what is more important for climbing?

[Gertruda]

you left out frame geometry, and fit. Those, and skills would be the top of my list.

True. The question was not quite correct then - I was wondering what else is important when both bikes fit.

Don't over think your first mountain bike purchase. Trust me, I know how easy this is to do.

And thanks for a reply!

Some words of advice. If you are spending less than $1000, (you say entry level) you will always get more bang for your buck with a hardtail. Inexpensive FS bikes are heavier and more poorly componented that their hardtail brethren. If you can't spend at least $1500 on a FS I think you should forget it. I am also of the school that you learn better bike handling skills on a hardtail.

I tried (from ~$500 range) Novara, GT, Ironhorse, Cannondale and K2 in local Rei and PerformanceBike; Ironhorse and Cannondale were the lightest. I liked Cannondale F6 feminine (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/c...del-8FSW6.html) and K2 Ridgeline (http://www.rei.com/product/761435); F6 - the lightest; K2 - the most comfortable feeling when I am on it and it is not heavier than i.e. Novara Aspen or Cannondale F7. But is is heavier than F6.

The biggest problem - my lack of experience: when I test ride - I am not quite registering... It is more like OMG-OMG-OMG, in a good sense of course... Will try F6 this weekend one more time then.

----
I reread my own comment - I am turning the topic a bit different way than it says on the title... Sorry .
Still I guess discussion about climbing will be a help for me in the future anyway.