2023 Gift Guide: 25 Best Gifts For Climbers
GIFT IDEAS FOR CLIMBERS, ACCORDING TO CLIMBERS
Published November 7, 2023
Are you on the lookout for the perfect gifts for the climbers in your life? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will help you navigate the exciting world of climbing to find the ideal presents that will not only delight your climbing enthusiast but also elevate their outdoor adventures. Whether you're a seasoned climber seeking the latest gear or someone new to the climbing community, this article is your compass to the best gifts for climbers.
As more and more people seek adventure and a connection with the great outdoors, climbing has emerged as a captivating choice for those who crave the thrill of scaling heights and conquering challenging routes. What makes climbing truly captivating is the incredible diversity it encompasses. Climbers come from all walks of life, bringing with them a rich tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and preferences.
Whether you're dealing with a seasoned alpinist, an indoor boulderer, or a weekend warrior, the world of climbing accommodates a wide range of enthusiasts. Some prefer the tranquility of a multi-day trad climb in a remote wilderness, while others revel in the quick-paced energy of sport climbing at a bustling crag. Recognizing the diverse interests and experiences of climbers is essential when selecting the perfect gift.
Looking for more gift ideas? See our guide to Best Gifts for Skiers.
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CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE BUYING A GIFT
When choosing the ideal gift for a climber, there are several key considerations that can make the difference between a thoughtful and well-received present and a missed opportunity:
Understanding the climber's skill level
It's crucial to grasp the climber's experience and skill level. Are they a novice looking to build their gear collection, or a seasoned pro who has their preferences down to a science? Tailoring your gift to their skill level ensures it's not only useful but also enhances their climbing experience.
Prioritizing safety and quality
Safety should be paramount when selecting climbing gifts. Quality gear can be a climber's lifeline, and compromising on safety is never an option. Ensure that the equipment you choose adheres to industry standards and has the necessary safety features.
Recognizing different types of climbing
Climbing is a multifaceted activity with various sub-disciplines such as bouldering, sport climbing, traditional (trad) climbing, ice climbing, and more. Each type of climbing demands specific equipment and tools. Familiarize yourself with the climber's preferred style to pick the most relevant gift.
Budget considerations for gift options
Climbing gear can range from affordable to high-end, so consider your budget when selecting a gift. You don't need to break the bank to find a thoughtful and useful present. There are options to suit various price points, ensuring that the climber in your life receives a meaningful gift without straining your finances.
CLIMBING GEAR
If you’re looking for a gift for the climber in your life, essential gear items like the ones we suggest below are gifts they’re sure to use.
Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device
I would say that I am solidly in the amateur realm of rock climbing, so I’m in no way a professional. But there was a period when I could be found in a rock climbing gym consistently. And I worked for several years as a supervisor at a rock climbing gym.
And I LOVE my GriGri.
I requested it as a Christmas gift from my Grandma many years ago. It is my preferred belaying device, even though I learned to top rope and belay on an ATC (and believe everyone should).
Most climbers I know enjoy having a GriGri in their climbing gear arsenal. And because it is a pricier piece of equipment, I think it makes a wonderful gift.
-Amy Gravlee, Production Team
Disclaimer: Rock climbing is inherently dangerous. There is no evidence (that I can find) that any particular belay device is safer than any other device. Most climbing accidents involving a belay device are due to user error.
LA SPORTIVA SKWAMA VEGAN CLIMBING SHOES
Got a bouldering buddy who wants everything in a high-performance climbing shoe? And one who is a vegan? Check out the La Sportiva Skwama vegan shoes.
They’re a vegan model of the regular Skwama shoe that replaces the leather components with microfiber and SkinLike insoles, which has a leather feel but isn’t.
The one-strap slipper-style climbing shoe is designed to handle technical routes and boulder problems and has generous rubber over the big toe for placing the shoe into cracks.
We’ve been using these shoes for a year now and have found that they’re true workhorses (even though no horses were used in their making) thanks to the grippy XS Grip rubber, P3 rand with its split sole.
