The Crag Survival Handbook is an excellent gift for any climber looking to make the transition from indoor to outdoor climbing. In an age where mentorship has largely fallen away, this book is a great resource for bridging the gap. Contains valuable info for new climbers and important reminders for veterans about crag ethics.

This beautiful book is about finding the balance between climbing, adventure and life. Jeremy Collins winds together stories of climbing, art, adventure, and family. An excellent gift for any climber passionate about the journey of story-telling.

Climbers can get obsessed over injuries. If you have a friend who has been injured from climbing, you likely know first hand how true this can be. Help your friends stay on top of injuries and make better decisions about injury prevention with the gift of this book.

The brand new book by one of the world’s most talented climbers, Tommy Caldwell, has hit the shelves this year. Bound to be a best-seller for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, The Push is the book to buy for your climbing friends.

In the modern era of climbing, many climbers are highly focused on training and body maintenance. The fuel you put in your body is important. Aicacia Young’s book on nutrition offers insight to help climbers choose a diet that maximizes their performance and potential.

A perfect coffee table book for the homes of your climber friends. The images of Simon Carter showcase the breath-taking grandeur of rock faces throughout the natural world. The human feats of scaling such impressive walls are sure to capture the imagination of climbers and non climbers alike. Carter’s artistic representation of climbing will have your friends flipping through the pages again and again.

Climbing magazines were the original media through which climbers received breaking news about their sport. In the age of social media where all news is instant, magazines now focus on stunning photography and exceptional story-telling. There are three primary magazines devoted to climbing in the USA: Climbing, Rock and Ice, and Alpinist. Gripped is Canada’s climbing magazine.

A buff is versatile and can meet all sorts of needs for climbers. Use it as a scarf for warmth on cooler days. Dip it in a stream to wash your face or cool yourself off mid approach. Use it as a bandana to keep the sweat off your nose and your hair out of your eyes. Protect yourself from dust in the desert and bugs in the forest. Buffs are also lightweight, comfortable, and a great tool for expressing personal style.

Supporting small companies is a popular choice among climbers. Your friends will love this LA-based lifestyle brand that creates t-shirt art to celebrate California’s climbing. Dynamite Starfish donates 5% of their proceeds to local non-profits for conservation of climbing areas.

The AeroPress has become all the rage among climbers. This easy to use press makes quick and delicious coffee-by-the-cup with little waste. Perhaps best of all, the required cleaning is minimal, which makes it perfect for your friends who live the dirtbag lifestyle.

A delicious alternative to pressing a pot of coffee at the crag. Alpine Start is perfect for climbers who are on the go or keen on early, alpine starts to their day. Enjoy premium instant coffee made from high quality, high altitude arabica beans. Their “instant coffee that actually tastes good” can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Climbing places great demands on the body and muscles. Protein is important for recovery, and when climbers allow their bodies to recover they can perform better. Gnarly Nutrition protein powders fuel outdoor adventurers with products that are natural, clean, and great-tasting. They are also GMO-free, use only natural sweeteners, and their whey protein is sourced from New Zealand grass-fed cows with no hormones or rSBTs.

Plenty of hiking and climbing, especially in the heat, can use up a lot of electrolytes during the day. Keep your climbing friends healthy and hydrated with some delicious hydration mixes. Skratch Labs drink powders are all natural and come in a variety of wildly enticing flavors like Passion Fruit and Pineapple.

A spotlight is an especially great gift for the committed boulderer in your life. During the hot months of summer, many boulderers wait for cooler temperatures after nightfall to try their projects. What’s the big problem with this timing? The all-consuming darkness. A spotlight can light up those hard-to-see holds and make all the difference for a great night session.

The Access Fund plays a major role in climbing in North America, by helping to keep access open and available to all climbers. We believe every climber should contribute to the Access Fund if they are able. If you know your friends are not yet members, help them out by purchasing a membership in their name! If they already have a membership, you could always set them up with the American Alpine Club or the local access society in their area.

Great for adding some music around the campfire, or watching late night movies on the laptop when on the road. Please remind your friends to avoid the use of portable speakers at the crag if others are around though. It is important to always be respectful of other climbers enjoying the outdoors.

These cute little lanterns pack a punch by adding 100 lumens of ambient light to a tent or campsite at night. They are simple and compact, running on just three AAA batteries. A unique dimming switch allows users to taper the brightness to their liking.

It is no secret that climbing shoes are stinky beasts. There are tricks to minimizing shoe odor, but the reality is that trapped sweaty feet lead to a build up in dead skin and bacteria. You can help your friends to fight the battle with a pair of dry pointe shoe inserts. These soft silica-filled balls will soak up the moisture inside climbing shoes and reduce the chance for bacteria to thrive. Get your friends to slip dry pointes into their shoes at the end of every climbing session to combat the smells and stretch the lifespan of their shoes. Dry pointes can be “recharged” whenever their moisture-sucking abilities are used up.

Almost all climbers drink tea or coffee. Here’s your chance to help your friends show off their love for climbing while enjoying a hot beverage. These mugs depict the popular sketch showing human evolution into climbers.

Do you have buddies who love pushing themselves in the climbing gym? A climbing hold mug is sure to make your friends smile and keep them psyched about heading to the gym when the work day wraps up. Climbing-themed mugs are also a great conversation piece.

Keep track of climbing dates, plan upcoming trips, and stay inspired with an 18 month climbing calendar. Each month features stunning images from climbing destinations around the world.

One of the original and most trusted hand balms used by climbers. Climb On! is a hand balm bar that climbers rub into their shredded tips and calloused fingers to help heal and promote skin regrowth.

Climb Skin repair cream is produced in Europe and rapidly gaining hype in North America. Endorsed by Chris Sharma himself, your climbing friends are going to love testing Climb Skin for themselves. Use as you would any regenerative hand cream, by applying to clean hands at the end of a skin-shredding session.

The CRKT Niad Climbers Knife was designed by Hans Florine, one of the great speed climbers of the Nose in Yosemite. This knife is light and versatile, making a great addition to any climber’s pack. You never know when you might need to slice some cheese or repair your rope on a day out.

Each year the Reel Rock film festival brings climbers together to celebrate their sport while showcasing some of the best climbing stories of the year. You can purchase tickets for reel rock events across the country to enjoy these great films with your climbing community. But did you know you can also buy the collection of films after the screenings are finished each year? A great way to treat your friends to their favorite collection.

DrawTags are one of a kind fabric identifiers for your quickdraws. Do you have climber friends who are obsessed with sport climbing and projecting? DrawTags are a low profile, lightweight and funky alternative to using nail polish or colored tape to identify your draws. They slip easily over the dogbone and don’t interfere with grabbing the draw. You and your friends will never mix your quickdraws up again. All designs are custom and unique.

The Mercedes Benz of climbing chalk, your friends won’t be complaining if they are gifted a shiny foil pack of one of Friction Labs signature chalks. Friction Labs claims reduced impurities leading to longer lasting coverage and better friction on the rock.

Do you know a climber who is also an “aggressive sitter”? When not climbing on rocks, climbers spend a lot of time sitting on them, which can lead to rapid wear of their beloved pants. A lightweight sitting mat will save their clothing and substantially increase their comfort at the crag.

Climbers spend so much time in the sun and wind that chapped lips are almost inevitable. You can’t go wrong with Joshua Tree lip balm (the Mountain Mint flavor is our favorite). JTree lip balm soothes dry lips while adding protection at SPF 15 for continued adventures.

A fun and useful gift for your climber friends. Set your LUCI lamp out while you’re at the crag for the day so the panel can charge. In the evening simply inflate it to enjoy great campsite ambiance from an unoffensive solar-powered glow.

