Looking for the perfect gift for the climber in your life? You probably know already that climbers aren’t the easiest people to buy for. We’re all into different disciplines, most of us have already received enough accessory carabiners, and no one needs another novelty mug shouting “Eat. Sleep. Climb. Repeat.”
Unfortunately, that makes it quite easy to go wrong when buying a climber a gift. They might already have the equipment you buy, or have no need for it, or it might be another piece of tat loosely related to climbing (no more novelty keyrings, please!). The best climbing gifts hit that sweet spot between practical, personal and inspiring. They should make climbing easier, more fun or simply bring a smile on rest days.
To save you the hassle, we’ve pulled together the ultimate 2026 climbing gift guide – packed with fresh, thoughtful ideas that climbers will actually use.
22 Gifts Climbers Will Actually Love
Budget-Friendly Climbing Gifts
1. Chalk
Chalk is coffee – everyone uses it, and it disappears fast. Chalk can be really low-cost, making it an easy gift for the climber in your life, but there’s also some really up-market stuff out there, like Tokyo Powder or Friction Labs (you can see a selection here). Climbers might argue about how much difference high-end chalk makes, but no-one hates good chalk and it always feels like a treat to have some. Note: we recommend always getting chalk without drying agents, and sustainably sourced.
2. Skin repair balm
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that climbers’ hands take a real beating. Cracked tips and flappers are part of the sport, but good skin care makes a huge difference. Rhino Skin does a comprehensive (if not overwhelming) range, and several small-batch makers have great options. ClimbOn is a classic go-to option. It’s a small, thoughtful gift that usually lasts a long time.
3. Climbing tape
This is an unglamorous item that’s always going to be used. Put together a selection of widths (finer tape for fingertips, wider for palm/wrist support) and you’ve got one of those “thank goodness someone bought this for me” presents. Climbskin does some fancy looking tape (as well as skin care) that makes a great gift, or you can go for the more tried-and-tested roll of the white stuff.
4. Training & warm-up accessories
Help your climber stay injury-free and get more from every session. These make particularly good gifts because they’re cheap, important and often overlooked. Useful tools include resistance/warm-up bands (YY Vertical Warm-Up Bands), portable finger devices such as the YY Alien Bleu, and squeezy warm-up rings for targeted strength work. These are the sorts of gifts that keep paying dividends – fewer niggles, smarter sessions and more climbing! (You can also have a look at the finger training tools recommended below).
Mid-Range Rock Climbing Gifts
5. Local guidebook
Every climber loves a fresh guidebook – it’s part tick-list, part daydream fodder – and since they’re regularly updated, they make great up-to-date gifts. Naturally, it depends on where your favourite climber lives, and where they want to climb! In North Wales, the brand-new Llanberis guidebook (out November 2025) is already a must-have. If your climber fancies a deep-water soloing holiday, they’ll be buzzing to unwrap the new Mallorca Deep Water Soloing (with our very own founder on the cover). Guidebooks are as much about inspiration as they are about on-the-day climbing info.
6. Finger training tool
Portable hangboards are a climber’s secret weapon: easy to carry, set up anywhere and perfect for warming up at the crag or squeezing in training at home. Options like the Tension Block are well made and versatile. You can also find beautifully made small-batch options like Taylor Made Holds – if you want to go a step further, you can sometimes get them custom engraved. Small, portable and effective, they’re one of those tools climbers use again and again.
7. Performance climbing clothing
While shoes are too personal to guess, every climber is happy with some good outdoor clothing. Durable climbing trousers, technical base layers or a lightweight windproof can make the difference between a great day and a chilly bail. Brands like Rab and Black Diamond all do solid kit that balance comfort and style. Unlike chalk or tape, these gifts last years – and every time they pull it on, they’ll think of you 😄 Note: be careful to buy from reputable brands with good climbing credibility – not just something Bear Grylls has endorsed.
8. Coaching sessions or courses
If you’ve seen inside a climber’s kit store, you might be wondering if they need another item to store away. But coaching is something that can really transform their experience. You might be able to find in-person movement coaching where your climber lives, or you could give them coaching in mental training which can usually be done remotely. Mental training is usually low-hanging fruit for climbers, since it’s a psychological sport with relatively few mental training resources. Our Mindset Makeover course is suitable for all climbers at any experience level, even if they’ve done our other courses. It’s something they’ll have access to for years and will pay off in areas far beyond climbing.
High-End Rock Climbing Gifts
9. Training app subscription
For climbers serious about progression, a structured plan makes all the difference. Apps like Crimpd (by Lattice) put customised training sessions, benchmarking and community into your pocket. Gifting a year’s subscription shows you’re invested in their goals – and spares them hours of Googling “hangboard workout for power endurance.”
10. Bouldering crash pad
The ultimate big-ticket gift for a boulderer. A good pad makes outdoor climbing safer and more fun – and it’ll get used for years. Solid brands include Organic, Black Diamond and Snap. If you know your climber likes boulders (and that they’ve got room for an extra pad!) another one of these is always welcome.
11. Premium harness
Unless your climber exclusively boulders (and so doesn’t need a harness or rope) a harness can be a great gift they use every climbing session. A well-made all-rounder balances support, durability and freedom of movement, making long days on the wall or big multipitches a whole lot better. Trusted brands to check out include DMM, Black Diamond, Petzl and Arc’teryx. It’s a gift that combines safety with luxury, and can last for years.
