What to get climbers for Christmas

Christmas is approaching and with it the selection of gifts for our climbing siblings, family members and friends. If you don't know what to get climbers for Christmas and don't want to ask them, don't despair. We have a list of a few things that every climber wants or simply needs deep down.

We have divided the Christmas gift tips into four categories according to price. We understand that not every climber you know will buy a rope. That's why there are some variants and cheaper gifts that will definitely please.

0 - 500 CZK

Buying "cheaper" stuff for climbers can be a bit tricky, because a non-climber doesn't know what his climbing buddy needs. Some things are strange and would cross your mind, others might not.

Super useful gadgets

The easiest way is to go to the "tools" for climbing. Things that can be used to clean up or hang on your hands are always a good choice and as climbers we always need more of them! There is never enough wax or magic!

On the fingers

There are two very inexpensive things that are super useful for climbers! The first of them is tape, which is used to stick and save torn fingers. Everyone has it and wants more of it, and those who don't have it need it (including me)! The best and also the cheapest option is Ocún tape 25×10 mm. Again and again a Czech company and tape made for climbers. If you've ever seen your climber's broken hands, give them a tape.

The second thing every climber should have is a wax that is perfect for care for tired skin. They are the little metal pixels around the counter on the climbing walls. They are very cheap, organic and vegan friendly and are an absolute rescue and prevention. We personally use the brand Climb On and their big green packaging. It is a bit more expensive - about 300 CZK - but definitely worth it!

For catches

The hold stuff is a beautiful thing that answers the question: what for climbers at Christmas. A new grip brush is always a pleasure, especially if you don't have one. Brushes are not expensive at all and, like wax, can be bought at the entrance to the wall. The brush then compliments it nicely magnesium (powder and liquid) and a bag for it. Magic is something that you can never have enough of. We recommend looking at companies like Ocún for both, magnesium and a bag of it. But the bag can also be bought in Decathlon. Magnesium too, but it is more expensive than my Czech Ocún.

Carabiners and belays

Carabiners are something you can never have enough of. Ideal for new climbers, pieces like Singing Rock Bora Screw they are priceless (except that they cost 340 CZK). Carabiners are a key part of a climber's gear, something that keeps us alive and makes existence easier. Even seasoned climbers have carables that are worn and jagged. Therefore, good carabiners are a beautiful gift that will not lie in the closet!

Fuses are similar to caravels. It's priceless for new climbers, but it's not as universal a gift as a carabiner. Personally, we recommend that you first look at what safeguards actually exist (they differ markedly in price). If you are aiming for a belay for a new climber, there is perhaps no better choice than this Uncle Ferry – Bucket with guide mode from a Czech company.

Clothes

It's probably a bit surprising, but good clothing is just as important as climbing gear. But there is a certain limit to what we can buy another without trying it. A good winter hat (ideally with a colorful pom pom) is something absolutely wonderful to wear winter climbing! Mittens and good warm socks will also please. If you don't think he will use things for winter climbing, give him socks with a climbing motif.

500 – 1500 CZK

The second price category is more focused on climbing equipment. These are things that usually a complete liker won't buy blindly, if only because they have to try it on several times or one piece is enough. So if you think the climber would like something like this, ask him what he has (we like to show off our gear) and try to remember as much as possible. The second option is to avoid surprises and simply ask.

Snaps and latches

Safeguards

As we already wrote above, fuses are the basis. Semi-automatic safety devices and sets with a carbine are already priced above 500, which are really worth looking at. RAMA or Edelrid Mega Jul worth it are the semi-automatics we use. Check out the differences between them PULL. Belay sets and carabiners for it can be found for all types of belays. Sets like Ocún belay set Eagle/Ferry or Frame with carabiner they are cheaper and will make you happy! Especially if your climber doesn't have much stuff yet.

Express cars and carabiners

Carbines jsou pořád stejné, jako byly v předešlé kategorii. Tentokrát se jich dá jen pořídit víc a bezpečnější. Co myslíme „bezpečnější“. Jsou to karabiny s dvojitou nebo trojitou pojistkou a pojistkou pro jištění.
Express trains are a must for those who climb a rope. You can get a hundred five or six pieces for under 1,500 crowns - mostly from Ocún and Camp – which are excellent. We recommend going for sets of six, as it is significantly more multifunctional. Every climber, whether a novice or a seasoned expert, always welcomes a new set of expressoes. After all, they catch us when we fall.

