4 Great Gifts for Rock Climbers and Mountaineers
Finding the right holiday gift for a climber is challenging, especially if you don’t know much about rock climbing and mountaineering. Climbers, like other outdoor athletes, are usually selective about their climbing clothes and equipment. Before buying a climbing gift, it’s a great idea to ask the climber in your life what is on their gift wish list. Here are four excellent gifts that any climber will appreciate and love...
Sterling Ropes are consistently great and durable climbing ropes. For 2015 Sterling has introduced five new and improved ropes for climbers, including the Evolution Helix Rope. This ideal gift for the climbing maniac is a workhorse 9.5mm rope that, as Sterling says, “strikes the perfect balance between durability and light weight.” The rope, available January 1, 2015, has a new lightweight core along with a thicker sheath, allowing for day-after-day toughness with an easy-handling rope without compromising safety and satisfaction. This skinny cord is perfect for hard sport climbing at Rifle and New River Gorge, long traditional free climbs at Red Rocks and Yosemite Valley, and alpine mixed climbing.
The compact yet powerful Black Diamond Ion Headlamp has long been my go-to light for climbing and hiking after the sun goes down. The tiny 1.7-ounce Ion packs a mighty 80 lumens of lighting power with its single LED light, making it plenty bright enough for technical descents off peaks or hiking back to the trailhead after a long day of climbing at Red Rocks. The Ion is small enough that you can easily carry it everywhere, in the top of your cragging pack or even stashed in a pocket while climbing a day-long route. The touch control is easy to switch with a finger swipe from full power to dim, stroke, and red night-vision light. The headband doesn’t need much adjustment and the lamp doesn’t bounce around as you move. It also runs up to 200 hours on low power on double AAA lithium, standard alkaline, or rechargeable batteries.
The new All Out Hybrid Jacket from Merrell (yeah, Merrell makes a lot more swag than footwear) is a lightweight hybrid coat that’s great for cold-weather rock climbing, off-season backcountry hiking, and even ice climbing. The jacket is warm, with stretchy fleece fabric on the sides, underarms, and back of the body, while not compromising movement. It also sheds moisture with a double-weave front body, hood, and back yoke, as well as zippered chest and hand pockets to keep water and snow out. With the hood pulled snug over a wool cap, you’re toasty and ready to climb. The All Out Hybrid Jacket is a bargain gift too with a great price.
The Petzl Meteor Climbing Helmet has long been the gold standard for ultra-light climbing helmets. Besides being super light, the Meteor has lots of vents for good ventilation (important on hot days), an easy-to-use adjustment system to fine tune the fit on your head (great for when you wear a stocking cap under it), and a magnetic buckle, allowing the helmet to be fastened with one hand. There is also a smaller size for smaller heads. Other Meteor pluses: easy to pack with the head harness nesting inside the dome; soft headband for comfort and sweat wicking; and no pressure points under the dome. Most importantly, the Meteor is a helmet that you will wear climbing since once it’s on your head, you forget that it’s there! A new climbing helmet makes a great gift for the climber in your life since they protect his fragile head from falls and falling rocks and helmets do wear out over time and need to be replaced.
1. Sterling Evolution Helix Rope
Sterling Ropes are consistently great and durable climbing ropes. For 2015 Sterling has introduced five new and improved ropes for climbers, including the Evolution Helix Rope. This ideal gift for the climbing maniac is a workhorse 9.5mm rope that, as Sterling says, “strikes the perfect balance between durability and light weight.” The rope, available January 1, 2015, has a new lightweight core along with a thicker sheath, allowing for day-after-day toughness with an easy-handling rope without compromising safety and satisfaction. This skinny cord is perfect for hard sport climbing at Rifle and New River Gorge, long traditional free climbs at Red Rocks and Yosemite Valley, and alpine mixed climbing.
- Price: $212.95
- Diameter: 9.5 mm
- Length: 200 feet (60 meters)
- Weight: 59 grams per meter
- UIAA Fall Rating: >7
- Colors: Orchid Green, Orange, Orchid Bicolor
2. Black Diamond Ion Headlamp
The compact yet powerful Black Diamond Ion Headlamp has long been my go-to light for climbing and hiking after the sun goes down. The tiny 1.7-ounce Ion packs a mighty 80 lumens of lighting power with its single LED light, making it plenty bright enough for technical descents off peaks or hiking back to the trailhead after a long day of climbing at Red Rocks. The Ion is small enough that you can easily carry it everywhere, in the top of your cragging pack or even stashed in a pocket while climbing a day-long route. The touch control is easy to switch with a finger swipe from full power to dim, stroke, and red night-vision light. The headband doesn’t need much adjustment and the lamp doesn’t bounce around as you move. It also runs up to 200 hours on low power on double AAA lithium, standard alkaline, or rechargeable batteries.
- Lumens : 80
- Weight With Batteries : 48 grams (1.7 oz)
- Max Distances : 38 meters (125 feet)
- Max Burn Time : 200 hours
- IPX Rating : 4
- LED Type : 1
- DoublePower Batteries : 2 AAA lithium (included)
3. Merrell All Out Hybrid Jacket
The new All Out Hybrid Jacket from Merrell (yeah, Merrell makes a lot more swag than footwear) is a lightweight hybrid coat that’s great for cold-weather rock climbing, off-season backcountry hiking, and even ice climbing. The jacket is warm, with stretchy fleece fabric on the sides, underarms, and back of the body, while not compromising movement. It also sheds moisture with a double-weave front body, hood, and back yoke, as well as zippered chest and hand pockets to keep water and snow out. With the hood pulled snug over a wool cap, you’re toasty and ready to climb. The All Out Hybrid Jacket is a bargain gift too with a great price.
- Price: From $119.95
- Sizes: Medium to XXL. Cut smallish so get larger size for layering underneath.
- Colors: Manganese and black
4. Petzl Meteor Climbing Helmet
The Petzl Meteor Climbing Helmet has long been the gold standard for ultra-light climbing helmets. Besides being super light, the Meteor has lots of vents for good ventilation (important on hot days), an easy-to-use adjustment system to fine tune the fit on your head (great for when you wear a stocking cap under it), and a magnetic buckle, allowing the helmet to be fastened with one hand. There is also a smaller size for smaller heads. Other Meteor pluses: easy to pack with the head harness nesting inside the dome; soft headband for comfort and sweat wicking; and no pressure points under the dome. Most importantly, the Meteor is a helmet that you will wear climbing since once it’s on your head, you forget that it’s there! A new climbing helmet makes a great gift for the climber in your life since they protect his fragile head from falls and falling rocks and helmets do wear out over time and need to be replaced.
- Price: $99.95
- Weight: 220-225 grams
- Sizes: 2
- Colors: Turquoise, blue, coral, raspberry Guarantee: 3 years
- Material: Expanded polystyrene liner, polycarbonate external shell, polyester webbing straps
- Certification: CE EN 12492, UIAA
