Choosing the best gifts for climbers can be difficult – especially if you’re unfamiliar with the sport. You might have heard a friend or family member discussing hand jams, undercuts, and flagging – which likely means they’ve found a new favourite hobby.
Christmas is just over a month away now, which means it’s time to get organised. Whether your gift receiver is into bouldering, soloing, traditional climbing, or climbing for sport – there’s plenty of cheap and cheerful gifts you can buy to put a smile on their face.
This article offers up a range of fun and unique presents that cover most climbing styles. They’re all available in the UK, and we’ve included links to where to buy each item to make things even easier for you.
Now let’s get that Christmas shopping done with our best climbing gifts of 2021!
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The skin on climbers hands can go rough, so it’s important to look after them with a great hand repair treatment.
Ideally, this needs to be fast-working but doesn’t leave that horrible slimy feeling on the skin.
The ClimbOn bar from Black Diamond was formulated with rock climbers in mind, which is why it’s fifty times better than the Nivea tub you were probably thinking of when I mentioned the words ‘hand treatment’.
Your climber simply needs to rub this bar between their fingers after a climbing session to reap the benefits. The beeswax formula of ClimbOn works to soothe and moisturize the skin in preparation for the next climbing session. It’s one of those gifts for climbers that they will really appreciate!
It’s very, very likely you’ve heard your climbing friend talk about Free Solo – Alex Honnold’s hit film about climbing the 3000ft El Capitan in Yosemite.
It’s an award-winning documentary created by National Geographic, following the climber as he prepares to face his lifelong dream.
‘Alone On The Wall’ is Honnold’s latest book, sharing an account of his El Capitan climb and exactly where his passion to climb rope-free comes from. This inspiring book is designed to keep readers at the edge of their seats while sharing one of the most riveting climbing tales out there.
Every climber needs a good chalk bag. This one from Psychi is a fantastic starter pack for new climbers and boulderers – it comes with a rear zip for storage and a large opening to make chalking up very easy.
The adjustable waist strap makes the bag very easy to wear, and the bag comes with its own wooden boar brush to help climbers clear a hold or remove chalk dust whenever they need to.
A chalk ball is included in the set to get your climber started – this has no additives or drying agents to be as gentle on the hands as possible. The bag also comes in varying colours so you can find one to suit perfectly at no added cost!
These two-way radios are rough and ready for your climber’s next adventure. If they enjoy trips with friends who are likely to be out of earshot, walkie talkies are essential.
We love these in particular as they’re completely wireless with earpieces for hands-free communication, meaning your climber is never putting themselves in danger to stay connected. The radios also have in-built LED lights to make them easy to use at night or in emergencies.
The eSYNIC walkie talkies have a 3KM talking distance and a total of 16 channels to choose from.
Climbers shouldn’t go anywhere without a headtorch. No matter the climb and no matter the time of day, it’s always handy to have one just in case.
This head torch from Victoper will provide light for 7 to 8 hours when fully charged, meaning you’ll never be left in the dark – literally.
There’s a bright light in the middle of the headset as well as lights on either side for the very best visibility possible. A total of four modes are available which can be adjusted to fit every need.
Our favourite thing about this head torch, however, is its red warning light. This can be activated by pressing the red indicator on the battery holder, helping both in emergencies and to increase visibility at night.
It’s so important that climbers take care of their muscles, which is why you might like to invest in their recovery process.
This massage gun is pocket-sized so your climber can pack it away for big trips without issue. Intense vibrations will help to wake up the body’s muscles, allowing them to regenerate fibres and repair faster.
The battery on this gun will last for up to 4 hours and can be recharged easily using a USB-C cord. There are 5 speeds to choose from with the Bob and Brad gun, maxing out at 3000rpm. Relax tight muscles and break up knots with this small yet powerful massage gun.
This is either one of the best gifts for climbers or one of the worst – strangely for the users, it can be both at the same.
Outdoor rock climbers often have to walk for miles before even reaching their planned climb.