With an aggressive downturn that focuses weight on the big toe for placement, they can handle micro holds, and the split sole with softer rubber in the middle allows the shoe to flex for smearing.
Men's La Sportiva Skwama Climbing Shoes
Women's La Sportiva Skwama Climbing Shoes
For the long session climber, belaying all day. A long day at the crag, climbing with friends, and working on challenging projects is always something to look forward to. Unfortunately, looking up for hours when belaying is not quite as fun. Fortunately, there is a gift-worthy solution, “beloggles!”
Belay glasses/goggles, or “beloggles” as sometimes nicknamed, are the gear you didn’t know you needed. These nifty glasses allow you to see above you without craning your neck, perfect for any frequent belayer or anyone sport climbing multiple days in a row.
Not strictly necessary, belay glasses are often not gear a climber buys for themselves, especially if saving for adventures, making them a great gift!
Belay glasses usually fit over sunglasses or prescription glasses and are one-size-fits-all, so there’s no need to know your climber's clothing or shoe size.
There are many options out there, from the budget to the high end. This is a mid-range more versatile model that is flexible for the face.
Belay goggles are lightweight, easy to fit in a day pack, and an easy way to make a climbing day a bit more comfortable. Compared to rope and carabiners, these are slightly more fragile. I have already cracked a pair through rough treatment, so opt for a pair with a case so you can safely toss them in a backpack.
A great gift for a climber is something that they might not have gotten themselves yet. And what better gift than something that keeps your loved ones a little extra safe?!
Stick clips are portable, extendable poles with devices to clip a quickdraw and rope to the first bolt on a sport climb from the ground. Starting a climb with the first draw clipped means your climber won’t be totally unprotected at any point. This gear can be especially useful in areas infamous for high first bolts or run-outs. It’s also a great gift for anyone pushing themselves, allowing a climber to try slightly harder routes with more protection and less risk.
Climbers can use the stick clip for more than the first section of a climb. I’ve used it on-route before to clip the bolt above an especially tricky section.
This way, I can push myself to try more challenging moves outside before adding the mental difficulty of a bigger potential fall.
I use the Skyhook, a lightweight, no-frills option that has survived rough outdoor use (it can even unclip quickdraws and be modified to hold bouldering brush attachments).
Unfortunately, this stick clip is currently sold out online but available at some independent climbing shops. If there isn’t a store in your area, other similar, great options are available online.
I’ve found that simple, sturdy designs work best.
CLIMBING CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Below are some of our favorite clothing items for outdoor and indoor climbers. These clothing items are versatile and can be worn for other outdoor activities as well, making them a great investment for the climber in your life.
ORTOVOX FLEECE GRID HOODY
This Ortovox zip hoody checks all the boxes: no bulky pockets on the hips, super stretchy, and the merino wool makes it warm and odor resistant so it can be worn over and over without washing and no one will know.
I love that I can wear this for outdoor climbing adventures and the gym, and it is attractive enough for around town or coffee. There are two chest pockets, one that is large enough to hold any size phone plus some snacks. It is super lightweight–I can barely tell I am wearing it.
Did I mention it is stretchy? I am going to say it again: this is so stretchy and comfortable. If you gift this to someone they probably won’t want to take it off–it will be worn all year for so many activities beyond just climbing.
ARC’TERYX ALPHA SV
Maybe holiday gift-giving isn’t about a hundred small gifts—maybe your beloved outdoor enthusiast would be blown away by a singular gift that will keep them protected, no matter what adventure they’re on. The Arc’teryx Alpha SV Shell is no budget item, and there are plenty of other great, more affordable options in the shell department.
The SV part of the name stands for “severe weather conditions.” We tested it on one prolonged medevac with the Alaskan Coast Guard. Even with 40 mph winds hurling rain and ocean spray into the EMTs’ faces on the tarmac, the author kept warm and dry. Most importantly, the Alpha SV’s cinched hood protected her headphones, so she could still communicate with helicopter pilots. In this gear writer’s opinion, it was the best Christmas present she could have bought herself.