Climbers love to unwind after a day on the rocks. A hammock is a fantastic, low volume lounge chair that takes relaxing to the next level. The Newdora Hammock is affordable, made from ultralight, durable nylon, and can hold up to 600 lbs!

Whether it be for a night climbing adventure, prepping a meal at camp, or safety on the hike out from the crag, every climber needs a headlamp. Offering 300 lumens, the Petzl Actik is a great low profile and lightweight option that won’t occupy too much space in your friend’s crag bag.

Don’t let your friends’ drinks warm up! The Yeti Rambler Colster has heavy-duty, rustproof stainless-steel walls with double-wall vacuum insulation. This classy and comfortable insulator is great to have on hand to help enjoy the end of the day.

Looking to enjoy a little something once you’ve finished at the crag or are back at the campfire with friends? The Stanley Classic flask is a tried and true vessel for transporting the celebratory beverage you love.

Sublime has created the fanciest brush to hit the market in climbing. Their boar’s hair brushes have over 14,000 bristles and are guaranteed to brush better and last longer. They are ergonomically shaped for comfort and to protect the neck from snapping against your project. The handle even has a secret compartment.

This classy, stainless steel and vacuum insulated mug is perfect for carrying the hot liquids your climbing friends can’t be without. The Atlin Travel Mug is also great for icy beverages.

It is often necessary to climb in the cold to get the friction required to stick to the rock. In these sorts of conditions climbers need to stay warm between their burns! Hand warmers are a tried and true trick loved by many. Stuff the stocking of a climber with one of these reusable hand warmers, or a bundle of the single use variety.

Stickers are a big hit among climbers, helping people to take ownership of their climbing culture. This bumper sticker will look great on your climbing friend’s car with letters artfully designed using climbing gear. For additional stickers, check your local gear store for a “sticker fund” that may help with rebolting or development costs in your area.

There is always a need for hanging things on the fridge. This set of 10 climbing magnets is made from real climbing holds. Your friends may need to avoid the temptation of pulling on them when they’re grabbing goodies from the fridge. Do you have climbing friends who live in a van rather than a house? The body of their vehicle is magnetic too!

Surprise your friends with an artfully constructed chalk bag from the California-based company, Static Climbing. Static Climbing partners with artists to produce chalk bags that are functional, beautiful, and long-lasting. There are tons of great designs to choose from.

Knots are immensely important to the safety of climbers. Your route climbing friends will love this small pack of essential knots cue cards. Taking up almost no space, these are a handy addition to any crag pack. A great for beginners who need to review, yet still useful for experts who might need to look up a less common knot in unusual situations.

The DMM revolver carabiner has a unique roller insert that significantly reduces friction when the rope passes over it. Hanging a revolver biner on a quickdraw at the crux of a route where the climber falls repeatedly can reduce wear on the rope. Revolver biners can also be helpful at minimizing rope drag. Be cautious if using a revolver draw when the climber is much heavier than the belayer. A big weight differential coupled with reduced friction can lead to large and potentially unsafe falls.

A good pair of belay gloves can save your hands from rope abrasion and keep them clean when handling dirty ropes. If you have a climbing friend with sensitive skin, make their life a little more pleasant with a pair of Petzl Belay Gloves. Belay gloves are also great for climbers who do a lot of rope ascension.

A stick clip is an especially good gift for your sport climbing friends. Simple and easy to use, the super clip stick clip makes sport climbing safer by allowing you to clip up the rope and protect the opening moves on a route. This stick clip head has no moving parts and can hang and remove ropes or quickdraws. Pair it with a 12-foot extendable pole for the perfect gift.

Crack gloves are a great idea for your trad climbing buddies. These Ocun gloves are made from microfiber stretch suede and sensitive, sticky rubber for maximum friction. Save waste by no longer needing to construct tape gloves for those splitter lines.

Help your friends improve their finger grip strength with the Gripmaster. The Gripmaster offers 9lbs of resistance for each finger on individual springs to ensure all fingers work equally. Worry no longer about keeping your pinkies strong. An alternative, simpler design is the GripPro Hand Strength Trainer – great for strengthening fingers, hands and forearms. Both of these grip strength training options are small and convenient to keep at your desk at work or in your bag for the climbing gym. They also both make for a nice warm up tool.

Chinese acupressure rings help the body in the same way as acupuncture but without skin penetration. Roll them up and down your fingers when they are sore or tired, or if you are experiencing any numbness. The rings will enhance circulation and help to promote healing.

The Grip Saver is an excellent opposition tool that will strengthen all 18 hand muscles in a single motion. Devoting time to opposition is essential for injury prevention. Conducting exercises with this tool can also help with rehabilitation of hand or finger injuries.

A yoga mat is a versatile gift for a climber regardless of whether they practice yoga. A mat provides a comfortable space for warm-up stretches, core and body strength exercises. It is also a place for body maintenance such as rolling on a foam roller or lacrosse ball. The options are endless.

Impress your climbing friends with how savvy you are about hand opposition tools. Rice makes one of the easiest opposition training tools for climbers. There are a multitude of rice bucket exercises to help climbers strengthen their forearms and protect the tendons and pulleys in their fingers. For a quirky gift that your friends will love, wrap up a bucket with a 20lb bag of rice inside.

Warming up is critical for minimizing the risk of injury. Quickly get your arms and shoulders warm before climbing with the use of a TheraBand. TheraBands are also great for resistance training and building strength in antagonist muscles.

Climbing at your limit leads to sore muscles, especially in the shoulders, lats and upper back. A thera cane is the perfect easy-to-use self massage tool that allows you to apply direct pressure in those hard-to-reach places. A thera cane is particularly great for those who spend a lot of time training or on the road without access to a massage therapist. Another easy way to apply direct pressure to knots in muscles is by rolling on a lacrosse ball. A lacrosse ball is small and portable and makes for an extremely effective massage tool.

Climbers put a huge amount of strain on their tendons. They are always pulling their hands closed and strengthening the flexor muscles in the forearms and hands. Tools that help with range of motion and opposition for the fingers are very valuable. Theraputty can help to regulate the imbalance between flexor and extensor muscles. Start with fingers together in the putty and extend them outwards against the resistance of the material.

Foam rollers are self-massage tools that can help work knots and tension out of big muscle groups like the legs and back. Foam rolling, or self-myofascial release, is a great body maintenance tool for climbers to stay healthy and prevent injuries. In particular, new research is showing that foam rolling can help muscles to recover without compromising performance.

Few climbers produce climbing-inspired music, but Chris Parker is one who does. For a singer-songwriter album that reflects the experiences of the climbing community in America, pick up his EP on itunes.

There are a ton of different hangboards on the market. Best uses for the different boards can vary, which can make training overwhelming. This app for Apple or Android will walk your friends through pre-set workouts specialized to whichever board they own.

Know a climber friend who wants to train but is super self-directed? Power Company Climbing offers a variety of different Ebooks that deliver focused training plans. Whether they want to boulder stronger, climb 5.12, or advance their finger strength, the perfect Ebook is out there to help your friends reach their goals.

Rock rings are a great, portable training option for climbers. They are especially useful for beginners starting to explore hangboard training tools. Rock rings are inexpensive, innovative, friendly on skin, and allow for rotation of joints because of free hanging design.

The Rock Climber’s Training Manual is one of the most highly acclaimed training manuals for climbing. The manual is authored by the Anderson brothers who have a combined 30+ years of experience in physical and mental training for climbing. The book clearly describes all elements of physical training and provides exercises and training plans to help climbers progress and reach their goals.

The mental barriers that some climbers face are substantial. In his popular book, Arno Ilgner teaches climbers to cope with issues of self-worth, ego, fear, and more. He uses clear, philosophical insight and easy-to-follow instructions to sharpen your mental tools.

