24 Great Gifts for Rock Climbers
As an avid rock climber who’s dabbled in all the styles—bouldering, rope climbing, mountaineering—I know that the right gear is key to making every experience the best (and safest) it can be. So believe me when I say: If you have a loved one who spends their weekends scaling boulders, or who just recently joined an indoor climbing gym, support their passion with a gift that’s actually useful.
Over the years, I’ve tested everything from shoes to harnesses to handy training accessories, and I’ve narrowed down my favorites. Below, you’ll find some of these tried-and-true picks, along with other expert- and SELF-editor-vetted gifts for rock climbers. Think: essential chalk bags and crash pads, along with little luxuries like nourishing creams, comfy booties, and recovery tools. These climbing gifts can help your friend train, tackle their next rock with gusto, and relax at the end of a big day.
For more present picks, check out all of the best gift ideas of 2023.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- Backcountry2
Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Shoes
These are my go-to climbing shoes because they’re versatile enough for any style of climbing and have grippy rubber soles that prevent me from slipping off teeny footholds.
Available in sizes 5 to 9.5.
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- Amazon6
BG Climbing Belay Glasses
These super-reflective glasses allow your giftee to clearly spot their partner while they belay (control the rope from the ground) without them having to crane their neck and head. I have friends who use these because of their high-quality lenses, durable carrying case, and $30 price (far less than many pairs, which can run up to $65).
- REI7
Petzl Grigri+ Belay Device
This belay device is one of the safest your friend can use because its anti-panic handle brakes bite down on the rope automatically when someone falls—ideal for protecting the climber. It can also make the belayer’s job easier, since they won’t have to support all of their partner’s weight themself.
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- REI9
REI + Outdoor Afro Trail Pants
REI and Outdoor Afro, a nonprofit focused on building a connection between Black people and nature, collaborated to create my favorite climbing pants of all time. They’re stretchy, snag-repellent, sun-protective, and cute enough to wear for a post-bouldering beverage.
Available in sizes 0 to 26 (including petite, tall, and wide sizes).
- Courtesy of the brand / Amanda K Bailey11
Wavetools Therapy The Wave Tool
SELF commerce writer Sara Couglin works out her pesky knots after a climbing session with this mini massage tool: “I gently pull the edges across my sensitive forearms, press the knob into the tendons in my fingers, or slowly work out the kinks in my traps—all at my own speed and my preferred level of pressure,” she says.
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- REI13
La Sportiva TX4 Approach Shoes
Certified apprentice rock guide Mallorie Estenson previously told SELF that she’s logged hundreds of miles in these sturdy, sticky approach shoes. She says they’re also cute and comfy enough to wear to the “grocery store, brewery, beach walks, weddings—okay, maybe not weddings, but I would if I could.”
Available in sizes 37 to 42 EU.
- REI14
Black Diamond Cosmo 305 Headlamp
With its dimmable light and long-lasting battery, this powerful SELF Outdoor Award–winning headlamp is a great gift idea for the person who climbs in the evening.
- Patagonia15
Patagonia Cragsmith 32L Backpack
This backpack is spacious enough to haul climbing shoes, a harness, rope, quickdraws, and accessories—and still leave room to spare. Since its hip belt is relatively minimal, it best supports moderate loads for short hikes. If you’re trying to find a gift for a climber who carries more supplies (or treks to far-away crags), you might consider the bigger, cushioned Cragsmith 45L model.
- REI17
Metolius Session II Crash Pad
This crash pad is lightweight and has padded shoulder straps, which are clutch when hiking up to boulders. If your friend needs to cover more ground to create a safer fall zone, there’s also the Metolius Magnum Crash, which is nearly double the length.
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- Gnarly21
Gnarly Nutrition Sample Box
I really like Gnarly’s whey protein powder to aid muscle recovery—crucial for climbers who strenuously use their bodies. This sample box contains two pouches of the whey, as well as a taste test of Gnarly’s entire line.
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- Access Fund24
Access Fund Gift Donation
Help your giftee protect the places they love with a donation in their name to this organization, which funds conservation efforts like trail-building and crag cleanups in popular climbing areas.
Cost: Gift donations start at $5; donations over $50 earn a free members’ T-shirt.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
