Buying a gift for a climber is a trap. Climbing shoes come to mind first, but they're chosen to the half-size and depend on foot shape. A harness? They already have one, and they're attached to it. Chalk? Useful, but a bit sad under the tree.
Good news: there are plenty of gifts that work without knowing their size or level. Here are our ideas, by budget.
Gifts to avoid (or to buy together)
Climbing shoes, harness, helmet. Anything related to size and safety should be chosen in store by the person who'll wear it. If you really want to give climbing shoes, go for a gift card at a specialist shop, or go with them to try some on.
Under €20: small gifts that hit the mark
1. A t-shirt for insiders
A climber instantly recognises a nod to Fontainebleau or a legendary boulder. Our I Love Bleau and Rainbow Rocket 8A t-shirts (€15.99) play on exactly that. For those with a style of their own, there's Crimp Lover, Dyno Lover and Slab Lover. The only risk: size, but the fits are standard.
2. Belay glasses
Belaying means spending hours looking up at your partner. Prism glasses like the Nose (€17.99) let you look straight ahead while watching your climber. Sport climbers' necks will thank you.
3. A tank top for summer
The Burden of Dreams 9A tank top (€19.99) pays tribute to the world's first boulder graded 9A, in Finland. Those in the know will get it.
4. A brush or hand care
Two small accessories climbers use all the time and often forget to buy: a brush to clean chalk off holds, and a repair balm for the skin on their fingers. You'll find them in any climbing shop.
€30 to €60: the gift that makes them better
5. A hangboard
It's the gift many climbers want but don't dare buy themselves. A hangboard sets up at home and builds finger strength in a few minutes per session — still the most effective way to improve.
Our BoD hangboard (€54.90) packs 19 grips from 15 to 40 mm on one wooden board. It suits beginners and experts alike, so there's no need to know their level. And if drilling isn't possible, it hangs with the included ropes.
6. Portable fingerboards
For the one who climbs outdoors, travels a lot, or has no wall to mount a hangboard on. The 1984 fingerboards (€34.90 a pair) hang from a pull-up bar, a door or a branch, and fit in a bag. Perfect for warming up before a bouldering session.
7. A Fontainebleau guidebook
A guidebook lists the boulders of a climbing area. A climber who goes to Bleau regularly can rarely have too many: new editions come out and every sector has its secrets.
Over €60: the big gift
8. The hangboard + fingerboards pack
The climber gift pack (€79.90 instead of €89.80) combines the BoD hangboard for home and the 1984 fingerboards for outdoors. Everything to train anywhere, all year round.
9. Gym sessions or a membership
A ten-entry pass or a few months' membership at their usual gym: simple, and guaranteed to be used. Find out discreetly where they climb.
10. A course or a guided trip
An intro to outdoor climbing, a technique course, or a weekend at Fontainebleau with a guide. For a gym climber dreaming of real rock, it's a gift they'll never forget.
FAQ
What's a good gift for a beginner climber?
A t-shirt, gym sessions, or a hangboard used on the big holds. The BoD works very well for beginners, as long as they start slowly on the 40 mm holds.
Can you give climbing shoes as a gift?
It's risky: sizing depends on the brand and model, and a poorly fitting shoe is useless. A gift card is a better bet.
Do you need to drill the wall to install a hangboard?
Not necessarily. The BoD can be screwed to the wall or hung with ropes from a bar or a ceiling beam.
Still looking? All our ideas are in the Gifts for Climbers collection. Shipped from France.