Fred Beckey is a 94 year old rock climbing legend. He has more first ascents than any other North American rock climber, and is still climbing to this day. This wonderful book describes 100 of his favorite climbs, accompanied by stunning photography. Have a climber friend who appreciates the history of the sport and is looking for routes to add to their bucket list? This book is the perfect choice.

For those days when the desert kicks up some wicked winds but the temperature remains warm. Offering extremely lightweight protection, the Patagonia Houdini has climbers covered.

No matter what type of climber you are buying for, they will love the Organic Climbing Roll Down Pack. These tubular bags are mega-durable, constructed with a 1050D ballistic nylon shell. The roll-down feature allows you to adjust to the size of whatever you’re carrying. A great, versatile bag for taking to the crag, carrying around town, or even using as a carry-on bag for a flight.

The ultimate care package for friends who have skin that needs some help to perform. Rhino Skin offers repair cream, performance cream, sweat-reducing “tip juice” and more – all designed to get your skin to perfection before a day of climbing. Each of the products in the Performance Pack can also be purchased individually.

The latest belay device in the GriGri family, released in the summer of 2017. The GriGri + offers new features over its predecessor, such as a switch between lead and top-rope mode, and an anti-panic handle. The leading belay device on the market has just gotten snazzier.

Contribute to the movement that is saving the necks of belayers around the world. Belay glasses reduce the strain to a belayer’s neck, by allowing them to keep their head level while still watching their climber. We can’t think of any rope climber who wouldn’t appreciate the gesture of such a useful gift.

These packs are a dream luxury among sport climbers. What else can carry all your gear for you and then turn into a comfortable lounge chair once you make it to the crag?

Ever heard your climbing friends complaining about kneebar scrapes and bruises on their thighs? That’s because “knees are the new feet” and SEND Climbing knows it. They’ve been helping climbers send their projects for years with incredible kneebar pads. Besides their classic three-strap version they also make a two-strap variation and offer their pads in “slim”.

Muscle overuse combined with a build up of lactic acid can lead to extreme tightening in the forearms of climbers. The Armaid addresses this very issue. With an Armaid your climbing friends can roll out their own forearms, helping to heal and maintain their arm, elbow and hand health.

This newly developed online course is specifically for rock climbers, and focuses on flexibility, strength and confidence. Once signed up for the course, all 22 yoga classes become available for the students to watch and rewatch at their convenience.

A fun art piece for the home of your climbing friends. Help them count down the hours to the next session at the climbing gym or weekend trip on the rocks.

Do you have a climber in your life who loves art? The works of Hannah Dwyer use color and texture to produce nature and climbing-inspired work that will add flair to any home (or van!).

Gorgeous paintings by climber Rachel Pohl will inspire your friends to explore the outdoors. Pohl uses bright colors to capture scenery and wild places. Your friends will also appreciate your choice to support a climbing artist.

A problem solver hangboard is an excellent option for your traveling climber friends who want to keep their fingers strong on the road. These portable and customizable hangboards come with inserts to create variable depth holds. The boards can be tilted to change angle, and holds can be added to the back of board to train additional grip positions.

Are you planning a meaningful gift for the van-dwelling climber in your life? A Goal Zero package covers all the bases to set them up with power for their adventures. The Goal Zero set-ups include panels, battery, inverter and hook-ups. In addition to the one we’ve highlighted here, there are many smaller and larger package options to choose from.

The sturdy construction of a yeti cooler will keep your friend’s food fresh while they’re out for a day on the rocks. Yeti coolers are extremely durable and certified Bear Resistant. The coolers are also available in a variety of larger and smaller sizes.

Many climbers pride themselves on a healthy diet and consumption of ethically sourced foods when possible. Do your climbing friends fit this description? A Whole Foods Gift Card is an excellent option to satisfy their cravings and get them loaded up with delicious crag snacks.

Give your friends the gift of whatever their gear closet needs… by letting them pick it themselves! Buying gear for climbers is tricky as so much depends on personal preference and fit. If you know a climber in desperate need of new shoes, but aren’t sure of the model or size they wear, a gift card is your the safest bet. A gift card is also the safest way to buy your friends personal safety gear.

A t-shirt is a gift where you really can’t go wrong. Do you have a climber in your life who appreciates a good laugh? The World’s Okayest Climber t-shirt will get your friends chuckling. Help them say “I’m a rock climber” with a good balance between humble and self-deprecating humor.

Another great option is a climber and belayer shirt, with a subtle color scheme that will go with most clothing. Alternatively, a Cam Patent t-shirt is perfect for the nerdy gearhead among your climbing friends. Bonus points if they’re a trad climber as the design highlights all components of a spring-loaded camming device. Each patent t-shirt is individually printed for a new order.

The chances of going to the crag or boulder field and NOT finding someone sporting the prAna Mojo shorts are rare. They are one of the most popular pairs of men’s shorts. Their lightweight, airiness makes them an obvious winner with climbers, and they come in a huge variety of colors.

The classic Patagonia fleeces are loved by most climbers for their somewhat funky and timeless style. The Snap-T Pullover is made from soft, durable 200-weight Synchilla fleece that insulates even when wet. Patagonia is a leader in the industry with regards to upholding social and environmental standards. The Snap-T Pullover is also available for women.

The sleekest and snazziest climbing jeans on the market. These pants are ultra-stretchy to move with your body while climbing. They also make for a perfect transition from boulder field to brew pub at the end of the evening. These pants are weather-proofed, resistant to deformation and have reinforced stitching. Boulder denim jeans are also available for women.

The momentum harness package is a perfect gift for the new climber in your life. The package is also a great choice for your friends who are transitioning from bouldering to route climbing. Comes with harness, belay device, locking carabiner, chalk bag, and chalk.

Peter Gilroy’s beautifully crafted art pieces and jewelry are inspired by the rock that climbers love. Pieces reflect everything from angular granite to smooth, swirling sandstone. In addition to the full collection on his website, Gilroy designs custom pieces for interested customers. Five percent of online sales are donated to the Access Fund.

A collection of short stories and essays by Steph Davis, with themes of love, life, compassion, and friendship. Told through the lens of a life devoted to climbing.

A celebration of strong and bold female climbers in the community. The book profiles twenty of the most prominent and inspiring women climbers, each telling her own story.

Bring a smile to your climbing friend’s faces with this clever tank. The caption draws on the necessity of chalking one’s hands to help improve friction while climbing.

Peeing outside is inevitable when you are climbing. As a woman, it can sometimes be hard to find the perfect spot and remain discrete. It is especially difficult for female climbers to pee on a multi-pitch. Female-urination-devices, or FUDs, are a great solution for tricky pee scenarios. The pstyle offers more power to your female friends, providing more options for when nature calls.

These stone pendant necklaces are designed by climber and biologist Kate Rutherford. The elegant pieces are created using stones that Kate has collected from beaches on the west coast. Each piece is unique as no two stones are alike.

For fun, expressive colors and an alternative to skin-tight leggings, check out the e9 clothing collection. This popular European brand has recently begun distribution in the USA. Pants feature funky pockets and cuts displayed in bright, playful colors that will help your friends stand out on the wall. A men’s apparel collection is also available.

Stonewear Designs liberty capris were designed with climbers in mind, making them perfectly suited to an active woman’s body. These pants are comfortable, flattering, and meant to last a lifetime. Awesome flexibility also allows for top performance on the rock.

Arêt Basewear makes one of the best climbing bras out there, designed by women for women. These tops are long-lasting and multi-use: they double as swimsuits and are reversible. They are carefully constructed to support and highlight a woman’s strength.

