How To...Holiday Shop for Climbers - 10 Gift Ideas for 2024!

Hello Fellow Climbing Enthusiasts!

...and perhaps more importantly...

Hello to all those shopping for climbers, boulder bros/babes, pebble wrestlers, aspiring alpinists, gym rats, and everyone in between!

First off, take some pride in the fact that you are attempting to get something more specific than a gift card for the climber(s) in your life. If there was a list of groups of people notoriously difficult to shop for, climbers would have to rank somewhere in the top tier. It's an activity with a borderline suspicious level of superstition and ritual that rivals some of the most unique(?) cults out there. Don't believe us? No worries - just check out this Google search for ample proof from casual chatrooms and climbing coaches alike!

Second, no one wants to give a bad gift - the expensive item that collects dust in a corner, gets unceremoniously returned, or results in an awkward "thanks" on Christmas morning - and the expert staff here at Eastside Sports does not want to let you give one.

As such, the avid (read: obsessive) climbers here on staff want to reward your initiative and ensure that it results in a home run gift whether it be on Christmas morning, for the office Secret Santa, or at the humorously-competitive White Elephant you do with your friends.

They have prepared a list of the 10 items (in no particular order) sure to be appreciated as gifts regardless of experience level, ability, or preferred type of climbing. We've tested each item and are confident that you can find something will bring a smile from the climber in your life and meet your desired price point.

1. Metolius Wood Rock Rings II: Warm-Up Your Fingers to Safely Climb Hard

SHOP HERE - $39.95

Nothing ruins a session of climbing faster than the dreaded "flash pump" (see here). You're so stoked to get climbing that you do not warm-up properly and end up tiring out all of your tiny finger and arm muscles that are crucial for climbing after only your first or second route of the session. The best way to deal with a "flash pump" is to avoid it in the first place and we have just the tool to do that. A typical indoor climbing gym conveniently has super-easy routes and fingerboards aplenty to facilitate a proper warm-up; however, outdoor climbing areas rarely offer the same convenience. That is why professional climbers (like the famous Shawn Raboutou working on one of the hardest boulder problems in the world) bring their own portable fingerboards to the crag or the boulders so that they can do recruitment pulls and other warm-up exercises for their fingers prior to getting on the rock. It helps them climb at their best and, more importantly, climb safely so they do not get injured. These Metolius Wood Rock Rings are a perfect combo of small, light, durable, skin-friendly (because they're wood vice plastic), and the most competitive price-wise on the market ($10-15 cheaper than other options). They can travel wherever you go, whether it be a climbing trip or if you want to maintain finger strength on a non-climbing trip. No climber will be disappointed to receive these because no climber wants a finger injury that takes months to recover from!

2. The Newest (Essential) Guidebooks: Know All the Secret Spots Like the Locals

SHOP HERE - from $54.00 to $59.95

The modern generation of climbing has never known a world without Mountain Project, the ubiquitous crowdsourced digital guidebook, but yes, a world existed before then and people still climbed. This online resource has led to a decline in the market for physical climbing guidebooks and some feared that it might replace them entirely. Fear not though...time has show that crowdsourced material, while convenient, will never be an effective substitute for the rigorously prepared and checked material available in guidebooks written by locals who know everything about every nook and cranny. Additionally, with time and improvements in publishing, guidebooks have grown to be as veritable works of art and history books as they are encyclopedic guides to the areas they cover.

This year, these three books are the ones to get for anyone who climbs here in the Eastern Sierra. They will prove their worth within minutes of your visit starting and make for a great bathroom read when you find yourself with extra time on the porcelain throne.

• High Sierra Climbing Volume 3 - Shop Here - the much-anticipated finish to the new trilogy written in part by Bishop local Vitaliy Musiyenko. It covers peaks between Bishop Pass and Sonora Pass. The trilogy has become a go-to resource and semi-official record of alpine climbing in the Sierra to rival the legendary "The High Sierra" by R.J. Secor. A must-buy if you have the other two volumes...and if you don't, it is worth seriously considering getting all three! The staff here at the store and local guides use them all of the time.
• Tuolumne Meadows - A Comprehensive Climbing Guide - Shop Here - the long wished for and awaited one-stop-shop for Tuolumne Meadows climbing, the magical high country of Yosemite National Park, famous for sweeping granite domes with some of the highest quality rock in the Sierra Nevada. Previous guidebooks over the last few decades (yes, decades!) have only tiny fractions of what this one contains; it is already considered the authoritative source to be using for the area.
• Bishop Bouldering - Shop Here - the latest comprehensive guidebook  focused on bouldering and a must-have for anyone visiting the area to boulder. The fields of boulders here in Bishop are big and there are thousands of problems...wonder into them without a map at your own risk! This book is fully updated, featuring new problems, new schematics, and spectacular aerial imagery, covering more than 2200 problems. The perfect gift for someone you know who loves to visit the area already (or just needs a little inspiration to plan that first trip here!).