Climbing frames, seats and belays

Now we're getting into things that aren't much to buy without the cooperation of the climber. Climbing shoes are a great gift. New climbers often don't want to invest in boots right away because it's a relatively big investment. So if you can gift your climber with a pair, he will be very happy. Climbers up to 1,500 crowns are more for beginners and intermediates. You won't find many Olympic couples here. Because we thought ahead, we have an article for you about how to choose climbing shoes. It is necessary to remember that companies have slightly different sizes, so the fact that a climber has a size 41 ocún does not mean that he will have 41 Scarpy.

Seat cushions are another great gift for climbers. They can be estimated better than climbers because they are mostly classified as SM, ML, L-XL, etc. As with climbing frames, we have an article advising you, how to choose a seat. Don't worry too much about them, Ocún Webee is great for new climbers, and for advanced climbers it's better to ask. They mostly know what they want.

Co pořídit lezcům k Vánocům? Lezou na skalách? Pak nová helma může být správná odpověď. Lezecká helma se dá koupit do 700 v Decathlonu, ale nepodceňujte její důležitost. Jak můžete vidět na našem TOPOS, a lot of rocks are crumbling. Investing in a helmet from companies like Ocún or Singing rock is really an investment.

Hangboard

A hangboard is one of those things we don't need until we have it. Then it can't be done without them. There are countless different types – hanging, drilling, minimalist… – but they all do the same thing. The aim of the hangboard is to train the strength of the fingers on bars of different sizes. If your climber has a trapeze and goes outside often, hanging boards are ideal - for example Metolius Rock Rings. But if you want to support a Czech manufacturer with really excellent products, check out the company 2Climb. It has all kinds of hangboards in almost all price categories. We are able to warmly recommend them because 2Climb is the brand we use.

Resole

The last variant of the gift at this price, which we can suggest and also personally recommend, is more for more advanced climbers. It is a shoe resole, i.e. replacing their soles. Climbing shoes are expensive and it is not worth getting rid of them. Changing the sole means we can climb in one pair of shoes for an extremely long time. Again, there are relatively many companies that do this service. But in our opinion, it is the best RESTDAY. It has collection boxes on many walls in Prague (e.g. on BigWall). But it must be said that this is not something you should do without the climber's knowledge. The best thing is a voucher for reimbursement so that you can choose the sole yourself.

CZK 1,500 - what are you willing to pay?

Gifts in the price category above 1,500 crowns are really pure climbing items. They are best bought if you 100% know what a climber wants or if you are a climber yourself. Of course, we will try to advise you as much as we can, but even our abilities have their limits.

Better carabiners, expressways and belays

Express guns and carabiners are always good. Here are the differences in fuses and brands. We've already explained both express and carabiners here, so there's no reason to go into them again. As a result, we all need them and more definitely won't hurt!

Climbing shoes

Above 1500 CZK there are really good climbing shoes! Again, this is something that is not bought without the knowledge of the climber. But if you know he needs or wants new ones, run to the store with him (like Hannibal) and get them. It's nice to know what you're up to. It is better than our article for that alone page Ocún, where they will refine their climbing equipment for you according to the use and experience of the climber.

Rope

Now we're getting to the essentials. A rope is what half the climbers don't have and the other half will destroy it sooner or later. There are again a million different brands, but among the best (and Czech) is Tendon, which is used by Adam Ondra. The difference between the ropes is in their thickness and length. The longer the rope, the more expensive it will be. But the vast majority of climbers do not need ropes longer than 50 meters. Thickness is something else. It depends a lot on the climber's preferences and what kind of belay they have (Rama prefers narrower belays). We personally use narrow ropes because we like smooth handling inside the belay and we are not in danger of any huge falls. We ourselves recommend a thickness of 9.8 for beginners, but you might want to ask the store what they recommend.

Boulder mother

The last answer to the question "what to get climbers for Christmas" is a boulder mat. For those who want - or climb - bouldering outdoors, it's a beautiful but expensive thing. Here again, we recommend the Czech Ocún! Mother can be bought easily without the recipient's knowledge. It is enough to know if it has a boulder or not. if not I'm a dominator is a good first choice. A thick and new impact pad that is really worth it (and better than its equivalent Moonwalk). If the climber already has a mother, it is fine to buy one that is thinner than it is Ocún paddy sundance. We have to say that this is a really expensive gift, as bouldering mats start at 3,000 CZK. But it's really worth the money.

And what else?

You already know what to buy climbers for Christmas. Now all that's left is to buy it. But maybe you'd like to try climbing before you go shopping? If so, try it the best climbing walls in and around Prague. But if you already know them and have heard somewhere that winter is the ideal time for climbing on difficult projects, you can read our instructions for winter climbing or look at TOPOS and choose your own new project.