Need to buy a gift for a beginner rock climber? Here’s 8 must-have items for anyone taking the plunge into the (best) sport (of all time):
Looking for more ideas? Check out all our gear guides.
Gifts for the Beginner Rock Climber
8BPlus Chalk Bag
The many varieties of 8BPlus chalk bags have put the fun in climbing gear. (Although, we think all climbing gear is already fun!) Great for all ages, the 8BPlus chalk bags have a way of helping the beginning rock climber relax and smile during those stressful moments on the wall. Plus they really are fully functional chalk bags.
Impress the begining rock climber in your life by explaining to them that the name “8BPlus” (8b+) is a difficulty grade from the French rating system describing how difficult a particular route is to climb. Learn more about rock climbing ratings here😉
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
For the beginning rock climber, the process of getting gear is primarily figuring out what you need and how to use it. The 8BPlus Chalk Bag finally brings a little fun and flair to the rock climbing gear bag.
Metolius Chalk Sock
A best friend to any chalk bag, the Metolius Chalk Sock is recloseable, which allows you to refill chalk at any point in time. And of course, it comes filled with the northern hemisphere’s finest 100% magnesium carbonate on the planet. The Chalk Sock serves as the ideal solution for keeping hands coated and dry for optimal sendage, without the worry of spillage.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
No climber will ever turn down extra chalk. And the chalk sock from Metolius is the perfect stocking stuffer. This gift is guaranteed to get use from whatever rock-mongerer gets their hands on it.
Petzl GRIGRI Belay Device
When looking for a belay device with assisted braking, the GRIGRI is by far the most common. The GRIGRI is great for lead or top rope belaying, and the hand motions are the same as with tube-style belay devices. The GRIGRI combines a patented handle design that allows for a gradual release of the rope with strong braking action—providing the device with fantastic descent control for lowering or rappelling.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
When used properly, Petzl’s GRIGRI can make life as a belayer a little bit easier and a little bit safer. And the gift of a GRIGRI to a belayer is like making an upgrade from a Honda to Mercedes (kind of … ). So give a little bit of luxury to your loved one, with a compact, lightweight, and durable device that offers unparalleled brake assistance.
Want to give the gift of highest safety? Check out the GRIGRI+ whose anti-panic mode prevents belayers from lowering their climber too quickly.
Metolius Alpine Personal Anchor System (PAS)
When topping out and anchoring in, it’s important to have a system that’s adjustable, lightweight, and secure. Enter the Metolius Alpine PAS. While some elect to use daisy chains as their anchoring system, these pose a major risk of pocket failure; wherein the loops of the daisy chain are susceptible to tearing when incorrectly clipped. This is incredibly dangerous, especially for newer, less experienced climbers. The Alpine PAS is a much safer alternative, with the individual loops of webbing each rated at 14kN.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
Setting beginners up for high safety success is paramount to the future of their climbing career. So add efficiency, safety, and convenience to a noobie’s anchoring experiences, by gifting them with the Alpine PAS as their go-to, lightweight personal anchoring solution.
Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet
Climbing can be dangerous. And while we protect ourselves with ropes, harnesses, and more, we often forget to use our heads and wear a helmet. The newest iteration of the Black Diamond’s Half Dome is 40 grams lighter than its predecessor, meaning it won’t weigh you down while still providing ample protection with its molded EPS foam. More comfortable than ever, it features an improved fit, plenty of ventilation, and a highly adjustable suspension system.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
Few climbers will refuse to wear their helmet if they have one, but convincing climbers to buy one on their own can be a hard sell. Help give the climber on your list (and yourself!) some peace of mind, knowing that BD’s Half Dome will protect them in all of their crag outings.
BlueWater Eliminator 10.2mm Standard Rock Climbing Rope
BlueWater’s 10.2 Eliminator Standard is a go-to rock climbing rope for all occasions: top roping, leading, trad climbing, and more. Combining the durability of a 10mm+ rope at only 64g/meter, this rope choice will allow for years of cragging, while being light in the pack too. A key differentiator of this climbing rope is its low impact force coupled with a relatively low static elongation rating (8.5%). This means that the Eliminator will provide comfortable catches on lead, while being great for top roping sessions, too.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
A brand new rope might just be one of the best ways to show a climber how much you love them. And with the versatile Eliminator from BlueWater, you’re gifting a lucky climber with a rope they can use for years to come, whether they’re top-roping, heroically leading sport climbs, or journeying their way through multi-pitch trad climbs.
Black Diamond HotWire Quickpack
You can’t go wrong with a 6-pack of the trusted HotWire Quickdraws. These are an ideal gift for beginning rock climbers (and experienced climbers) who are exploring the many types of climbing the sport has to offer. The HotWire quickdraw is a versatile quickdraw, usable for all of the rock climbing adventures in our lives. Fortunately, your wallet won’t be blasted away by these, either. With a durable, thin and simple Dynex Dogbone strap between the carabiners, these quickdraws provide a lightweight design, perfect for multi-pitches and longer routes where you don’t want any extra bulk on your harness. The color on the lower carabiner helps new climbers put the biner on the wall in the correct orientation. The stiffening “Straightjacket” insert makes it easier to clip the rope into the lower carabiner by holding the biner in the correct orientation.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
Brand new quickdraws might be better than meeting Santa Claus as a kid, and giving the gift of BD’s trusted and versatile HotWire quickdraws will leave whatever lucky climber you give them to psyched to get clipping away in the outdoors. They might run out of the house in search of rocks immediately after, but we promise, that’s a good sign.
GripPro Trainer Hand Grip Forearm Strength Gripper
The process of regaining strength in your forearms can be a bummer for any climber who can’t get on the rock frequently. That’s why grippers are ideal for retaining strength when climbing isn’t an option. While most are therapeutic or designed to build only some muscles in your forearms, the GripPro Trainer serves as an effective finger-hand-forearm trainer that will build the strength and endurance of your entire forearm. In an ultra-portable and easy to use design, you can get strong with any of the 3 difficulty levels options.
Why the beginning rock climber will love it:
Climbers will find virtually any excuse to recreate some semblance of climbing sensation when they can’t get on rocks. So for your friend or family member stuck at the office when they’d rather be dirtbagging in Joshua Tree, help them channel their frustrations with the gift of the GripPro Forearm Strength Gripper.
See the Moja Gear Shop for more rock climbing swag
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