The Flash Foxy Women’s Climbing Festival started in February 2016 and has expanded to host two events annually. You can join the Spring festival out west in Bishop, California, or the Fall festival out east in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The events provide an incredible space filled with support and psych for climbers of all ability levels.

Did you miss your chance to grab a ticket for the ticket for the Women’s Climbing Festival? Don’t fret – there are many other women’s specific climbing events popping up across North America.

The primrose harness package is a perfect gift for the new climber in your life. The package is also a great choice for your friends who are transitioning from bouldering to route climbing. Comes with harness, belay device, locking carabiner, chalk bag, and chalk.

Delicate, handmade, sterling silver climbing jewelry. The charm-style bracelet is made to look like a climbing rope with figure eight knots, connected by a tiny carabiner. A perfect dress-up piece for the rock climbing ladies in your life.

Kids need to work hard to stay warm when the weather takes a turn. Keep the young ones in your life psyched on spending time at the crag with a present. Gift a child a fun and functional beanie that will keep their ears comfy and toasty.

A hilarious prediction for the infant of climbing parents. The Crawl-Walk-Climb onesie will have all your friends beside themselves over its cuteness. Made from 100% super soft ringspun cotton jersey.

The 8b+ chalk bag collection features fun creatures that will bring a smile to the faces of everyone at the crag. These are perfect for young climbers to enjoy. Gift one to a kid climber in your life and help them name their new furry friend.

Kids feet grow quickly, but they still want real climbing shoes for their feet. For an affordable, entry-level option try out the Mad Monkey shoes. These climbing shoes help young climbers practice footwork from an early age before they size up into regular shoes on the market.

An at home gift for the climbing children in your life. Living stones bring the play room to life with pillows in the shapes of large, realistic boulders.

A soft mountains baby mobile is a great gift for a newborn into a climbing family. These adorable mobiles will please the parents and send the wee babe off to a dreamland filled with mountains they might one day climb.

Do you know a kid with a climbing wall in their bedroom or home? Add to their hold collection with a set of colorful, dinosaur or bird shaped holds. Additional holds give them more options for varied climbing, while the animal shapes keep it fun and exciting.

A Youth Wasted Climbing: Canadian climber David Chaundy-Smart recounts stories as a deviant youth in pursuit of rock climbing. Pick up this book if you’re looking for a tale about the coming of age of a young climber in the 70’s and 80’s. Finalist in the 2015 Banff Mountain Book Competition.

Climbing out of Bed: A collection of 25 essays and short stories by Luke Mehall, publisher of the Climbing Zine, celebrating coming of age and the adventures that fuel a dirtbag climber lifestyle.

Jerry Moffatt: Revelations: The story of Jerry Moffatt’s rise to stardom in sport climbing, competition climbing, and bouldering through the 80s and 90s.

Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber: A collection of stories and essays by extreme alpinist Mark Twight. Writing style influenced by the punk that influenced him.

Learning to Fly: A Memoir of Hanging On and Letting Go: A memoir by Steph Davis on love and letting go. This book tells of the demise of her marriage with Dean Potter, her discovery of base jumping and living life to the limit, and finding love again.

Psychovertical: A gripping and entertaining read on how a lower-class kid overcomes his lack on self-confidence by climbing. The honest, intense, and humorous story of Kirkpatrick’s 12-day solo climb of the Reticent Wall on California’s El Capitan.

Punk in the Gym: Stories from the Hollywood-looks climbing star of the 80s and 90s, Andy Pollitt. The book details his roller-coaster life from the UK to Australia, his accomplished climbs, his battles with drinking and depression, and his introduction of lycra to the American climbing scene.

Rock Jocks, Wall Rats, and Hang Dogs: John Long, a 1970s stonemaster, tells inspirational and historical climbing stories from the training grounds of Joshua Tree to the big walls of Yosemite National Park.

Sherpa: The Memoir of Ang Tharkay: One of the only historical memoirs told from the perspective of a sherpa. The story of Ang Tharkay, born in 1908 and one of the most renowned Sherpas of early Himalayan exploration.

The Bond: After disappearing from the climbing scene for 40 years, Simon McCartney emerges to recount his bold Alaskan first ascents of Mount Huntington’s north face and Denali’s southwest face with Jack Roberts.

Warnings Against Myself: Meditations on a Life in Climbing: A balance between first-hand tales of climbing ascents and a reflection on climbing itself, this book tells the adventure stories of a life dedicated to climbing.

Alone on the Wall: Autobiography of world-renowned free soloer, Alex Honnold. Alex recounts his personal life during his rise to fame and details several of his biggest climbing accomplishments.

Camp 4: Recollections of a Yosemite Rock Climber: Steve Roper lived in Yosemite’s Camp 4 during the Golden Age of rock climbing in the valley. Camp 4 tells the tales of the “misfits” who happened to be the top rock climbers in their era and how their presence in Yosemite changed the sport.

Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World: Lynn Hill is an inspirational and legendary woman of rock climbing. Climbing Free tells of Lynn’s famous first free ascent of the Nose in Yosemite, among other details of her climbing life.

Drawn: The Art of Ascent: A beautiful book about finding the balance between climbing, adventure and life. Jeremy Collins winds together stories of climbing, art, adventure, and family.

High Infatuation: A Climber’s Guide to Love and Gravity: A collection of short stories and essays by Steph Davis, with themes of love, life, compassion, and friendship. Told through the lens of a life devoted to climbing.

The Push: A Climber’s Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits: The inspiring, dramatic and personal memoir of Tommy Caldwell, one of the greatest rock climbers of all time and first free ascentionist of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite.

Women Who Dare: A profile of twenty of the most prominent and inspiring female climbers, each telling her own story.

Basic Rockcraft: A classic by rock master Royal Robbins from the 1970s. Techniques are in some instances outdated for modern rock climbing, but this book remains a classic for any climber’s library.

Better Bouldering: Covering bouldering techniques, injury prevention, and training tips comes this full-color-photo reference rendered from the 35+ year bouldering career of John Sherman himself.

Climb! The history of rock climbing in Colorado: A 25 year anniversary re-issue of the 1970s cult classic “Climb! Rock Climbing in Colorado“ , this book adds 50% more content while preserving the good of the original.

Climbing in North America: A history of the people, routes, peaks and adventures that make up climbing in the USA and Canada from the 1970s onwards.

Climbing: From Gym to Rock: Backed by the AMGA, this pocket-sized reference book can help any gym climber with their transition towards climbing in the great outdoors.

Knots for Climbers: Climbers depend on knots for their safety lifelines, systems, and general convenience. This book provides step by step photographed knot-tying instructions on all the knots you will need in climbing.

Mountaineering: A best-selling instructional book with more than 40 contributing authors that covers everything from basic rope management and rappelling to evaluating avalanche terrain and developing leadership techniques. Includes hundreds of technical illustrations.

One Move Too Many: Full color edition that examines all injuries common to rock climbers, from belayer’s neck to ruptured pulleys. Includes practical tips on how to prevent injuries, and how to recover quickly afterwards.

Self-Rescue: Knowing how to maneuver safely when unexpected circumstances arise can be a life saver. This instructional guide covers everything from rappelling with an injured climber to self-rescue to effective risk assessment and more.

The Trad Climber’s Bible: A full color instructional guide on everything there is to know about traditional climbing, written by two of the world’s most respected trad climbers: John Long and Peter Croft.

Training for the New Alpinism: Training and advice from two world-class alpinists, this book is designed to help you coach yourself to any mountaineering goal.

The Rock Warrior’s Way: Detailed and comprehensive insight into the importance of mental training for climbing, with easy-to-follow tips and training exercises. A must read for anyone looking to overcome mental obstacles and up their climbing game.