RAB POSITRON PRO DOWN JACKET
Got a person in your life who is always cold? One of our most popular gear items this year is the Rab Positron Pro down jacket. When it comes to extreme cold weather jackets, Rab is one of the most respected companies in the industry. And the Positron has established itself as the new gold standard for warmth.
The Rab Positron Pro is the winner for Best Upgrade Down Jacket in our Best Down Jackets guide and Best Down Jacket for Extreme Cold.
-Treeline Review Team
I have been looking for the perfect pair of climbing pants since I started climbing. Climbing in general athletic apparel is totally acceptable, but rocks and gritty gym walls are unkind to fabric.
These are truly the miracle of climbing clothing. I know multiple men and women who own and love these pants. I don’t think there is a perfectly equivalent women’s version, and they are not marketed as unisex. I and several of my female climber friends have the men’s version. These pants are better than any women’s pants I own.
After finding climbing pants that checked all my boxes, I was ready to shell out as much money as necessary. Luckily these are shockingly affordable, superior to any expensive or women’s pants I’ve tried, and somehow seem to fit everyone.
The Top Out Ripstop Pants have an elastic waist, a tie for a customizable fit, a zippered back pocket, and bottom snaps to adjust the cuff length. Regarding durability, I’ve been wearing the same pair of these pants constantly for a year; they are holding up well and are still my favorites.
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR KOR AIRSHELL WARM JACKET
The Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm jacket is what you want to give your favorite belay buddy for the chilly days at the crag. It’s also an excellent jacket for high-output activities like hiking, trail running, and snowshoeing, thanks to its AirMesh lining, which provides warmth while not moving and allows for plenty of breathability.
We loved this jacket on a cool day hiking Tumalo Mountain in Oregon and even more while canyoneering Behunin Canyon in Zion National Park. It kept us warm without letting us sweat out and did a good job of fending off chilly winds in the shady parts of the canyon. The Pertex Quantum Air Fabric is breathable, wind and water-resistant, and—importantly, abrasion-resistant.
I received the Cotopaxi Tarak Del Dia 20 L climbing pack as a gift last holiday season and have been using it since 2021!
I’ve taken it on all-day multi-pitch climbs, bouldering trips as a daypack, and my daily bike rides to the gym. It’s lightweight but comfortable, super durable, hydration bladder-compatible, and has the perfect number of various-sized pockets for all your essentials.
The many outer straps on the pack can accommodate ice axes or extra gear, but I’ve found them especially useful for clipping wet or dirty gear to the outside of the bag. All Tarak Del Dia packs are made with leftover material that would otherwise go to waste; this results in totally unique and fun color combos, making it fun to find the perfect design for the outdoor lover in your life!
Know a climber who always has cold fingers? This holiday season, be their hero with a heated chalk bag.
Usually, climbers with cold hands and fingers were condemned to dropping the pocket hand warmers in their chalk bags, hoping that the packets would provide warmth on the coldest crag days. But, what started as an April Fool’s prank has become a unique product on the market that’s ideal for those climbers whose fingers get cold quickly or those with a condition like Raynaud’s Syndrome. That’s the Black Diamond Hot Forge Heated Climbing Bag.
The Hot Forge Heated Climbing Bag is insulated with 80 grams of Thinsulate to help retain heat. Internally, it has a lithium-ion battery heated pocket that the fingers can grasp, allowing it to warm them quickly in chilly conditions. The battery can deliver up to 8 hours of heat on low. On high, that drops to 2 hours. For longer days, users could bring a second battery if needed. The biggest downside to the chalk bag is that it costs 2 or 3 times as much as a regular bag.
FOR EXPERIENCED AND BUDDING CLIMBERS ALIKE: CHALK BAG
With more people than ever interested in rock climbing and climbing gyms becoming increasingly prevalent in urban areas, many fitness-oriented people are taking up the sport. A chalk bag is quickly one of the first things budding climbers purchase. Chalk powder enhances grip and is also used by powerlifters for the same reason.
