Climber’s Christmas VII

Welcome to our 7th annual Climber’s Christmas.  For seven years we’ve been offering top notch gift recommendations for the climber in your life.  The recommendations are still applicable, so if you want more options than what we are recommending for 2023, feel free to take a look back at some of our previous recommendations HERE.  We’ve got some great recommendations for this year, and we hope you enjoy them!

Carrot

Whether you’re long in the tooth or just cutting your gums, it’s always fun to play with the newest tech.  This year I wanted to share some of the coolest new climbing gear around.  Anyone in the sport, beginner through advanced would certainly love to get their hands on these pieces of gear.

1. We are in the era of the assisted breaking device and the Edelrid Pinch has an added feature that you can’t find anywhere else.  The Pinch is more compact than the traditional auto locker with the sleek green and black color scheme that we have come to expect from Edelrid.  It functions like the most popular assisted breaking devices using similar loading and belaying techniques.  The interesting difference though is the feature that allows the belayer to belay sans carabiner.  That’s right, the Pinch attaches directly to your harness allowing more direct feedback when belaying.  The only downside is that it isn’t expected to be available until February 2024, so you may have to gift this one in the form of a gift certificate.  Upon receipt however, your climber is sure to be the coolest climber at the crag!
2. Next on the list we have the Black Diamond Spot 400-R rechargeable headlamp.  I had just bought this lamp prior to my last camping trip, I charged it up and was good to go for the entire weekend.  I have a few headlamps designated for camping, and when I was setting up camp, only one other light had working batteries.  This is the highest rated headlamp on a number of lists, and I am in complete agreement.  Rechargeable headlamps are the way to go, and Black Diamond has lived up to its stellar name with this piece of gear once again!  Bonus: it’s available in green and black so it will complement the Edelrid Pinch nicely!
3. Back to Edelrid for the 2nd generation Ohm.  The new Ohm offers the same resistance breaking you came to expect from the original, but with a few new features that everyone will be sure to love!  Including a swivel joint that allows the Ohm to be placed safely in any direction at the first bolt.  The Ohm is a safety device created to allow climbers of vastly different weights to belay and climb safely despite the weight differential.  Imagine a small elf trying to belay  the hefty Santa Claus.  If Santa takes a whip from high above, Mr. elf is going to go shooting up to the first draw.  With the Ohm, resistance is added to the system essentially making the belayer up to 25 kg “heavier”.  Bonus: That’s right it matches the headlamp and the Pinch!

High-Clip

This Christmas, we’re sticking with the tried-and-true, reliable gear that everyone loves. Carrot has us covered on the new stuff…but what about the classics that every climber needs?

1. Every trad climber needs a set of nuts that they love. Time and time again, the DMM offsets win. These nuts are special because they fit irregular cracks as well, and increase the protection on such rock forms. Who doesn’t want to feel safe and ready for any crack? While you’re at it, might as well pair these with some Sterling slings!
2. If they’re going to be trad climbers, they are likely going to be crack climbers, too. Let’s prepare them with some OR crack gloves! For a different experience, get them some Metolius climbing tape. Then, for when the rock still inevitably scrapes up their hands, get them some Climbskin to make it better.
3. If these last couple ideas weren’t expensive enough for you, perhaps look into some cams for your climber. Unlike nuts, cams are considered active protection, meaning that they are actively protecting you as soon as you place it until you remove it. This also means it only protects you as long as it’s in good shape, so it’s extra important to keep an eye on these. Some old favorites include the Totems and this small set from Wild Country!

Krampus

A few years ago, December 11th, 2021 to be exact, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were invited to make a few contributions to the Climber’s Christmas.  It hurt me that I was overlooked, and I promised then and there to make an effort to be a better person so that I might make a few recommendations to a future list.  Well I’m happy to say that I lived up to my goals of being a better Christmas legend, and I’m here to offer my recommendations for that climber in your life.  Before I get started however, let me just share a little Krampus history in case my reputation doesn’t precede me.  I, like Santa, watch and judge kids throughout the year and then deliver their just desserts on Christmas day.  Unlike Santa however, I don’t distribute gifts to good little girls and boys.  I traditionally dole out punishments to those left on the naughty list.  Now, there are a lot of stories about how I operate, but for the most part, I deliver a warning to the naughty, usually in the form of a twig on their windowsill or in their shoe.  If they receive a twig they have one day to get their shit together, and if they do, then huzza to them.  If they don’t, then I show up, toss them in a sack, and beat them with a stick or log. Merry Christmas!!!

1. I love the Petzl BUG.  It is perfect for both single pitch or multi-pitch days at the crag and also for everyday use. Its comfort is off the charts and the 18 liter volume is perfect for holding almost anything, including a hydration system, food, gear, clothing, and a small naughty child who didn’t take the twig seriously.
2. What good is a bag without a stick?  I for one am inclined to agree with the NYT review and go with the Montem Ultra Strong Hiking poles.  They come in a variety of colors, so you can match them with Carrot’s weird obsession with all things green and black, or mix it up and go with my favorite color combination black and blue!  Strength and durability are at the heart of this recommendation.  They can give take a beating and not lose one bit of functionality.
3. Lastly, I want to recommend the best climbing shirts and sweatshirts on the market.  theDIHEDRAL shirts are not only historical climbing conversation starters, they are also fun, funny, and sure to put any would-be sender immediately on the nice list!  Although I, unlike my more famous counterpart, Santa, don’t currently have a signature climbing shirt, I’m sure that by next year that oversight will be amended.  I’ll let this comment serve as the proverbial twig in the boot, lest theDIHEDRAL end up in a Petzl BUG being swatted with a Montem hiking pole as they try to figure out what went wrong!

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Happy Holidays!!!