Espresso Lessons: A follow-up to the fantastic mental training reference, A Rock Warrior’s Way. This book teaches climbers how to gather information and assess risks with practical exercises that build on the previous book’s material.

Peak Performance: A book that can be applied to any aspect of life, Peak Performance teaches climbers how to avoid burn-out while revealing the science behind long lasting performance. Includes inspirational interviews with a variety of top performers from a range of disciplines.

Vertical Mind: Practical drills and step by step exercises drawn from the latest research in brain science and psychology. This book will help climbers train their minds to achieve higher levels of rock climbing performance.

Conditioning for Climbers: Written by coach and trainer Eric Horst, this book takes climbers of any ability through the process of goal setting, body conditioning, antagonist muscle work, climbing-specific techniques, and designing a training plan.

Gimme Kraft: A German training guide providing modern, sophisticated exercises for a strong, balanced, and well-rounded climber body, with a focus on long-term performance goals. Includes training interviews with several professional climbers.

How to Climb 5.12: One of Eric Horst’s most popular training manuals, this book is for intermediate climbers eager to boost their performance. Horst provides a wealth of physical and mental training tips to dispel the myth that climbing 5.12 is a lofty goal and make it attainable for anyone willing to put in the effort.

The Rock Climber’s Training Manual: One of the best physical training manuals out there with programs for boulderers, sport climbers, and traditional climbers, tailored for all levels of climbing expertise.

The Self-Coached Climber: A full-color training manual with comprehensive instruction of 52 training exercises. Covers everything from the basics of gripping holds to developing customized training plans.

Training for Climbing: New third edition of an international best seller, this comprehensive rock climbing training manual draws on all the latest climbing research to help you push your climbing to the next level.

Above the Reich: The story of a young alpinist from Munich in the 1930s and his desire to make the best of a world in seeming disarray.

Beyond the Mountain: Stories by acclaimed alpinist Steve House on “suffering well”, fast and light alpinism, and hard lessons of the mountains.

Conquistadors of the Useless: One of the greatest adventure books of all time, written by one of the greatest alpinists of all time, Lionel Terray. The book tells stories of ascents in Alps, Alaska, the Andes, and the Himalayas in partnership with many other history-making mountaineers.

Eiger Dreams: A collection of stories of multiple mountain climbers and a multitude of ascents from a man who has a vast experience in the mountains himself.

Everest: The West Ridge: Originally published in 1968, this book tells the story of Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld’s 1963 first ascent of the dangerous and forbidding West Ridge of Mount Everest.

Into Thin Air: Jon Krakauer’s National Bestseller is a personal account of the heart-wrenching tragedy that claimed five lives on Mount Everest in May 1996.

Starlight and Storm: First published in 1954, this story by Gaston Rebuffat tells tales of climbing camaraderie in the Alps and one’s harmonious communion with the mountain.

The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains: Adventure memoir by Barry Blanchard on growing up in the punk era of climbing. Alpinism stories of his ascents from the Canadian Rockies to the French Alps, Peru to Pakistan and more.

The White Spider: The spell-binding tale of the 1930s first ascent of the north face of the Swiss Eiger.

Touching the Void:A story of perseverance, friendship, struggle and the ultimate close encounter with death following a climbing accident at the summit of a 21,000 foot peak in the Andes.

180 Degrees South: A multi-generational film featuring Yvon Chouinard. Jeff Johnson attempts to retrace Chouinard and Doug Tompkin’s 1968 journey to Patagonia. Johnson endures ship-wreck but completes the journey to find his heroes, who are now on a mission to protect both the environment and the climbing they love. Excellent documentary on wilderness ethics.

Blindsight: The story of six blind Tibetan teens on their courageous attempt to climb the 23,000 ft Lhakpa Ri in the Himalayas. Enjoy breathtaking Himalayan scenery as you join the teenagers on their inspiring and difficult three-week journey.

Cold: After 16 different failed expeditions, COLD tells of the 2011 first ascent of one of Pakistan’s 8000 m peaks. Footage recorded on the expedition itself tells the story in this 19 minute film.

Everest: A 45 minute documentary that includes footage captured during the 1996 Everest disaster, as prepared for IMAX on the big screen. Documents the character of the mountain and the tragedy it can deliver.

K2: Siren of the Himalayas: A group of climbers team up to climb K2 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Duke of Abruzzi’s expedition. The film also explores the history and geography of the Karakoram Mountain Range. Themes include adventure, personal risk, and exploration in an age when most of our planet has been explored.

Meru: The story of three prominent alpinists of our era and their big wall attempt to climb the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru, a 21,000 ft peak in Northern India.

Messner: The story of Reinhold Messner, one of the greatest mountain climbers of modern time, and his introspective look upon his life in search of self-knowledge through adventure.

The Alps: Story of a man who embarks to climb the North Face of the Eiger after it claims his father’s life. Breathtaking scenery of the Alps. True life story of unstoppable courage. Filmed for IMAX.

The Conquest of Everest: Award-winning British documentary on the Hillary and Tensing push for Everest, the tallest peak on earth. Features the entire trek from base camp to summit. Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature.

The Summit: After 18 reached the summit of K2 in 2008, 11 were dead only 48 hours later. Interviews with survivors of the trip are combined with raw footage from the trip to tell the tale of catastrophe and lives lost.

The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest: Conrad Anker discovers the body of George Mallory in Everest’s ‘death zone’ in 1999, 75 years after his 1924 disappearance. Mallory had been attempting to be the first to top the world’s highest peak. The Wildest Dream tells the interwoven story of Anker’s life with Mallory’s as he aims to unveil the mystery surrounding his death.

A Lonely Place to Die: A group of climbers find a lost and starving 8-year old girl in the mountains and decide to rescue her. They unknowingly end up intertwining themselves in an elaborate kidnapping ploy.

Cliffhanger: A Sylvester Stallone film that was one of the most fun action movies of the 90s, with memorable one-liners and great climbing footage. Edge-of-your-seat action, complete with damsels in distress, falling in to traps, and millions of dollars on the line.

The Eiger Sanction: One of the strangest Clint Eastwood films you’ll ever see. Eastwood plays a college lecturer, top assassin and mountaineer whose next assignment is on the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.

The Mountain: The chilling story of one man’s attempt to rob the dead upon learning of a plane crash in the Alps. Accompanied by his mountaineering brother, this is a touching and humane story on the battle of good versus evil.

Vertical Limit: A retired mountain climber races against time to save his estranged sister and her team who have become trapped on their expedition to climb K2. Despite mixed reviews on this box-office success, it is a pulpy action must-see for cultural reference.

Beyond the Edge: The story of the first ascent of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, by Hillary and Norgay in 1953. Original footage and photographs from the expedition intertwined with dramatized reenactments. Best viewed in 3D.

Touching the Void: True story of two climbing friends, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, on a 1985 expedition in the Peruvian Andes. When an accident occurs on their descent and a severe storm hits, the men are faced with the hardest decisions of their lives. The tale of the greatest survival challenges they would ever experience.

Alive: Profoundly moving true-life story about human resilience. Survivors of a plane crash are forced to survive in the Andes mountains with minimal gear to live and only their survival-spirit to drive them.

Everest: Based on the 1996 true-story of the Mt Everest disaster, with excellent cinematography. Die-hard mountaineers may notice omissions in the true story and some scenes filmed elsewhere. Best viewed in 3D.

K2: Loosely based on the story of the 1978 first ascent of K2, the second highest mountain on earth. An adventure stricken with all sorts of obstacles, complete with some of the best climbing scenes you will get.