One thing that makes climbing such an appealing hobby is that you don’t even have to be outdoorsy to like gym climbing. Many people who get into rock climbing take up bouldering first, requiring less equipment and not needing climbers to take a belay class or have a belay partner. They’ll need climbing shoes (easily rentable) and a chalk bag for bouldering.
Chalk bags are the perfect gift because they come in fun designs, you can never have too many, and they aren’t size-specific (unlike climbing shoes). Chalk bags are appropriate for many kinds of climbers. Plus, there are many options for you to pick a pattern that shows off what you think of their personality. Check out these fun designs from Etsy for a more artistic and personalized chalk bag.
If you’re looking for something to pair with the chalk bag, peruse our guide to The Best Climbing Harnesses for Beginners for more gift ideas.
-Treeline Review Team
TRAINING TOOLS
Help the climber in your life improve their skills by gifting them training tools. These are some of our favorite items to help improve our training.
MICROSEND MAGNETIC MINI CLIMBERS
The MicroSend is a 2.7 oz miniaturized, magnetic route setting kit, complete with a miniature rope.
It allows you to place 15 tiny magnetic holds and five quickdraws on metallic surfaces, like a fridge, office partition corners, or anywhere #vanlife or #overlanding take you.
Is it a necessary piece of kit? Absolutely not, according to us! But, it’s a fun gift idea that should be on every adventurer’s mind this holiday season.
Some might argue that it can help with imaging routes they want to send in the wild. But to us, this is more about giving a fun and unique gift to others!
This is something we would definitely give to every single one of our favorite climbing buddies! Retailing at $19.95, it’s worth the beer money that your buddies will spend on you after a hard day of microsending — just make sure it’s not a microbeer.
It’s also great to know each purchase benefits The Access Fund, which helps promote sustainability and conservation for climbing crags and ensures climbers have access to crags.
I’ve always gotten some satisfaction from being a cheap, dirtbag outdoors person. All my nicest gear came from working as a retail associate at an outdoor store (so I got gear at a discounted price).
And the same applied to many of my choices when it came to rock climbing. Why pay for premium chalk when a GIGANTIC Black Diamond White Gold bag is cheap?
Well, it’s because the premium chalk is, you guessed it, premium quality.
A Friction Labs representative was handing out sample bags of chalk at my local gym one weekend, and I made the mistake of giving their chalk a go. I say it was a mistake because I was perfectly satisfied with my cheap chalk until I tried the good stuff.
And Friction Labs’ chalk is the best. It gives a nice even coat of chalk on your hands with little effort. And your hands stay nice and dry no matter how much you sweat. I find myself chalking up mid-climb A LOT less when climbing with FrictionLabs chalk, and it leaves my hands feeling better.
It even won a blind test on 99boulders.com. But because it is a splurge for most climbers, it makes a GREAT gift.
There are 3 main types: Unicorn Dust (fine), Gorilla Grip (chunky), or Bam Bam (super chunky). I’m a fan of Gorilla Grip because I like the feel of breaking the clumps of chalk apart, but the climber in your life will be thrilled with any bag you choose.
-Amy Gravlee, Production Team
BOX OF ENERGY BARS, GELS, AND POWER DRINK MIXES
Giving a box of chocolates may be a traditional holiday present. But a hand-picked box of performance energy foods, including energy bars, gels, and drink mixes, is even more exciting than chocolate for a climber (ok, they’ll probably take the chocolate, too).
Almost every climber loves trying new bars, gels, and performance drink flavors.
Here are some of the most popular energy foods and electrolyte mixes this season:
Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Powder (one of our most popular items at Treeline!)
Honey Stinger Energy Waffles (also available in Gluten-Free)
Kate’s Real Food, including Lemon Coconut, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
Lenny and Larry’s Complete Cookie (ok, technically, it’s a cookie, but it’s in the Performance Food section, so we think it still counts)
Tip: If you’re giving Performance Food Gift Sets to several people, you can get items like Ultima Replenisher or GU 24-Pack in bulk to save even more. Plus, REI runs a deal where you save 10% if you purchase 10 or more performance foods.
