Christmas gifts for climbers.
Climbing gifts for Christmas
Speaking as a climber, there is very little I want for Christmas. Everything I need, I get. Everything I want is very specific and usually expensive.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate gifts! But when the ‘Big name Outdoor store’ sells your family member an ice screw and you are a sport climber who has no plans on freezing their tits off with their single ice screw, it’s a bit of a wasted gift. So, for those eager to please but clueless family members, I have made a list of what you can get a climber for Christmas which they are guaranteed to appreciate.
The odd quickdraw…
Now listen up, this is quite a difficult one as ideally, it would be an idea to know which quick draws they use. Personally, I use DMM Shadows in Purple (for any family reading this ;)). I really like my draws, I personally don’t really want the odd draw as part of my rack. But if you do know what quickdraws your present receiver (PR) uses, this is a great gift! One more quickdraw is always handy.
Chalk…
It’s super rare to find a climber without chalk under their fingernails, over their clothes or in a pile in the foot well of their car. We use a lot of it! I use any chalk going, especially indoors as I use so much to get past the greasy finger prints of the kid’s clubs (why don’t they have chalk?). Outdoors, I tend to use my better chalk. For top of the line chalk, I recommend Frictionlabs. It’s a little bit on the pricey side of things, but it is really damn good stuff.
Clip Stick…
Now, in the UK you have the choice of two different brands. You have one which has been round for ages or you have the best one, Pongoose! The Pongoose Climber 700 is a clip stick which can do everything! It can clip quickdraws into the rock, it can clip the rope into the quickdraw, it can take the quickdraw out of the rock, it can be your extendable brush, it can even hold your camera or act as a monopod. Best of all, it will make the best gift for your PR, meaning they are going to up their game for your present next year! Read more.
Base layer…
Base layers are essential for winter climbing outdoors and even some indoor centres in the winter can get a chill on! This is a great gift. The one bit of advice I would give you, if you want to spend £20 say, don’t get a pack for 4 cheap ones- just get 1 good layer. The cheap ones roll up over your abs/belly leaving a cold cummerbund, no one wants to see that after Christmas!
Down Jacket…
Sometimes base layers just aren’t enough. This is one of the presents which can be a little pricey but by getting the right one it could last a lifetime! We would really recommend Rab as a down jacket producer and especially the Kinder Smock for which one to get. It keeps in the warmth and even looks great at the pub. Read more.
Brush…
I don’t mean just your standard hair brush. These brushes are made for climbing. They kind of look like toothbrushes on steroids although some brands are just rebranded toothbrushes. The king brush at the moment is the Sublime brush which can be found at any good climbing shop and online. The climber’s in your life will thank you for this present, for sure.
Skin care…
Climber’s skin gets battered by the drying agents in chalk, the hot and cold changing temperatures and the roughness of the rock and plastic. I tend not to use many creams or balms as my hands as toughs as rhino skin but even my tips get effected by the winter’s freezing temps. The brands to look out for are Climb On, a nice little pot of organic balm guaranteed to last for ages, and Climbskin, a moisturizing cream that will save your tender tips.
Clothing…
Climbers tend to wear their clothes in to the ground! Most of my trousers only see the bin once the bum patches don’t have any more fabric to be sewed to, and I know I’m not the only one. Climbing clothing has somehow become a science with the amount of stretch, hardiness and pockets for brushes. 3rd Rock have kept on the forefront of fresh new designs and quality products. Definitely a brand that every climber would be happy to receive a gift from. Read more.
Bolt Fund donations…
Think of it as adopting a snow elephant or whatever. You give your local bolt fund a donation on behalf of your PR. Now maybe this isn’t the greatest present, but your PR can’t moan about it and it’s better than getting them a canvas with a silhouette of a climber that they now must find somewhere to hang (we have all had that present). In all seriousness, this is a worthy present as the bolt funds struggle around Christmas… everyone is too busy buying canvases for each other. Read more.
Head torch…
It’s unusual for a climber not to have a story which starts ‘So I thought my head torch was in my bag but…’ and then goes on to explain an epic involving pitch black, cliff edges and ‘I was sh*tting myself’. So, an extra headtorch is handy! You can spend as much as you like but really for something to just to keep in the top of their bag it doesn’t have to be fancy. You could even chuck in some spare batteries. Push the boat out.
Boot Bananas…
Although this is a present for them, I mean, they have to unwrap it… Really, it is more of a present for you! These bad boys kill the smell of climbing shoes or any shoes and replace it with the sweet smell of lavender. Just to be clear, Boot Bananas is a brand, it’s not just some bananas placed in their climbing boots. Read more.
Climbing Gym Pass…
Climbing over winter can be tough. The forecast changes so frequently between rain and shine every weekend and the short days really kill the climbing vibe. Therefore, the climbing gym is the place to get strong, meet more climbers and make plans for when it’s warm again. You need to know their local climbing gym but that’s not hard, just go on their Facebook and see which climbing walls ‘Share to Win’ post they have plastered on their profile. This is also very handy after a Christmas of mince pie grade killers!
Knitwear…
For a boulderer (yes that’s a word!) to achieve their goal of smashing a problem they need two things; one, to take their top off (no matter whatever the weather), two, they need a beanie! Ask any boulderer and they will agree. Route climbers travel in two’s; one being on the rock and the other on the ground freezing their tits off, these guys also need beanies! Now you could get them a beanie from a well-known brand, with the brand logo as big as you can get on it, or you could get them a nice one! Fernweh, are the guys for original homemade climber’s knitwear and they also make chalk bags which are awesome as well! Read more.
I hope these couple of ideas will help you get your loved ones, secret Santa’s or present buying friends something worth having. If not, a tenner in a card seems to work quite well.