Wondering what to gift the climber in your life? Whether you know more than you ever wanted to about where they climb and what they love about it or have resolutely tuned out of excessive climbing fandom, we have a few gift suggestions for climbers of all stripes. Hint: Find ALL of these gifts at your local PRG!
This guide covers everything from the small-but-sweet to the keep-them-safe-at-great-heights, so scroll on for a list of gift ideas for any budget.
If you are stumped or have questions about climbing gear, reach out to your local rock gym pro shop or outdoor store! The staff is always happy to help find the best fit for every climber!
Stocking Stuffers $10 and Under
Chalk Balls: Roughly the size of a fist, the humble chalk ball is packed with the same chalk formula used in loose chalk, but contained in a fine mesh outer layer to minimize spills. From the workhorse Metolius Chalk Sock ($3.95) to the flashy FrictionLabs Magic Sphere ($10), there’s a ball for every climber.
Want a fun spin on the chalk ball? Try the Midnight Lightning Chalktopus! This little guy functions like a chalk ball but grabs more loose chalk with its many arms to give you more coverage when you reach for it.
Climbing Tape: So boring, but so necessary. Every climber needs a roll of climbing tape for blisters, tendon support, patching your puffy coat, etc. Metolius Climbing Tape is part of the basic kit at $8.95, or you can go colorful with skinny tape for precision from Flashed for under $4.
Chalk Brush: Picture a toothbrush, packed with boar’s hair bristles and sturdy enough to clean chalk residue from plastic in the gym and real rock outdoors. Every climber needs one (at least), so you can’t go wrong with a brush. For just $9.95, the Metolius Razorback Brush does a great job.
Lightweight Carabiner: For everything from keys to catching falls, the Miniwire carabiner from Black Diamond does it all. And at just $6.95, it won’t break the bank. Looking for a beefier carabiner? They come in a huge range of sizes and closures, so browse your local gear shop for the full array.
Skin Care
All climbers need to take care of their skin, whether they have been climbing for a week or a decade.
Joshua Tree makes some of the best skin care products for climbers, from sun protection to after-sport lotion and salve for hardworking hands.
Joshua Tree’s Climber’s Salve (small or large) and Arnica Recovery Lotion (3.3oz for TSA) pack a serious amount of soothing into a small package.
Or check out the lineup from Rhino, with everything from a skin file to Repair Lotion (climbers swear by this stuff) to Split+ lotion for truly overworked skin.
Chalk Bag or Bucket
Chalk Bucket: For the boulderer, a chalk bucket is the personal feature of their climbing kit. Unique and bright patterns make a chalk bucket from Organic or Practical easy to recognize in a crowded gym and feature helpful pockets for phones, earbuds, snacks, etc.
Chalk Bags: Smaller than buckets but just as useful, and every ropes climber needs one. Chalk bags are also perfect for boulderers looking for a smaller kit or planning to wear their bag while they boulder (most chalk bags come with a belt or can be purchased with a belt). The Black Diamond Mondito is a Goldilocks bucket (not too big, not too small) that offers a brush holder and zipper pocket with a trimmed down profile, or you can grab its big brother, the Mondo Pot.
Training
Hangboards: Great for training at home or in the gym. If you’re training away from home, you need something small and portable. Rock Rings from Metolius come in wood or plastic, and can be mounted anywhere you can find a sturdy branch or beam. As an added bonus, the rotation of the rings is easier on joints than a traditional wall-mounted hangboard.
Storage
Rope Bag: All climbing gear lasts longer when you protect it. For the outdoor climber in your life, the Metolius Rope Master rope bag is a great way to keep their rope clean and safe; an internal tarp keeps the rope off the ground during climbs, and the bag packs down small enough to get tucked away in a crag car or luggage. For the gym climber, a bag doesn’t just preserve the gear: the gear is protected from the elements, and the rest of your belongings are protected from the smell of climbing shoes.
Gear
Climbers trust their gear with their lives, and all of the gifts in this category are manufactured to rigorous industry standards for safety. From the essential carabiner to a 70-meter rope, each piece of gear does an important job and keeps our sport as safe as possible.
Locking Carabiner: An absolutely essential piece of gear for every rope climber, a locking carabiner has a mechanism to keep the gate closed. The Black Diamond Rocklock Screwgate is a workhorse carabiner with a screwlock closure; simple, straightforward, and classic.
Slings and Personal Anchors: Made from a variety of textiles, these are the building blocks of anchors and the go-to for sport climbers. The Metolius Personal Anchor System (PAS) is an easily adjustable option, while nylon and dynex runners from Black Diamond offer varying lengths.
Quickdraws: Made of lightweight carabiners with reinforced nylon, these are the pieces of gear that keep your climber on the wall. Available as single units or as a set, quickdraws are a crucial piece of protection for all outdoor ropes climbers. Wondering about the different lengths and designs? Some quickdraws prioritize weight while others focus on ease of clipping; ask the staff at your local gym or outdoor store for the rundown!
Cams: For the trad (traditional) climber, cams make a great gift, and Totem cams are an excellent piece of equipment for a very reasonable price.
Rope: From gym ropes to outdoor ropes, skinny ropes to beefy ropes, this is the gift that makes you an all-star gifter. Ropes for training in the gym can be shorter in length and more economical, while ropes for climbing outside often include dry treatment to preserve the rope and prolong its life. If you’re not sure what kind of rope your favorite climber needs, chat with the pros at your local rock gym or outdoor store to learn about the options and prices. And don’t forget a rope bag!
Crash Pads: For the outdoor boulderer, a crash pad is the only thing between them and the ground. Crash pads come in a range of sizes, designs, and foam thickness, but like ropes, they exist to keep climbers safe.
Swag
You might have noticed that climbers wear A LOT of clothing with rock gym logos.
We love our gyms and all the gyms we visit around the world, so you can’t go wrong with some local rock gym swag.
Check your local gyms for featured apparel such as hoodies, sweatpants, tees, and tanks, as well as assorted other practical swag like water bottles, mugs, etc.
Membership
The majority of climbers these days start out in a gym, and odds are that the climber on your holiday gift list has a favorite climbing gym.
Even climbers who climb mostly outside appreciate the gym for training indoors, especially in the winter. Three months of gym membership makes a great holiday gift, plus it helps a local business!
Gift Cards
Your local rock gym offers gift cards towards goods and services, so check their website, especially during the holidays!
Like the gift of membership, this has the added bonus of supporting the gym directly while allowing your favorite climber to spend the gift on what they need the most. Whether they need gear, instruction, an outdoor guided trip, or a Clif bar every day for the rest of the year, a gift card does the trick.
Whatever you gift the climber in your life, thanks for supporting them in a sport they probably can’t stop talking about. Climb on!