For more stocking stuffer ideas in this ballpark, we have a guide to The Best Electrolyte Powders.
-Treeline Review Team
This book is often regarded as the Bible of alpine climbing and is chock full of valuable information from climbing techniques to crevasse rescue. Any climber could kick back and take a deep dive into knots, anchors, self arrest, and more while dreaming and scheming how to explore the vertical world of the alpine.
Of course, this book is no replacement for mentorship, courses, and training, but it’s a vital tool for any serious climber to have on hand and reference regularly. I often flip through its pages when planning a big trip to refresh my skills and knowledge. And for climbers new to the sport, or those just finding their way out of the gym and into the mountains, this hefty book is indispensable.
SAFETY AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT
Giving someone you care about the gift of safety is a gift for yourself, too. Here are some items to keep your climber safer in the outdoors.
ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS ULTRALIGHT/WATERTIGHT 0.7 MEDICAL KIT
Call me over-prepared, but I don’t go out on any adventure without a medical kit. (Being a guide, volunteer firefighter, and W-EMT will do that to you.) I used to overpack a 10-liter dry bag with everything from a syringe to dozens of types of bandages and gauze to a SAM splint on a 2-hour hike or front country climbing adventure. After getting the Adventure Medical Kit—I don’t pack anything more than this.
This medical kit is compact, waterproof, and easily fits into the brain of a backpack or tucked inside a small dry bag. It holds all of the necessary items — wound care, bandages, medications, moleskin, duct tape, tweezers — in a silnylon pouch that all weighs a mere eight ounces. My raft guides, ski partners, and climbing buddies will all be getting this for Christmas. Who doesn’t want to be prepared?
-Josette Deschambeault, Contributing Writer
Read more about outdoor gear that can double as your Home Emergency Kit.
Whether your climber is planning new adventures, needing to figure out the next spot to vanlife, or just dreaming of taking a new adventure–the Atlas and Gazetteer is a fun way to do it.
It’s also a way to relive past trips in the kind of detail that a photo or words in a journal cannot do. I have spent hours down memory lane while attempting to file away old maps. An hour with a map is never wasted.
We’re fond of the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteers, which are map books that include obscure dirt roads, trailheads, and the sorts of details you’ll never find on Google Maps (including for places where you’ll never get reception).
Climbers and van lifers have found new spots to crash. The Gazetteer provides a level of detail and accuracy not found on even USGS maps (which aren’t updated as often). Dirtbag climbers and anyone who has spent 15 minutes driving back and forth to find an obscure crag know the Gazetteer is essential for driving on backroads.
DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteers are map books the size of a large magazine. They easily fit into a car seat pocket. Many outdoors people always leave them in the car.
These map books are available by state and region, including Colorado, Oregon, Texas, California, Washington, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, and more.
-Treeline Review Team
CLIMBING TECH
Cameras, satellites, and other climbing technology enhance a climber’s experience by making the activity more fun, safe, or memorable. Often, these are items people are more reluctant to buy themselves, making them great gift ideas!
OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-6 WATERPROOF CAMERA
Outdoorspeople are tougher than most people on their electronics. I’ve personally destroyed three cameras and several phones. The result is that I don’t have photos of many adventures adventuring, a loss I lament on a near-daily basis.
When I bought the Olympus Tough Camera, not only was I unable to destroy it (I dropped it more times than I can count), but it captured some of the most important moments in the backcountry.
Usually, rain, snow, and dropping electronics mean the certain death of my electronics. With the waterproof TG-6, I’ve been able to take photos in the most miserable weather (aka, “Type 2 Fun” or parts that are miserable at the time but make great stories later).
Not that I want to drop a camera during a climb, but I know I'm a little less shy to take it out, knowing that it'd survive—as long as it fell to a spot I could reach.