Nanga Parbat: German film about brothers Reinhold and Günther Messner and their 1970 ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. Tragically, the younger brother, Günther, dies on their descent. The film is Reinhold’s retelling of their life and the truth of what happened on the expedition.

North Face: Historical fiction film based on the 1936 true-story attempt by two German mountaineers to climb the North Face of the Eiger in the Alps. The story tells of the accident and perilous conditions that fall upon them. Gripping with breath-taking cinematography.

The White Tower: Alpinist Carla Alten assembles a team to climb The White Tower in the Swiss Alps to fulfill the dream that claimed her father’s life. The team are a mismatched bunch that discover the true nature of themselves as they work towards their arduous first ascent.

Third Man on the Mountain: A Disney film based on a true story that tells the tale of a young boy as he attempts to climb the Citadel: the mountain that killed his father. A fine adventure film with excellent cast and stunning scenery shot on location in Switzerland.

The Beckoning Silence: Joe Simpson’s retelling of one of mountaineering’s greatest tragedy stories: the disaster that struck Toni Kurz and party on the North Face of the Eiger in 1936. The film tells of Kurz’s battle with survival while exploring WHY climbers voluntarily bring themselves so close to death.

PURPOSE: Carry All The Gear You Need For A Day At The Crag

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $90 – $220

LOOK FOR: Good Durability, Capacity To Carry Your Gear, Comfort

OUR PICK: Black Diamond Stone 42 Duffel

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Backpacks

PURPOSE: Protect Your Climbing Rope From Dirt And Debris

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Highly Recommended

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $40

LOOK FOR: Tarp Within Bag, Easy Closure And Durable Buckles

OUR PICK: Metolius Ropemaster HC Bag

PURPOSE: Protection When Lead Or Top-Rope Climbing

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $130 – $380

LOOK FOR: Appropriate Length And Diameter, Dry-Treatment If Desired

OUR PICK: BlueWater Lightning Pro 9.7

LEARN MORE: When To Replace Your Climbing Rope

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Ropes

PURPOSE: Sticking To Tiny Footholds And Generating Power Through Your Feet

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $85 – $200

LOOK FOR: The Best Fit For Your Foot, The Right Downturn For Your Style

OUR PICK: La Sportiva Solutions

BEST MODELS: Best Beginner Climbing Shoes and Best Bouldering Shoes

PURPOSE: Safety For Climbing And Belaying, Attachment Points For Rope And Belay Device, Loops To Carry Your Gear

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $45 – $170

LOOK FOR: The Best Fit For Your Body, Padding, Good Gear Loops

OUR PICK: Black Diamond Chaos

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Harnesses

PURPOSE: Belaying And Lowering A Climber

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $150

LOOK FOR: Ease Of Use, Brake Assist, Function As A Rappel Device

OUR PICK: Petzl GriGri 2

LEARN MORE: How To Belay

BEST MODELS: The 8 Best Belay Devices For Rock Climbing

PURPOSE: Connect Your Climbing Rope To Bolts On The Wall To Protect The Climber In A Fall

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $12 – $40 Each

LOOK FOR: Sturdy Dogbone, Solid Gate Carabiners

OUR PICK: Petzl Spirit Express

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Quickdraws For Rock Climbing

PURPOSE: Protecting Your Head When Falling And From Rock Fall

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Highly Recommended

PRICE RANGE: $45 – $130

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Adjustability And Ventilation

OUR PICK: Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet

BEST MODELS: The 9 Best Climbing Helmets

PURPOSE: Containing The Chalk You Need While Climbing

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $10 – $40

LOOK FOR: Opening That Fits Your Hand, Smooth Drawstring, Personal Style

OUR PICK: PrAna Chalk Bag

PURPOSE: Keeping Your Hands Dry On The Rock And Improving Friction

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $10 – $30

LOOK FOR: Pure Magnesium Carbonate, Low Impurities

OUR PICK: Black Diamond White Gold

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Chalks

PURPOSE: Returning To The Ground If There Are No Chains Or Drop In Anchors

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Anchors At The Crag

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $35

LOOK FOR: Lightweight, Easy To Use, Ability To Be In Guide-Mode

OUR PICK: Black Diamond ATC-Guide

LEARN MORE: How To Rappel

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Belay Devices

PURPOSE: Used To Secure Yourself To An Anchor Before Cleaning To Lower Or Rappel

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $25 – $40

LOOK FOR: kN Strength Rating, Adjustability

OUR PICK: Metolius Personal Anchor System

LEARN MORE: Understanding The Limits Of Your PAS

PURPOSE: Protecting Your Hands When Handling Your Climbing Rope

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $10 – $50

LOOK FOR: Finger Length, Fit, Durable Material

OUR PICK: Outdoor Research Men’s Hand Break Gloves

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Belay Gloves For Climbing

PURPOSE: Protect Your Neck While Belaying By Minimizing Strain

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $30 – $90

LOOK FOR: Prism Quality, Prism Size, Comfort

OUR PICK: Y&Y Plasfun Belay Glasses

PURPOSE: Back-Up For Rappelling, Self-Rescue

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $1 – $10

LOOK FOR: Cordelette 60-80% Of The Standing Line Diameter, About 2 m Long

OUR PICK: Sterling Rope Cordelette

LEARN MORE: How To Create Your Prusik

PURPOSE: To Care For Splits, Shreds, Flappers And More In Your Skin

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $1 – $50

LOOK FOR: Build Your Own To Include Tape, Hand Balm, Files, Clippers, Etc

PURPOSE: Support Injured Fingers, Tape Wounds, Fix Things

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $2 – $10

LOOK FOR: Sticky, Inexpensive

OUR PICK: Metolius Climbing Tape

LEARN MORE: How To Tape Your Fingers

PURPOSE: Enables You To Get Off A Route If You Can’t Do The Move And Need To Bail

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $0 – $10

LOOK FOR: Inexpensive, Old But Not Sharp

OUR PICK: Black Diamond Oval Carabiner

LEARN MORE: How NOT To Bail

PURPOSE: Provides Area Information And Important Route Details Such As Grade, Quality, Length, Bolts And Description