Help your friend to execute their hikes in comfort with a good pair of approach shoes – we recommend the Merrell Intercepts for men, and the Five Ten Five Tennies for Women.
The Merrells are leather with protective toe caps for comfortable and safe walking, while the Tennies are made of durable suede to help with both support and airflow.
Make sure to purchase shoes for your climber that have sturdy soles with good traction for rocky sections of their approaches. It’s also handy to buy from the big brands so you know you’re getting quality footwear.
If you’re an avid Adventure Pending reader, you’ll know that scratch maps are our gift of choice for backpackers – but do you know they’re also available for climbers?
This scratch map of the Peak District features 239 climbs across the area which every climber should try at least once. As they climb, your friend will be able to scratch away at the map and display it in their home.
It’s also an excellent way to get ideas for a pending trip- a visual always helps with adventure planning. This particular map is delivered rolled in a tube ready for creaseless display.
Grip strength is obviously a huge part of climbing – and a hand grip strengthener is one of the best ways to work on this without hitting the walls.
This workout kit from FitBeast has an adjustable hand gripper, finger exerciser, stretcher, and more to improve strength, power, and flexibility. The resistance band on the handgrip can be easily adjusted between 22lbs and 132lbs so your climber can work their way up over time.
You’ll even be given a guide and tutorial videos on how to use the trainer, as well as access to around-the-clock customer support. If you’re looking for a grip trainer that’s on the novel side of things, check out the mug featured further down this best gifts for climbers article.
In 2015, Tommy Caldwell spent 19 days free-climbing the 3000FT Dawn Wall in Yosemite.
It’s considered one of the most difficult climbs in history, and the route Tommy took had never been attempted before.
The Push documents the build-up to the climb, being held hostage, losing a finger, the breakdown of his marriage, and more. If your climber is a fan of Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold, they’ll love this book.
The Colorado-born climber has received recognition from The Times, The Guardian, Trek & Mountain, and more for this jaw-dropping account.
Everyone wants to show off their adventures, and there’s no better way than using the latest camera from GoPro.
The Hero10 is GoPro’s fastest and smartest camera ever, and it’s perfect for recording climbs.
Most importantly, the Hero10 is voice-activated- so your climber won’t need to use their hands to start or stop recording. Plus, with HyperSmooth 4.0, the camera produces the most stable footage we’ve ever seen.
We only bought the Hero9 last year, but are definitely looking forward to an upgrade! If your climber already has a GoPro, you might want to consider treating them to a chest harness or helmet mount. The GoPro really is one of the best gifts for climbers!
This wouldn’t be an Adventure Pending article without a backpack recommendation!
Every climber’s needs vary, but we’d class the Osprey Quasar as a pretty great all-rounder for a normal day out.
Though aimed at city-dwellers, the Quasar has accompanied us on many an outdoor venture and has risen to the challenge every time. It’s a great no-nonsense pack that has 30 litres of space, sturdy water bottle pockets, and a hip belt to help distribute the load.
You can read our full review of the Quasar if you want to know a little more about the pack, but this is undoubtedly one of the best backpacks out there to fit every situation.
We promised you a novelty grip trainer above, and we’re sure we’ve delivered. It’s one of our overall favourite gifts for climbers this year!
This pinch hold mug has a sculpted ‘rock face’ in place of a handle, meaning climbers can practice their grip strength while enjoying a good cuppa.
It’s also a great gift for climbers who seemingly have everything – going for a silly gift is always a fantastic choice as Christmas 2021 approaches.
The mug is graded at V3 when empty, which increases to between V4 and 5 when full. It’s been reviewed as a super realistic and fun climbing gift on Amazon, with quirky packaging to accompany it.
There you have it – the best gifts for climbers in 2021. We’re sure they’ll love any of the gifts on this list, but if you’re feeling a little stuck, a beer or two is probably another great shout for those post-climb celebrations!
Our mailing list offers exclusive deals on adventure gear from Osprey, Blacks, Millets & more!
