Dirtbag Gift Guide: 13 Gifts for Rock Climbers
It’s that time of year where we all start looking for gifts for the outdoor adventurers in our lives.
All climbers have their gear preferences, so buying actual climbing gear can be tough! Do they prefer wire gate or solid gate quickdraws? Are they the classic screw-lock or edge tri-lock type?
That’s why we’ve developed this list of the best gifts for rock climbers that can be enjoyed by pretty much any rock climbing friend or loved one, regardless of their go-to gear.
From affordable stocking stuffers to rest day reads, climb on to check out the full list of rock climbing gifts.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Navigations for Gifts for Rock Climbers
Best Clothing Gifts for Rock Climbers
Patagonia Nano-Air® Jacket
Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Lined Pant
La Sportiva Warm Up Primaloft Skirt
Reading Gifts for Rock Climbers
Vertical Mind: Psychological Approaches for Optimal Rock Climbing
The Crag Survival Handbook
Stocking Stuffers for Rock Climbers
Recycled Rope Can Cozies
Climbing Stickers
Climbskin® Hand Cream
GSI 2-Can Cooler Stack
Practical Climbing Gifts
Gift Card for a Shoe Resole
New Rope
Ignik Hand Warmers
Chalk
Stocking Stuffers for Rock Climbers
1. Recycled Rope Can Cozies
Image credit Always the Adventure
There is nothing sadder than retiring a climbing rope. From memories of so many sends (and so many more falls) to knowing how much they cost, saying goodbye to a rope is the end of an era.
But it doesn’t have to be! There are so many useful things to be made of climbing ropes—like a recycled climbing rope can cozy.
Full disclosure: These are handmade to order by yours truly! It’s kind of a shameless plug, but more than that, we’re truly excited about this endeavor because it allows us to make use of waste!
We collect retired, unwanted ropes from our current local climbing community and transform them into something new and useful. For any extra offcuts at the end of our cozy, we transform into coasters or dog leashes (which also allow us to recycle old webbing, slings, and carabiners).
This prevents tons of synthetic fibers from entering the landfill. So far, we’ve upcycled over 300 meters of rope!
Plus, every order through Etsy comes with fully carbon-neutral shipping and, since all our shipping materials are recycled (so don’t just the contents by the box you get!), there’s very little shipping waste.
Find it here: Etsy
2. Climbing Stickers
Image credit Always the Adventure
For a small gift for those you’re not super close to or for affordable rock climbing gifts, deck out their water bottle, climbing helmet, or van with some funny rock climbing stickers.
These waterproof vinyl stickers aren’t much, but they say, “I’d belay you for a beer any day, buddy!”
Find it here: Etsy
3. Climbskin® Hand Cream
Image credit Climbskin®
Skin issues are always a pressing matter for climbers, and nothing is worse than not getting the send—not because YOU weren’t strong enough—but because your skin wasn’t.
Climbskin® was developed by experts AND climbers, so you know it’s the real deal.
Unlike plenty of other climbing skincare products, Climbskin® doesn’t just coat your skin in an oily layer to lock moisture in; This wax-free formula actually penetrates to toughen the skin.
And if you’re like us and HATE the feeling of greasy skin (give me ALL the chalk!), this stuff is perfect because it absorbs fully in a matter of minutes.
FInd it here: Backcountry / REI
4. GSI 2-Can Cooler Stack (AVAILABLE DEC. 1)
There’s a reason our “Will Belay For Beer” Stickers are by far our best-selling design. Climbing and beer are as fated pairing as old as time.
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a post-send crag beer, except for one problem…. by the time you get around to drinking it, it’s usually warm! Call us snobby but ew.
That’s why GSI invented the 2-Can Cooler Stack to fix “a long-standing problem you didn’t know you had”. This double-wall vacuum-insulated canister keeps contents cold for 24 hours—talk about cool rock climbing gifts!
It fits two regular-size beer cans—one for your giftee and one for their belayer.
PS: This gift gives back double if YOU’RE their belayer ;)
It’s not yet available, but we got to product test it, and trust us, this is not to be left off your list!
Find it here: WE WILL UPDATE LINKS WHEN THIS BECOMES AVAILABLE
Practical Climbing Gifts
5. Gift Card for a Shoe Resole
Image credit Rock and Resole
Facing the need to buy a $150+ dollar shoe is truly a tragedy for any climber.
Rather than buy them a brand new pair of vegan climbing shoes, help them keep their otherwise perfectly good pair in use by encouraging them to resole. For non-climbers, that means putting an entirely new coat of rubber on the shoe to give it new life.
Rock and Resole is based in Colorado, but they’re one of the most renowned resole companies around, and they receive mail-in resole requests from all over the country.
They offer gift cards for simple gifts for climbers.
Even if your rock climbing friend doesn’t need to use that card just yet, they certainly will!
Find it here: Rock and Resole
6. A New Rope
Image credit Maxim Ropes
Ropes are yet another expensive climbing essential that have a limited lifespan. That means, even if they aren’t quite ready to retire their current rope yet, climbers will always need a new rope at some point in the not-too-distant future.
So if you have a little extra in your climber gift budget this year, a climbing rope is a safe bet.
Plus, they’re so pretty you won’t even need to wrap it ;)
If you want yours to also be eco friendly, narrow your search to eco rock climbing ropes. Personally, we’re a fan of the recycled ropes by Edelrid, one of the most ethical outdoor brands.
Find it Here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
7. Ignik Compostable Hand Warmers
Image credit Ignik
Ah, the perpetual Catch 22 of being a climber: either the rock is so warm you can hardly hang on or it’s so cold you can hardly hang on.