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Recommended

PRICE RANGE: $25 – $100

LOOK FOR: Current Edition, Good Reviews

OUR PICK: Depends On Where You Want to Climb

PURPOSE: Reduce Rope Drag on Wandering Routes

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Only For “Wandery” Routes

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $30 Each

LOOK FOR: Long Sling That Can Be Extended And Two Carabiners; Or Build Your Own

OUR PICK: Edelrid Mission Extendable Quickdraw

LEARN MORE: The Alpine Quickdraw

PURPOSE: Healing Cuts, Splits, Thin Skin And Other Wounds On Hands And Fingers

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $7 – $25

LOOK FOR: Natural Ingredients, Not Too Oily

OUR PICK: Climb On! Lotion Bar

PURPOSE: To Get You To The Crag With Great Support And Rubber Friction

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $55 – $150

LOOK FOR: Sticky Rubber, Wrapping Toe Rand, Breathability, Support

OUR PICK: Scarpa Crux

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Approach Shoes

PURPOSE: Improve Stability And Lessen Impact To Joints While Carrying Weight

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $120

LOOK FOR: Adjustability, Grip And Shock Absorption

OUR PICK: Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock

LEARN MORE: How To Use Trekking Poles

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Hiking Poles

PURPOSE: To Air Feet Out Between Wearing Climbing Shoes

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $15 – $120

LOOK FOR: Breathability, Lightweight, Easy To Put On And Off

OUR PICK: Classic Crocs

BEST MODELS: The 8 Best Hiking Sandals

PURPOSE: Carry Water To Keep You Hydrated

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $10 – $50

LOOK FOR: Reusable, BPA-Free, Suitable Volume

OUR PICK: Nalgene Tritan 32oz Wide Mouth

PURPOSE: Additional Water Storage, Hydration During Approach

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends

PRICE RANGE: $30 – $50

LOOK FOR: Easy To Drink From, Sufficient Volume

OUR PICK: Camelbak Antidote Reservoir

PURPOSE: Provide Energy To Fuel Your Day

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $1 – $10

LOOK FOR: Sufficient Calories To Recover From Hiking And Climbing

PURPOSE: Quick Energy To Help You Last The Day

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $1 – $5

LOOK FOR: Energy Bars, Fruits And Vegetables, Nuts, Sweet Treats

OUR PICK: Clif Bar Energy Bars

PURPOSE: Personal Comfort And Protection From Rock Abrasion

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $50 – $150

LOOK FOR: Flexibility And Durable Fabric

OUR PICK: La Sportiva Arco

BEST MODELS: The 9 Best Climbing Pants

PURPOSE: Personal Comfort And Protection From Rock Abrasion

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Personal Preference

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $90

LOOK FOR: Flexibility And Durable Fabric

OUR PICK: PrAna Mojo

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Shorts

PURPOSE: Protection From Sun And Rock Abrasion

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $15 – $30

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Style, Breathability and Flexibility

OUR PICK: La Sportiva Climbing T-Shirt

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Climbing Shirt Brands

PURPOSE: To Keep You Warm In Between Climbs And While Belaying

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $150 – $400

LOOK FOR: Suitable Warmth And Weight

OUR PICK: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Down Jackets

PURPOSE: To Keep Your Lower Body Warm

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $100

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Midweight, And Merino Wool Or Synthetic Blend

OUR PICK: Patagonia Capilene Mid-Weight Bottoms

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Long Johns

PURPOSE: To Keep Your Upper Body Warm

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $40 – $150

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Merino Wool With Medium Weight

OUR PICK: Smartwool NTS Mid 250 Crew

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Base Layers

PURPOSE: Keep Warm While Climbing On Colder Days

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $40 – $200

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Warmth, Fit

OUR PICK: Arc’teryx Fortrez Hoody

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Fleece Jackets

PURPOSE: Keep Head Warm While Resting Or Climbing

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $20 – $40

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Warmth, Fit

OUR PICK: Arc’teryx Bird Head Toque

PURPOSE: Keep Hands And Fingers Warm While Resting

ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depends On Season

PRICE RANGE: $15 – $50

LOOK FOR: Comfort, Warmth, Fit

OUR PICK: Outdoor Research Pl 400 Sensor Mitts

BEST MODELS: The 10 Best Hiking Gloves

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A buff is abundantly versatile. One can be worn as a neck warmer, bandana, headband and more. A buff can provide warmth, sun protection, bug protection, or even just style for your hiking friends. These simple tubes of fabric are great for anybody.

Even if your friends are only into occasional hiking, it is likely they move over unforgiving terrain. Rocks and bushes can quickly snag and tear at fabrics. Help your friends make repairs to their outerwear, packs, and even tents and mattresses with this handy and compact repair kit. The kit comes with 1/4 oz. Seam Grip adhesive and sealant, two removable Clean Tape patches and an application brush.

Socks may seem like a cliché gift idea, but hikers can never have enough of them! There are many great hiking socks to choose from, but Darn Tough does it right with their custom-count, shrink-treated merino and extra cushioning in just the right places. Merino wool is an awesome option due to its anti-microbial and insulation properties.

Brought to you by Backpacker Magazine, the second edition of Leave No Trace by Annette McGivney is full of advice on how to minimize one’s impact in the great outdoors. The book contains plenty of tips for hikers that go well beyond packing out your garbage. A portion of the proceeds from each sale of the book goes to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

A great choice for your hiking friends who are out on the trail for more than just a day trip. Squishy dishes are lightweight and compressible, and they take up very little space in a pack. These surprisingly sturdy bowls also come in a variety of fun colors. An alternative, equally cool option is the Sea-To-Summit collapsible bowl set, available at REI.

The AeroPress has become all the rage recently, providing quick and delicious coffee-by-the-cup with little waste. These presses make a great gift for the coffee-loving-hiker in your life. They are lightweight, compact, and the required cleaning is minimal, which is perfect for an on-the-go adventurer lifestyle.

A delicious alternative to pressing a pot of coffee in the morning. Perfect for early morning hikers or your friends who are pressed for time but still love a quality cup of joe in an instant. Made from 100% high elevation arabica coffee beans.

A hiking snack that is tried and true. Clif bars pack a punch in terms of fibre, protein and nutrients, and they are made from all natural, organic ingredients. They are a reliable snack that have been fueling hikers and adventurers for 25 years. Looking for something a little different? Clif Bar offers a multitude of other products in addition to their classic bars.

Surprise your friends with a delicious space-meal-inspired treat that they aren’t likely to have every day. These ice cream sandwiches have a unique texture, but actually taste just like the real thing. They are just as they sound: vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate cookie wafers.

Hikers love a good summit treat. The spectrum of funky chocolate on the market these days is vast, but you can’t go wrong with the selection from Theo chocolate. Easily blow your buddies’ palettes with Crunchy Black Rice Quinoa or Salted Toffee, combined with rich dark chocolate. Theo bars are Fair Trade and organic.

Do you have hiking friends who are into overnight trips? These durable Sea To Summit utensils are made from an aircraft grade aluminum alloy. The fork-knife-spoon set is lightweight and compact, and each piece is designed with integrated hex tools in the handle for easy stove maintenance on the trail.

This collapsible water bottle gives you the freedom to drink water anywhere, anytime. It comes with a built-in 0.1 micron microfilter that is effective at removing protozoa and bacteria to EPA standards. It also works fast, with the ability to filter 2L of water per minute.

You can’t go wrong with a water bottle. Everyone uses them, and they are the most reliable solution for water on a day hike. When a water bladder feels like a bit over the top, fill your Nalgene from the tap at home and hit the trail for a few hours. Works great for warm or cold drinks.

These compact electrolyte tablets are great to throw in a pack on a long hike. They are small, lightweight, and delicious – drop one tablet into 16 fluid ounces of water and after two minutes you have hydration with dependably fast absorption. NUUN tablets are available in a variety of flavors, and if you buy the conservation 4-pack from REI you get the added bonus of knowing a portion of the proceeds are helping to protect North America’s wild places.

Plenty of hiking, especially in the heat, can burn up a lot of electrolytes during the day. Skratch Labs makes all natural energy drink mixes in a variety of wild and delicious flavors like Raspberry and Pineapple, to help keep adventurers healthy and hydrated.

Looking to bring a little something along on the trail for when you’ve finished your miles for the day and are back at the campfire sharing with friends? The 8 ounce Stanley Classic flask is a tried and true vessel for transporting whatever celebratory beverage you’re looking for. The wide mouth makes it easy for both sipping and pouring.

Stasher bags are a great alternative to rigid plastic food containers or disposable snack bags. The 100% pure platinum food-grade silicone pouches are changing the game for food storage on the trail. Best of all? These self-sealing bags are low profile and pack down once empty, but you can reuse them again and again.

Water treatment tabs are a great back up to have on a hike, in cases where a water filter is not necessary but you’re still a bit wary of the water source. The Aqua Tabs Purification Tablets are effective against viruses, bacteria and Giardia cysts, and in just 30 mins a single tablet can purify up to two litres.

Crunchy freeze dried moon cheese is an awesome snack for on the trail. High in protein and calcium with the added bonus of being downright delicious. These cheesy treats come in cheddar, gouda, and pepper jack – help your friends to try them all!