The Olympus Tough Camera is how I finally learned the truth behind what a professional photographer once told me: the most difficult times make the best photos. The TG-6 is so waterproof because it was designed for snorkeling. It’s widely considered by camera nerds to take the finest quality photos of any waterproof consumer camera.
This camera is so bomb-proof it will likely outlast all other technology. See what our camera nerd has to say about the Olympus Tough Cameras in our Best Waterproof Camera guide.
-Treeline Review Team
The Garmin inReach Mini 2 may be the best present you can give a climber or mountaineer (because it’s actually a present for yourself).
It's a way to stay in touch with climbers—even on an alpine climb or deep in a desert canyon far from cell reception.
This two-way satellite transmitter turns a smartphone into a use-anywhere two-way texting machine. Plus, it has an SOS button to alert Search & Rescue in the case of an emergency.
It easily fits into a pocket or backpack at only 3.5 ounces and 2" tall. Even the most minimalist climber won’t grumble at the weight. Nearly every thru-hiker our staff saw on trail this year wore a Mini on their pack strap as part of their uniform. See our detailed review for more details about the Garmin inReach Mini.
-Treeline Review Team
GIFT CARDS, MEMBERSHIPS, AND EXPERIENCES
Want to give an experience rather than a thing? Many dirtbag climbers are picky about their gear, so an experience is a fool-proof way to celebrate their love of climbing without the guesswork of knowing what type of gear they like.
A guided trip climbing on the Amalfi Coast. Photo by 57Hours.
A GUIDED CLIMBING TRIP IN DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Have the climbers in your life always dreamed about climbing in another country or a scenic destination? Would they feel more comfortable going with someone who speaks the language, knows the area, and is an AMGA-certified guide? 57Hours makes it easy to find a guide for any destination and sport.
You can search all levels in the guided climbing trips, but here are a few that stuck out internationally:
And some neat trips that stuck out in the U.S.:
Close to urban areas: Rock Climbing Tour of Malibu or the Gunks, New York
There is always the super popular adventure gift card, which covers guided trips to destinations around the world.
-Treeline Review Team
CLIMBING SKILLS CAMP
A climbing skills camp for beginners. Photo by 57Hours.
Climbing is a sport that only gets better and safer with more education. Every climber benefits by refreshing their skills and certifications often. Taking a class is the best way to learn new activities and ways of engaging on the rock. A climbing camp or clinic is also a great way to climb in a new destination and make new climbing friends.
You can search climbing by destination, but here are a few that stuck out, including women’s camps, camps for kids, and camps for climbers aged 50+:
There is always the popular adventure gift card so that they can find climbing classes or camps in destinations worldwide.
-Treeline Review Team
An indoor rock climbing class at REI. Photo by REI.
REI has classes and events across the country covering various activities and interests. You can take classes (as compared to the clinics and camps above) on weekdays or out of your local REI store, so they don't involve traveling nearly as far or making as much of a time commitment.
Bonus — they’re reasonably priced. Here’s a (tiny) sampling:
-Treeline Review Team
UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS: NATIONAL PARKS PASS
The National Parks Pass is a little card that gets you FREE ADMISSION into every National Park and most other public lands with entrance fees.
It’s an essential item for outdoors people, and REI donates 10% of sale proceeds to the National Parks Foundation.
When you get this online at REI, it’s the same price (actually, a penny less) than if you were to purchase it directly at a national park entrance station (plus, with this pass, they often let you skip the line to enter the park).
The pass will also get you free admission to:
National Parks (like Joshua Tree, Yosemite)
National Monuments (like Red Rocks)
US Fish & Wildlife Refuges, Forest Service forests and grasslands, and Bureau of Land Management sites.
Since the Interagency Pass only lasts a year—and is a near-essential item for every outdoors person—it’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything.
-Treeline Review Team
THE GIFT FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT: REI GIFT CARD
Still not sure what to get a friend or family member? Do what my family does and give the REI Gift Card. Even if you’ve got an excellent grasp on what a person likes, it can be tricky to know what gear they already own. REI Gift cards never expire and can be used on any item.
-Treeline Review Team