3. Rechargeable Hand Warmers: No More Numb Fingers in Cold Weather

SHOP HERE - $32.99

The uninitiated might think that rock climbing is a summer thing, but oh how wrong they are. Not only is winter climbing something that is done regularly, it is something that many long for because the colder temperatures make the rock less "greasy" and humid, thus making it more "grippy", in turn enabling you to climb at higher difficulty levels. Winter is the prime season for bouldering and sport climbing in the Eastern Sierra and it bring tens of thousands of visitors each year. The only downsides of winter climbing are: (1) all the time between the climbing when you are not producing a lot of body heat and causing yourself to un-warm up, particularly your fingers, and (2) the rock being cold, which makes your hands get cold and numb quick. No one is immune to this. The solution has been buying copious amounts of disposable handwarmers in your pockets and chalk bags which never last as long or get as warm as hoped. Forget those problems though.

These rechargeable hand warmers will make your winter climbing even more enjoyable than it already was. They have three adjustable temperature settings, release heat in 5 seconds from turning them on, and will last at least 4 hours (and up to 12 hours on the lowest setting), which means you can turn them on for when you do not want it and turn them for when you do. You can turn it on and put it in your chalk bag when you start climbing a route and then easily turn it off once you are done with the route, all without noticing the weight because it is only 65 grams. Conversely, you can save them for when your on the ground with both of your hands shoved into your pockets.

4. Climbing Chalk & Socks: No One Ever Has Too Much (Literally!)

SHOP HERE - options from $2.25 to $29.99

Can you climb without chalk? Sure. You can also try to drive your car with your eyes closed. Both are in the realm of the possible, but neither are good ideas. Climb with chalk. Heck, even the famous French guy who climbs crazy hard without shoes (Barefoot Charles) climbs with chalk (on both his hands and feet) so there is no reason for other people not too.

Which chalk should you buy? There are lots of varieties of chalk and generally each climber has a preference of some sort. However, despite all the brands, colors, and advertising, they are ALL essentially the same product (magnesium carbonate) so it does not matter. No self-respecting climber turns down free chalk a.k.a. it makes a great gift. If a climber does turn down free chalk, you might arguably have grounds for questioning that friendship or familial relationship.

Chalk socks also make a great addition to a chalk bag so that you can regulate getting the right amount of chalk each time you reach into your chalk bag. Again, no self-respecting climber turns down a free chalk sock so you guaranteed to be safe territory with that gift!

5. The Legendary Eastside Sports "Cities" T-Shirt: Earn Those Jealous Stares at the Crag with This Haute Couture-esque "Fire Drip"

SHOP HERE - $22.00

You might think that climbing and high-end fashion do not mix. Guess again. From the high-end fashion houses of Bishop, California, comes a timeless classic that is sure to be seen on runways and ad campaigns for years to come - the Eastside Sports "Cities" t-shirt. Great to commemorate a visit here to the Eastern Sierra or just because you think it's neat, this status symbol will earn covetous stares of jealousy and start conversations for you no matter where you are. Available in multiple colors.

6. Metolius Mountain Session II Bouldering Crash Pad: Come Home in One Piece

SHOP HERE - $159.99 / 20% OFF - normally $199.95

Bouldering does not involve a rope. This means that every fall is a ground fall. Ground falls are normally dangerous. Bouldering crash pads render ground falls  essentially safe. Who can argue with that logic to buy a crash pad?

If someone who cares about you or whom you care about, this is another gift you cannot go wrong with getting because no one who goes bouldering outdoors ever has enough crash pads. They might think they do, but trust us, they really don't, especially if they ever do one of the infamous highball boulder problems here in Bishop. Depending on the boulder problem, people sometimes bring 20+ pads out simply because safety matters!

Currently on a limited time 20% off sale for the holidays, the Metolius Mountain Session II pad is the best-selling in the entire US for good reason - its 4 inches of foam provide among the softest falls in the industry, its strong outer fabrics easily hold up to any wear and tear they might see, and the aluminum closure buckles are guaranteed for life because they're essentially unbreakable. Additionally, if you don't boulder that much, they make great non-traditional couch options for someone who likes to be eccentric.

