DAFNI

When Japanese precision meets Greek creativity, something truly unique is born. This new hold series is the result of a collaboration between Masaki Yaduda (Under Blue Hold, Japan) and Dario Stefanou (IBEX, Greece), aiming to bring a fresh, character-rich, and innovative approach to the climbing market.

Each designer spent three weeks in the other's workshop, working side by side, exchanging ideas, techniques, and design philosophies. The result? A series of holds built on a shared footprint and two core ratios — designed to challenge, inspire, and surprise.

Masaki, renowned for his visually striking and sculptural macros, brought a refined aesthetic. Dario, known for his intricate, ergonomic PU shapes that are always climber-friendly, delivered technical depth. Together, they crafted holds where the element of surprise plays a central role — shapes that offer little visual information, forcing the climber to interpret them through movement rather than sight.

From pinches and slopers to jugs, this series of competition-style holds is based on precise foothold positioning, empowering route setters to experiment freely and craft original problems that push every climber to their limits. These holds demand the full skill set: technique, strength, coordination, and the ability to read and adapt to uncertainty.

This is more than just a new hold line — it’s a new way of thinking about climbing.