There’s a reason Black Diamond’s April Fool’s Day gag product, the Hot Forge heated chalk bag, was so popular they still make it.
For those who think that’s a little extra, hand warmers are a climber’s best friend, and Ignik’s compostable hand warmers are especially cool (errr, hot).
Delivering “more heat, less waste”, these 10-hour-hot packets even come with a resealable AirBarrier™ pouch that allows 72-hour storage. Take them out and they’ll stay hot the rest of their 10-hour time.
Once they’re all used up, they can compost the inner material. Unfortunately, the pouch itself is not compostable or recyclable. Still, less waste is less waste!
Because cold hands are especially prevalent in alpine climbing, these make especially good gifts for mountain climbers.
Find it here: REI
8. Friction Labs Chalk
Image credit Friction Labs
If there is one thing in the world that all climbers can’t get enough of, it’s chalk.
Whether they have perpetually sweaty hands (hello!) or use chalking up as an emotional crutch to ease anxiety (again, hello!)
Friction Labs chalk is widely regarded as the best chalk on the market, but that kind of quality doesn’t come cheap. That’s why giving them this premium white powder (no, not THAT kind of premium white powder) as a climbing gift will show you really love them.
It’s available in fine, chunky, and extra chunky cuts, as well as liquid chalk for the gym rats out there.
And no, we didn’t believe the hype at first, but after actually trying it, we haven't been able to switch back. No other chalk we’ve tried coats quite as well for as long, without feeling too dry and dusty.
Find it here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
Best Clothing Gifts for Rock Climbers
9. Patagonia Nano-Air® Jacket
Image credit Patagonia
When it comes to sustainable outdoor clothing brands, Patagonia is the Fred Becky of the climbing world: one of the first and one of the best.
And the Nano-Air® Jacket is a climber favorite.
Featuring a DWR-coated stretch shell outer and stretchy FullRange® synthetic insulation, this jacket is ultra-warm, low-bulk, hyper-breathable, and allows for a maximum range of motion.
Both the shell and fill are partially recycled polyester and the whole garment is Fair Trade certified, so this is not only a good climber gift but an eco friendly outdoor gift, too.
Find it here: Patagonia / Backcountry / REI
10. Eddie Bauer First Ascent Guide Pro Lined Pant
Image credit Eddie Bauer
Send temps are great and all… except that they’re pretty miserable for all aspects of climbing except sending!
Cold belays? Terrible. Waiting between burns for your pump to go away? Terrible! Trying to climb in bulky layers that make it so you can’t high-step or see your feet? Perhaps the most terrible of all.
First Ascent’s Guide Pro Lined Pant solves all these problems. Their super stretchy softshell outer and integrated midweight fleece lining means you don’t have to compromise mobility for warmth.
If your bud is a boulderer, these are without double some of the best bouldering pants (since bouldering demands you spend even LESS time climbing in even COLDER weather!).
Find it here: Eddie Bauer
11. La Sportiva Warm Up Primaloft Skirt
Image credit Backcountry.com
Speaking of cold belays, the La Sportiva Warm Up Primaloft Skirt is the perfect gift for those who like to stay warm on belay but want to easily strip down a bit when it’s their turn to tie-in.
Again, these are among some of the best bouldering pants because they’re so easy to slip on and off between burns, thanks to the easy full side zipper.
We had never heard of the puffy skirt until we moved to Alaska and now, we’re BOTH converts (Amber a little more than Chris). In fact, climbing aside, these are winter vanlife essentials as a quick way to add some warmth on frigid van days.
These make excellent gifts for adventurous woman, but make no mistake, women are far from the only ones who can benefit from rocking the puffy skirt. Puffy pants are great, too, but they lack the on/off convenience of the skirt. Normalize the puffy skirt for all!
Find it here: Backcountry / Moosejaw
Reading Gifts for Rock Climbers
12. Vertical Mind: Psychological Approaches for Optimal Rock Climbing by Don McGrath and Jeff Elison
The mental side of climbing is often more difficult to overcome than the physical one. Compared to training yourself to get a stronger head game, training to get stronger fingers is like a soft gym 5.7.
Vertical Mind is one of the best (and few) rock climbing training tools for the mental side of things. Whether it’s highball head or lead-head that special climber in your life is struggling with, this book can give them the tools to overcome their mental blocks.
What’s really cool about this book is that it doesn’t operate under the assumption that climbers need to rid themselves of fear. Rather, it demonstrates that fear is natural (especially when doing an unnatural, inherently dangerous activity) so you don’t need to feel bad for being afraid.
Overcoming fear is not the same as it being absent (if we could do that, we’d all be Alex Honnold).
It also touches on good support techniques, so this might be a great climbing gift for your climbing partner.
Find it here: Amazon
13. The Crag Survival Handbook: The Unspoken Rules of Climbing by Matt Samet
The perfect gift for new climbers, The Crag Survival Handbook is all about “climbing etiquette you won’t learn at the gym but need to know”.
It’s filled with useful advice from legendary climbers like Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell, not to mention the experts at the Access Fund, Black Diamond, Leave No Trace, and more.
As the climbing community grows, it’s more important than ever to educate new cult members on how to behave properly to respect both the crag itself and fellow climbers.
If you just got your loved one or buddy into climbing, give them this, so they won’t look like the gumby at the crag next time you take them out.
Find it here: Amazon
Before You Climb On….
Don’t forget, climbers typically aren't opposed to used gear. Just ask us! Almost everything we own is used. Feel free to browse online used gear stores for some of these things before committing to buying new.
Dirtbags will always appreciate saying a penny.
Otherwise, we hope this list of rock climbing gifts makes holiday shopping for your rock climbing friends as easy as an onsight.
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase something from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.