12. Rope
You might have been wondering when we were going to mention rope…funnily enough, rope can be a really tricky buy, since there are many varieties, lengths, diameters etc. We don’t really recommend venturing into the sticky business of buying rope, lest you find yourself in a knot (sorry!). However… indoor climbers can be tricky to buy for since they don’t need a huge amount of kit, and they often already have what they need. But if they do need a rope, you could look out for a 40m (120ft) single, dynamic rope that isn’t more than 9.6mm in diameter. Searching for ‘indoor climbing rope’ might just do the trick. Failing that, keep reading for our more imaginative recommendations further down.
13. Gym membership or climbing pass
Time on the wall is the best training there is. If you know your climber climbs indoors (most of us do, even if it’s only when we can’t get outside) a month or season pass to their favourite climbing gym gives the gift of more sessions, more routes and more fun – whether they’re climbing solo or meeting friends. It’s practical, thoughtful and genuinely makes a big difference to a climber.
Creative & Experience-Based Climbing Gifts
14. Climbing photography session
Hire a local adventure photographer (or rope in a photographer friend you already know) to capture your climber in action. It’s a unique, memorable gift they’ll treasure far more than another bit of kit - and it supports someone in your community. Whether it’s bouldering, sport or a long day on trad, pro-level shots are a keepsake most climbers never treat themselves to.
15. Online coaching courses
A gift that pays off for years. Online courses can cover anything from mindset to focus, confidence and handling fear on the sharp end. It’s not just about climbing harder – it’s about climbing better, safer and with more enjoyment. For the climber who already has all the gear, this is a meaningful step up. And if you gift your climber mental training, it’s something that will pay off well beyond climbing too. For example, our Performance Course is all about performance and mastery, and applies to work as well as play. We’re also running our big Strong Mind Program in fear management in January 2026. We run a waitlist for the program as places are limited, but get in touch if you’d like to gift the program to a climber. For a shorter, more accessible course that applies to all climbers, see Mindset Makeover.
16. Climbing festival tickets
Festivals aren’t just about films and talks; they’re community, psyche and inspiration in one weekend. Options include Kendal Mountain Festival, the Women’s Climbing Symposium, the Flash Foxy Climbing Festival, the Women’s Bouldering Festival in Fontainebleau and the ClimbOut Queer Climbing Festival, just to name a few. These events combine workshops, shared experiences and plenty of stoke - a brilliant reminder that climbing’s about community as much as cranking.
17. Local shop vouchers
Support small businesses and keep the climbing ecosystem strong. For North Wales climbers, vouchers for V12 Outdoor in Llanberis or Joe Brown’s are always a hit. V12 even offers climbing shoe resoles, so why not cover your climber’s next resole as a practical (and surprisingly thoughtful) gift?
18. Donate to an access fund in their name
Help protect the places we love to climb. In the UK, consider donating to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust; in the US, the Access Fund. It’s a gift that goes beyond the individual, ensuring crags, mountains and paths are looked after for future climbers.
19. Digital guidebook subscription
For guidebook junkies and road-trip planners, a digital guidebook subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. A Rockfax subscription unlocks a library of digital guidebooks covering crags across the UK and beyond. A Kaya subscription is fantastic for bouldering, particularly in North America. There are a growing list of digital guides being made for European climbing too.
Fun, Quirky & Rest-Day Climbing Gifts
20. Climbing film subscription
For the film buff, a climbing film is pure gold. It gives access to the latest climbing films, epic stories and behind-the-scenes footage from around the world. Ideal for psyche nights or rainy days stuck indoors, your climber will always be popular with their friends if they’ve got a subscription. Reel Rock are the big-hitters in climbing films, many of their films become instant classics each year. Brit Rock and Hot Aches are very well-loved British climbing film companies.
21. Coffee setup for early starts
For the coffee-obsessed climber, nothing beats a proper brew at 6 am in the car park. Portable espresso makers or AeroPress kits let you serve café-quality coffee at the crag. Pair it with a Thermos or enamel mugs, and they’ll instantly be the most popular person in the crew.
22. Climbing Art
Climbers are creative folk that spend a lot of time in beautiful places. It’s not too surprising then that there are some great rock climbing artists out there. What’s more, they make art based on things that climbers love, so you’re bound to find something special from these special people. Here’s an example of a US-based artist we love and another artist in the UK.
What NOT to Buy a Climber
- Random cheap carabiners (if it’s not certified, it’s not safe – and we’re understandably very picky about hardware!).
- Novelties that gather dust (yet another chalk bag shaped like a taco).
- Shoes without sizing input (too personal to guess).
Final Thoughts
Climbers are passionate, (slightly) obsessive people. The best gifts make their climbing safer, fuel their psyche or connect them more deeply to the community. In 2026, that means thinking beyond just gear: experiences, training and meaningful support matter just as much.
So whether it’s a boulderer in Bishop, a trad climber in Llanberis or someone who just loves pulling on plastic at the local wall, this list should help you find something they’ll truly appreciate. And hey, if all else fails, you can’t go wrong with chalk 😉
