Holiday Climber’s Gift Guide 2023
Climbing is a world of its own. If you’re new to the sport or not involved at all, shopping for the climber on your list can feel a bit hopeless… but we’re here to help.
We are a small team of passionate climbers, and we love nothing more than geeking out on gear. We’ve tested this stuff, and we know what works and what doesn’t.
Read this guide to find the perfect gift for the climber on your list.
The Boulderer
Bouldering doesn’t require a ton of gear, but it can get pretty specialized. If your boulderer already has the basics like shoes, a chalk bucket, and crash pads, and brushes, consider accessories, skin care & training tools.
The Tension Block is a versatile and portable training tool that can also be used for warm-up and can help with injury prevention. It’s been hugely popular this year, and for good reason.
Rhino Skin Products are great for any mortals without perfect skin. They’ve got a full line of products that will cover any of the common skin issues: too soft or too hard, too dry or too sweaty.
Still unsure? Grab them a gift card.
The Rope Climber
When shopping for a lead or toprope climber, consider what kind of climbing they are doing, and try to get a sense of where they are in the natural progression.
If they’re relatively new, doing mostly toproping and getting more excited about doing a lead climbing course, consider getting them a GriGri (the gold standard belay device for gyms in Canada), a gym rope, or some belay specs.
Are they significantly lighter or heavier than their belayer? If they don’t have an Ohm already, they’ll want one to keep both belayer and climber safe.
Are they considering next season as their first venture outside? Locking carabiners like the Hotforge or Attache are always useful and you can never have enough. You could keep them safe with a helmet; just know their sizing or go with a gift card, as safety items are final sale. Are they experienced outside? Maybe some locking anchor draws, or a set of DMM quickdraws.
The Trad Climber
Despite requiring the most gear, these might be the hardest climbers to shop for. Trad climbers tend to be very specific about their gear.
If they’re just getting into trad, new cams are the way to their heart — these are often doubled or even tripled. A good pair of crack gloves is essential to all but the staunch purists.
Accidents in North American Climbing 2022 is a bit morbid on the surface, but provides an excellent collection of advice on risk management and accident prevention, through the lens of real accident analysis.
If your trad climber likes to travel, try getting them a guidebook for somewhere they haven’t been. If they’re into multi-pitch adventure climbing, a Bullet 16 Pack is a great option for bringing snacks, water, and a first aid kit up the route.
When all else fails, things like alpine draws and non-locking carabiners are always useful to have in bulk.
Still unsure?
Check out general suggestions below by price-point, or check the full Gift Guide Catalog for even more.
Going with consumable stuff like chalk, tape, or shoe deodorant (perhaps a gift for you both) is a safe bet. Books are great too!
If you’re left with more questions than answers, going with a gift card is a great way to let your climber get exactly what they want.
