Gifts $30 and Under for the Climber in Your Life
This article originally appeared on Climbing
Climbers tend to value experiences over objects. We'll take a week off of work, a full tank of gas, and a permit to Hueco Tanks over anything that could fit in a box. But that means that it's also easier for climbers to appreciate the little things. No need to blow your paycheck on the climber in your life. They'll appreciate whatever supports the send, which usually comes down to good vibes and minimal hassle. These stocking stuffers facilitate both of those (and go along great with that trip to Hueco).
Midnight Lighting Chalktopus
Price: $11.95
Anyone else guilty of holding onto old, empty chalk balls to help soak up every last granule in your bag? There's a better way. The Chalktopus provides more than just a laugh; it gathers chalk and distributes it evenly on your hands. Not so little that you sweat it off within three moves, not so much that you pump out trying to slap it off on your pants in time for the crux. And besides, what's not to like about having a little friend join you on your project? It gets lonely up there. Give this to the climber who needs to toss all those dirty, worn-out chalk socks before their chalk bag turns into a Superfund Site.
Chalk Cartel CRUX TACO Skin Sander
Price: $15.00
No, not an actual taco (though I like where your head is at). Don't try to eat this skin sander--I can't see that doing much good for your sending prospects. Your fingers, on the other hand, will appreciate it better. Calluses are good, but flappers? Not so much. Keep tabs on those finicky tips to make sure your skin stays tough yet malleable for close contact with the rock. The "taco" shape makes it easier to navigate all the bumps and creases on your hands. No split is safe from the TACO. Choose from four different colors (outfit the whole crew!) and two different sandpaper textures. When the paper runs thin, just peel off and replace. The TACO itself will probably last longer than your climbing lifespan. Grab this for the climber who really needs to stop bleeding all over their projects.
Rad Rocks Chalk Bag
Price: $40+
You could keep using that old chalk bag from the Lost and Found sale at the climbing gym five years ago. OR you could support a small business that turns upcycled scrap fabric and decomposable cotton into one-of-a-kind chalk bags that you won't find a match for anywhere else. All chalk bags and pots are made by hand in Grand Junction, Colorado by local climber Courtney Hinrichs. Pick one to fit your personality (or that of your crag alter ego) with sparkles, stripes, stars, camo, cats, and more. She's even got a customizable chalk bag program starting up just in time for the holidays. Get a bag for the climber who would definitely climb harder with their own cat's face riding their ass.
Tension Climbing Tape
Price: $17.60
This is the climbing tape to end all climbing tape. As usual, Tension does well by the fingers. When all other tape falls off the second you start to sweat, this tape doesn't budge. Go an entire crag day, or even a whole weekend, on one strip--no superglue required. Wash your hands, soak 'em in liquid chalk, eat a greasy burrito... It won't come off until you take it off. That's pretty much all you can ask of tape. This pack includes three widths for use on anything from your wrists and ankles to the tip of your pinky finger. Buy this for the climber who goes through a roll of the inferior stuff a week.
PhysiVantage Crush
Price: $24.95
Feeling unmotivated to slog it out in the gym or brave the chilly temps this winter? Not anymore. Pop a CRUSH and get psyched enough to remember that you do, in fact, enjoy climbing. Caffeine, L-Tyrosine, L-Taurine, and L-Theanine meet in this capsule from the climbing-specific supplement specialists at PhysiVantage. CRUSH has one up on plain ol' coffee thanks to the addition of amino acids. L-theanine imparts just enough relaxation to nix the jitters that tend to accompany caffeine. L-taurine acts as a vasodilator to increase blood flow. L-tyrosine boosts mental performance under stress. And caffeine, of course, gets the fire raging from the inside out. Get this in the hands of the climber who can't make it five minutes into their training session before yawning.
Two Stones Brush Pack
Price: $24.99
Stop using drugstore toothbrushes on your project. Plastic bristles not only polish the rock further, but they're also just plain ineffective. These boar hair brushes are almost as cheap and actually get the job done. Tapered bristles allow the tip to wiggle into tiny seams and corners while the bulk of the brush makes quick work of the expansive surface area on slopers. Ergonomic handles mean they won't immediately slip out of your hand 50 feet up, and help keep it secure in the loop of your chalk bag to boot. The six pack is worth having for when you inevitably leave one at the gym for the team kids to nab. Give these to the climber who needs to learn how to "brush thy board" better.
