From Cordura climbing pants to training tools and skin savers, we’ve found the best gifts for rock climbers (and a few for ice climbers too). Grab one for the special belay partner in your life and climb on.
Got a notoriously picky climber on your list? Here’s our curated list of givable goods designed to help raise the grin factor for those pursuing fun in the vertical.
Best Gifts for Climbers
Metolius Upshot Belay Glasses: $60
Have a partner that has patiently belayed you while you endlessly fall on the same 10 feet of your project? How about a buddy whose posture has reached troll status from countless belays at the crag or gym? Belay glasses can save your neck!
The Metolius Upshot’s field of vision is on the higher side, and the sport-style temples and small nose pads are designed to work over other glasses. They also come with a case because we all know how climbers cram packs when cold brews are waiting in the truck.
Shop NowWave Tool: $50
Areas of myofascial restriction and adhesion are hard to access, especially with hands tired from climbing. The Wave is a tool designed by two physical therapists who are both deeply involved with climbing. It boasts eight edges and features that effectively address anything from fingers to quadriceps.
I’ve been recovering from a severe knee injury for five months and have just now started training my fingers for my return to climbing. The Wave Tool is my daily go-to for my hands and legs, providing outstanding results.
Shop NowTension Climbing The Block: $40-45
Wild Country Friend Sets: $215
prAna Stretch Zion (M) and Halle Pants (W): $85
Osprey Mutant 38: $170
Osprey’s Mutant series has just the pack for those special people who love “light and fast.” With sizes ranging from expedition status to “be back for a late dinner” forays into the mountains, there’s something for everyone. The Mutant 38 is a perfect size for weekend to “missing work on Monday” missions.
It’s lightweight, at just 2.81 pounds, but has all the alpine specific features for the discriminating alpinist. This pack has removable suspension components (two aluminum stays and HDPE sheet) and lid, hip belt gear loops, ice screw clipper attachment points, helmet carry, reinforced A-frame ski carry, dual ice tool attachments, three-point hauling system, hydration pocket, front panel daisy chain, hydration pocket, and snow-shedding back panel fabric.
Shop NowPetzl Luna Women’s Harness: $80
This one is for the ladies only. Does your partner’s ratty, who-knows-how-old extra harness give you pause? Give the gift that keeps on giving: a new harness. Petzl engineered the Luna around women’s physiques, not the typical straight-as-a-board male climber’s hip profile.
The padded and shaped waist belt, longer rise, and leg loop/waist belt proportions are all based on women; this is not a men’s harness in a different color. Adjustable padded leg loops, two rigid front gear loops, two flexible rear gear loops, a tagline loop, and ice screw clipper compatibility make the Luna a harness that can do it all for the crusher that dominates the wall. Read our full review here.
Shop NowKong Panic
Seeking a holiday gift for the vertically challenged climber in your life? The Kong Panic is basically a long and stiff quickdraw that can be used to clip distant, out-of-reach bolts. Originally designed for aid climbing, the Panic has become a go-to tool for shorter climbers while onsighting or sussing out a new project.
The Panic’s bolt-end carabiner has a unique spring-loaded mechanism that holds the gate open until it’s attached to the bolt. A gentle tug on the Panic will engage the mechanism and close the gate. Once the rope is clipped into the other end, the Panic functions as a normal quickdraw. In notoriously runout areas like Smith Rock and North Carolina, the Panic is an invaluable tool.
