The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How Kidney Failure Made Shane Messer a Star Climber

By Cator Sparks Published August 6, 2021

My name is Shane Messer and I’m a professional route setter, coach and climber. I currently live in the best city in America, Boston, Mass. I started rock climbing when I was 19 in my hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina after a double kidney failure. I found climbing to be both mentally and physically challenging, so naturally I was hooked. Climbing has taken me all over the world. Whether its coaching, climbing or route setting, this sport has opened my eyes to places that I was positive only existed in a fantasy world. When the world wears me down, it’s always great to return to my home gym (Central Rock Gym) to work, train, and to be a part of the most supportive community of climbers and friends I’ve ever been a part of.

As for my personal style:

Recommended Videos

I spend a lot of time in active wear. My job requires flexibility and the need to be comfortable in what I’m wearing. adidas Outdoor really helps me to accomplish both of those.

Jeans: I don’t own many pairs of jeans at this point, but when I wear jeans its usually Abercrombie & Fitch Skinny Jeans.

Shirts: adidas Outdoor EDO Cotton Shirts

Pants: adidas Outdoor Terrex Multi Pants (I wear them every single day)

Shoes: I spend quite a bit of time in adidas Adizero Boston Boost for my morning or evening runs and I really like the comfort of adidas Outdoor Satellize. When I’m on the rocks, I love my Evolv Nexxo’s.

Accessories: Usually a beanie or something to keep my ears warm!

Outerwear: The single best jacket I’ve ever owned from any company is my adidas Outdoor Terrex Climaheat Techrock Hoodie.

Your favorite App: Betterment

Favorite piece of technology: I really like my adidas Running MiCoach GPS Watch.

Next tech purchase: Probably a solid tent to start taking my kid camping and climbing with me!

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…

Fashion & Style

New Aston Martin-inspired Girard-Perregaux watch boasts color-changing dial

An Aston Martin in a 42 mm casing

Girard Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition

Every single detail in an Aston Martin sports car, from the shape to the exhaust sound, evokes some positive emotions—this new watch is the embodiment of that.

Featuring a 42 mm casing, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition has a striking green dial—a color that easily captures attention and, with the high-quality finish, immerses you into a whole new world. Aston Martin’s first few cars had a green hue, so this new timepiece passes down the heritage.

Fashion & Style

Authentic Roz explores the human experience in New York Fashion Week debut

Finding the balance between fitting in and standing out with Authentic Roz

Authentic Roz look 3

Walking through New York Fashion Week presentations and showrooms, you start to get a feel of what most brands and designers are used to working with. There are hot buzzwords. Inspiration and creativity seem to be center stage in most runway shows and showrooms. However, as I made my way up North from Madison Square Park to The Prince George Ballroom in the Flatiron District, I found myself in a different sort of environment, the kind where the designer of the collection about to walk down the runway also served as the DJ. From the clothes to the tunes to the ideology, Rayan Alami had a hand in every aspect of his New York Fashion Week debut. After seeing designer after designer with the same philosophies throughout New York, Alami embodied the name of his debut collection at Fashion Week, "I am Different."
Using music and culture to blend a unique style

New York Fashion Week is essentially an opportunity to blend art and fashion into one and tell a story through sartorial expression. While designers find inspiration in all walks of life, Alami uses his multicultured heritage and his love of music to blend a style truly unique in the industry. When I sat down with him after his show, I asked how he brought culture to his work.

Fashion & Style

Norqain expands the Freedom GMT collection with a new bronze watch

A new bronze Norqain watch

Norqain LE Freedom 60 GMT Bronze

Norqain emerged onto the watch scene in 2018, and has offered stylish timepieces like the Freedom 60 GMT collection. Every single timepiece that’s featured in the collection has a retro-like aesthetic that will take you back to the ‘60s. Now, though, there's a new offering: the Norqain Freedom 60 GMT 40mm Limited Edition.

The new Freedom GMT watch comes with a bronze dial that stands out thanks to the brown hue. And one of the most striking features is the 100m water-resistant brown casing, which is accentuated by a satin finish that makes the surface look a little bit shiny. Hour markers also have a bronze-like hue that complements the casing.