7. Metolius Upshot Belay Glasses: Treat Yo Self and Avoid a Crick in Your Neck

SHOP HERE - $64.95 - available in black, blue, and purple

It is no secret that rock climbing usually causes you to go up vertically (...this only sounds ridiculous if you have never climbed a big traverse). This results in the belayer on the ground managing the rope having to look up to see the climber in order to keep track of what they are doing. To do this, the belayer has to throw their neck back to look up for hours and hours over the course of every year. It unsurprisingly causes a good old-fashioned crick in the neck. Well, believe it or not, there is a futuristic-looking 14th century solution to avoid that medical problem and it does not involve any leeches - they are called belay glasses a.k.a. mirrors in glasses. You can look straight ahead with your neck in a neutral position while the mirror lets you look up instead of you arching back to look up. Just like chalk, no one turns down a free pair of belay glasses, whether they climb outside or inside at a gym, because everyone has a neck. It's almost a surprise that your health insurance does not cover these a preventative medicine. Also, belay glasses are fragile things. Two is one and one is none as they say  and it is very much the truth in this case.

8. Black Diamond Creek 50: Never Compromise on What You Want to Bring

SHOP HERE - $219.95

Nothing is more annoying in our opinion than trying to prep for a day at the crag and running out of room in your bag for stuff you want to bring or getting to the crag and then having to empty your entire bag out in order to find the one specific thing that you want to find which of course weaseled its way to the very bottom. That is why we love the Black Diamond Creek 50 Liter Pack. It is part haul bag and part daypack making it the ideal companion for those frontcountry days no matter what discipline of climbing you are doing. Eliminate having to choose between extra layers, additional snacks, another rope, a second pair of climbing shoes, or the trad rack...you can just bring it all or none of it if you want. Its top-loading access with a full-length side zipper provides provides quick and convenient access to your gear, even at the bottom of the pack without having to unpack everything on top. Simply put, it is the climbing equivalent of Hermione Granger's cavernous beaded handbag that had the Undetectable Extension Charm on it (if you know, you know), who would not want that?

9. Hand Cream: Climber's Love Skin Care Routines...Just a Different Kind

SHOP HERE - options from $9.29 to $25.00

There are many timeless adages that talk about how building calluses and getting bumps and bruises should be signs of pride. In the climbing world though, none of that is desirable. Your ability to climb in any given day is directly related to the skin on your hands being healthy and pristine - free of callus, scabs, cuts, blisters, peeling, etc. Having good skin is a pre-requisite to get out and climb, whether it is at the gym or crag. Poor skin makes it painful to climb. Smart climbers are smart about their skin care routing for their hands. Smart climbers never turn down free hand cream. Be a smart climber.

So what cream should you buy as a gift? Again, most climbers have some minor preference so if you know the brand, go for it, but they all accomplish the same thing so do not hesitate if thinking twice. We are preferential to the Climbskin because it is less greasy than the other options and helps you avoid getting goop on things in your car after the crag or on your pillows and sheets if you apply it before bedtime. We don't prefer it so much so that we would not use the other stuff too though.

10. Metolius Ultralight Master Cams: All the "Cool Kids" Trad Climb I've Heard?

SHOP HERE - $45.45 each / 35% OFF (normally $69.95)

Ever seen those people at the crag or out in the mountains with an entire skirt of shiny, intricate pieces of metal hanging off of their harnesses? They certainly look like they know what they are doing - why would they have all that gear if they didn't?

Well, you can be one of those people now as well thanks to this epic 35% off deal from Metolius on their top-of-the-line Ultralight Master Cams. This is the perfect opportunity to gift someone their first-ever trad rack or purchase your own in preparation for next adventures next spring/summer. If you already have your own trad rack, then this is the perfect time to get some of the finest tiny camming devices in the world with the #00, #0, and #1 sizes, even if you have tiny cams already. When it comes to small placements, the slight difference in the shape, size, and flexibility of the camming device compared to Alien, Black Diamond, or Totem can make all the difference between it catching a fall or not which is why we all have some of these Master Cams as part of our own trad racks.

This is more specific gift than the other nine options so be sure to do some homework or ask questions ahead of time, but ultimately, again, a savvy climber never turns down free Master Cams. If anything, they're psyched about them so don't think twice and choose to be the hero of the holidays with this gift.

...But wait, there's more...

11. An Eastside Sports Gift Card: The Catch-All If Still in Doubt

SHOP HERE - various amounts available from $10 to $500

If after reading through ten different, sure-to-succeed options you still have doubt, there is always the steadfast option of a gift card. There is a lot of knowledge that goes into the sport so its silly to stress about getting it perfect. The fact that you wanted to support the climber in your life by helping them climb more safely, more often, more variety, etc. is a gift in and of itself. The gift card is an option never to be demeaned and the staff here at Eastside Sports is always happy to facilitate someone spending their new gift card in the best possible manner to reach their goals. You can buy it online or in the store and they are redeemable both online and in the store.

Thanks for reading and hope these ideas helped or provided inspiration in some way! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to All!