My sister-in-law recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. As usual, I had no idea what I wanted. So I poked around the internet to look for articles on gifts for climbers. The problem is that a lot of the lists included expensive outerwear or equipment. It also required the buyer to understand something about climbing. That said, there was one list I liked. I thought the Mojo Gear list was pretty good. But other than that…
So here are some things that climbers might like that mostly won’t break the bank.
Battery Packs ($20-$50) and/or Solar Panels ($90+)
One of the biggest problems with being in the backcountry is the ability to recharge your devices. You should never plug a device directly into a solar panel. This will drain the device unless you have perfect light. Instead, you should consider charging a battery pack (sometimes called a battery bank). Then charge your device from this.
Goal Zero has several battery pack and solar panel options available. Check them out, here.
Chalk Bags ($10-$30) and Chalk ($2-$15)
Skin Salve ($6-$20)
Kitschy Climbing Shirts ($15-$30)
Harness Knife ($20-$40)
Hot and Cold Water Bottle/Thermos ($15-$50)
Subscription to a Climbing Magazine ($30-$60)
Membership to Access Fund or American Alpine Club ($35-$75)
Gift Card for the American Alpine Institute ($100-Whatever)
–Jason D. Martin