and experiencing different cultures. You can always being a smile to his face with a good Coffee. As a totally obsessed gear head he has tested and used almost every piece of equipment out there, Nic is a walking encyclopedia of what works and what doesn’t.
Alex Eggermont | Content creator
In his early twenties, Alex left Belgium, shoved his Engineering degree in his back pocket, packed his bags and set out to Chile with the intention of travelling across the globe on a motorbike. He since then has been recognized for his talent as an outdoor photographer and filmmaker. He has continued to pursue different adventures, guiding in Iceland or Greenland, and dirt bagging around the world. While he always shows reluctance to hike, walk, pedal or skin up snowy hills, Alex never passes up an opportunity for adventure.
Jean-Francois Lacroix | Design Developer
Growing up on skis, JF’s ability to trust an edge shows in everything he touches. Whilst he grew up in Québec, JF’s was drawn to the outdoors that British Columbia has to offer and made it its home. When he is not testing out new ideas in the design lab, he feeds his desire of adventure planning bikepacking trips. With over a decade of outdoor industry experience under his belt, he has worn through more gear than most of us will do in a lifetime.
Steffi Lai | Graphic artist
At a young age, Steffi probably started illustrating before she learned how to write. As a graphic designer and illustrator, she is inspired by her home in the pacific northwest and its lush forests, majestic mountains, dark mysterious oceans, and the many creatures that dwell within them. When she isn't illustrating or designing, you'll find her outside playing on rocks, in the snow, in the water, or on her longboard.
G7 athletes Jacob Cook and Bronwyn Hodgins on FA of Niv Misset Line (5.13-, 400m) Baffin Island, Nunavut | Photo: Jacob Cook