Rhino Skin Solutions Performance
Price: $12.95+
Sweaty handed climbers, unite! Performance is here to address your woes without all the sketchy ingredients that may or may not cause cancer. Let's avoid that risk, shall we? Performance, an aluminum-free antiperspirant from Rhino Skin Solutions, stops sweat before it starts. For all the Antihydral fanatics out there, this uses the same active ingredient--methenamine--in a lower concentration for the sake of riding the line between not dry enough and so dry that you get a new split every session. Magnesium mixed into the lotion encourages faster cellular regeneration so skin heals quicker and stays strong longer. Other additions like willow bark menthol, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, grapeseed oil, rosemary, and thyme help curb inflammation and blast bacteria. It also just smells nice, which is enough of a reason to love a lotion. Gift this to the climber who sweats at the mere sight of a rock.
Black Diamond Crag Gloves
Price: $21.95
Ropes are gross. So is rock, plastic, and your belay device. They've been places and seen things that you don't even want to know about. Plus, it straight-up hurts to belay bare-handed. Don't put your perfectly honed callouses (thanks to the CRUX TACO) through that kind of torture. Glove up with the Black Diamond Crag Gloves. With more durable fingertips than previous models, the latest version promises durability and dexterity for seasons' upon seasons' worth of belay duty. They're light enough to tote around on your harness via clip-in carabiner holes on the wrist straps and slim enough to keep from getting in the way if you accidentally leave them dangling there while you climb. Oh, and they actually come in small enough sizes for women's hands. If you know, you know. Get these for the climber who could use a steadier lowering hand.
Chalk Cartel Half Kilo
Price: $30.00
There's no such thing as too much chalk. Chalk Cartel is here to supply a steady stream of the goods. You won't find any drying agents, fillers or heavy metals in this bag; just pure magnesium carbonate inside 100% recyclable, compostable paper at a price that doesn't feel like you might as well be buying actual drugs. It's pre-ground into powder but doesn't eliminate all the satisfying chunks, because crunching those up is both cathartic and helpful for adhering to skin. Grab a bag for the climber who needs to purify their chalk supply.
HydraPak Seeker Bottle
Price: $25.00
Between ropes, draws, harnesses, and snacks, space is tight enough in your crab bag. Don't use that as an excuse to dehydrate. The Seeker reservoir from HydraPak collapses as you drink so you'll at least save space on the hike out when you're too tired to organize your bag as well as you did on the way in. It's big enough to cover most of your hydration needs for the day (especially if you camel up before leaving the car) and durable enough to survive being smashed up against carabiners. The side handle makes for convenient carrying from climb to climb. Pick this for the climber whose muscles need more lubrication to keep from pumping out.
Dynamite Starfish T-Shirt
Price: $29.50+
Sending is cool and all but let's not forget to just climb for the sheer joy of it. These tees and tanks by stokemaster Leslie Kim help keep the spark alive. Remember why you climb (to eat donuts and pet dogs, of course), lean into the Type 2 fun, and apologize for what you said when you were cruxing without speaking a word. Kim started making these as a way to reconnect with her "why" when mental barriers started to make climbing more stressful than not. Infusing humor into the try-hard helped her recenter. Let her creations do the same for you. Pick one out for the climber who cares a little too much about sending their project.
Energy Bars: Quantum Squares and SANS Bars
Quantum Price: $19.95/8 bars
SANS Price: $45/12 bars
A fueled climber is a strong climber. Good luck sending on an empty stomach. Bars play an important role in the crag day diet: quick, convenient, space-conscious calories. These two options have you covered for different purposes. Gobble up a Quantum when you're only lightly peckish yet running low on pep. These snack-size bars include carbs from fruit, protein from seeds and peas, fat from nuts, and 100mg of caffeine from green coffee. That's the same as a cup of coffee but much easier on the brain and body when infused with solid food. When the real hunger strikes, swap out your sandwich for a SANS Meal Bar. These pack a higher caloric punch for greater satiety between pitches. Egg white protein also makes SANS bars more easily digestible than ones that rely on plant protein. Oats, dates, nuts, and flavor-specific seasonings Each bar even sneaks in a serving of spinach. Popeye would be proud. Grab these for the climber who needs to learn how to control their hanger.
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