A nifty way to light up the night when you’re hunkering down after a day on the trail. The Big Agnes MtnGlo accessory kit can be used inside your tent or around the campsite. It creates a great ambiance for hanging out with friends without the blinding-your-buddies downside of a classic headlamp.

Everyone should have an emergency blanket or bivy with them on the trail. A bivy is a great, thoughtful gift for a friend. The SOL Emergency Bivy reflects up to 90% of one’s body heat back to them, which offers excellent peace of mind for when disaster strikes. The orange exterior is highly visible to aid in rescue efforts.

Duct tape has countless uses! Buy a large role and encourage your friends to wrap a long piece several times around their Nalgene to have on hand in emergencies. If your trail-ready friends are counting ounces in their packs, pick them up a ready-to-use mini duct tape two pack from REI.

Nearly everyone has experienced the inconvenience of the bent out-of-shape tent stake. If your friends are lucky enough to have only owned high quality stakes with their tent, they’ve surely lost at least one over the years. These MSR Ground Hog Stakes are sleek, lightweight and virtually indestructible!

Keep your friend’s feet and pants dry with these lightweight and durable gaiters! This low rise pair has an elasticized top and bottom which helps prevent debris, twigs, and dirt from getting into boots and ruining the day. These gaiters will perform well in rain, light snow, and bush-whacking terrain, but for extreme hiking endeavors consider a full length pair.

The Duck’s Back rain covers from REI have a waterproof polyurethane coating that is sure to keep the pack underneath bone dry. This one is a great midway size of 60L, but REI offers rain covers for packs ranging from 20L to 100L. Drawstrings allow the covers to securely cinch for those in-between-sizes.

Perfect for hikers and backpackers. This kit contains sufficient first aid supplies for one or two people for up to four days. Ultralight in a zippered ripstop silnylon outer bag with watertight inner pouches so materials stay dry and intact in the depths of your pack. There are many variations available so you can match the kit to your needs, or customize all the way and build your own.

Snack breaks, view points and rest stops are all opportunities for your hiking friends to grab a seat and rest their weary legs. These lightweight, foldable camping mat seats help keep rear ends dry and clean while reducing wear to those beloved hiking trousers. Give your friends the gift of comfort.

A chawel, or “changing towel” is simple, yet innovative. Sometimes a little extra discretion is desired, but the space and place are not entirely suitable for stripping down and switching outfits. Experience the freedom to change anywhere when you have a thin and lightweight chawel in your pack.

Weighing in at only 2.8 ounces and packing down to almost nothing, your friends are sure to appreciate the comfort points from this gift. The pillow inflates to a full 5 inches thick with only two breaths of air. Curved internal baffles and a soft but durable synthetic stretch-knit outer offer superior comfort.

Regardless of whether your hiking friends are overnighters or not, it is always a great idea to have emergency supplies. This striker and flint bar is tiny and takes up hardly any space, yet can produce a spark in adverse conditions when it’s needed most.

The Squirt is less than two ounces, making it a great choice for hiking who are lightweight conscious. Complete with two pliers, three screwdrivers, scissors, wire cutters, a file, a straight knife, and a bottle opener, this multitool is likely to meet most needs. If you know your friends are going to be up to some extreme adventuring, consider a more survival-oriented option.

Leave No Trace is an organization worth supporting. Your hiking friends are likely passionate lovers of the outdoors and supportive of protecting our natural areas. These Leave No Trace caps proudly sport the LNT logo. With an adjustable back, they’ll be suitable for anyone. LNT also sells books and other swag.

Made with natural and organic ingredients such as beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter, Kiss My Face lip balm is long-lasting and provides SPF 30 protection. As a sport-specific lip balm it is also water-resistant. A perfect solution for braving elements of sun, wind, and cold.

A fun gift for your hiking friends. Strap the lamp to the outside of a pack during the day so the panel can charge, then inflate to enjoy great campsite ambiance in the evening with the unoffensive glow of the Luci lamp.

A packet of Sea To Summit hand wash slips is a lightweight alternative to carrying a bottle of liquid soap or a travel container with a bar of soap. Slide out one of these biodegradable and phosphate free soap leaves and lather up for fresh clean hands on the trail.

These Black Diamond mittens are convertible to 3/4 length gloves for when your hands get too warm or you need the finger dexterity for digging around in your bag. They are windproof and made of cozy Polartec fleece. Know of friends embarking on even more intense cold weather adventures? Try Outdoor Research Storm Tracker Heated Gloves!

A gift of this towel is like giving your friends a hug. Made from a soft polyester/nylon microfiber blend, Packtowel towels are also super absorbent, and can soak up four times their weight in water. Perfect for your hiking buddies that enjoy taking a quick dip in lakes and streams on their adventures.

Whether it be for covering a few miles before sunrise, fixing a meal back at camp, or a safety measure when you find yourself on the trail after dark, every hiker needs a reliable headlamp. Offering 300 lumens, the Petzl Actik is also low profile and lightweight enough that it won’t occupy too much space in the bag.

These classic vacuum insulated thermos bottles are popular for a reason. They can lock in the temperature of hot or cold beverages for up to 24 hours! Have friends who need to hit the trail early but aren’t “morning people”? Encourage them to make their coffee or tea over dinner the night before, and then seal it in a thermos so the steaming goodness awaits them in the a.m.

When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. Human waste in the backcountry is a growing environmental concern. Help your friends be the best backcountry citizens they can be, with the gift of a sturdy yet lightweight, foldable shovel.

In this day and age there are countless reasons why it’s smart and safe to have electronics with you on the trail. But, weather changes can occur unexpectedly, and your smart phone or other device will be useless if it becomes water damaged. Help your friends keep their gadgets bone dry in rain storms, paddling excursions, or when fording that surprise river crossing. Multiple case sizes are available.

It is often nice to have a notebook on a hike to record info about the trek, note down unique observations, or even just store some emergency contact information. These small, compact flip-notebooks are totally waterproof, and take up next-to-no space when slipped into a pack. Larger bound books are available for your friends who have caught the writing bug.

Being safe means having an ability to be heard. These whistles are great for if emergency strikes. They are made with one main chamber and two secondary chambers and deliver a 120-decibel staccato sound that reaches above wind and doesn’t get lost.

These Zippo Hand Warmers deliver 12-hour warming power. Hand warmers are great for those who enjoy brisk early starts or are hitting the trails in the shoulder season. Hand warmers are a tried and true trick loved by many. Give your friends the gift of warmth with one of these reusable hand warmers, or choose from an array of other options.

Blisters are a good way to immediately ruin a day. Provide your friends with an emergency kit for those inevitable hot spots on the trail. Remember that the number one tool for mitigating blisters is prevention, but its important to know how to care for your blisters if they do arise.

Self-myofascial release is a great strategy for managing tight muscles. Foam rollers specifically can work knots and tension out of big muscle groups like the legs and back. Get your friends back on the trails quicker by giving them a foam roller they can use to aid in injury prevention and recover more quickly.

Do you friends love to cook? Do they get excited about preparing their own meals for long hikes? The Backpack Gourmet Cookbook offers a ton of recipe ideas for delicious and healthy home-dried meals and snacks that simply require re-heating on the trail. This book is especially great for backpackers as it can help dramatically with cutting food weight.

Another incredible cookbook with clear at-home and on-the-trail preparation steps. The meals in these pages are fun and delicious, and all updated from the cookbook’s successful first edition. Each recipe is complete with nutritional information, serving size, and carrying weight to help your friends plan the perfect menu for their next trip.

Backpacker magazine is a fantastic resource for gear, trip stories, survival tips, skills learning, inspiring photography and more. You can purchase a subscription for anywhere between one and three years and keep your friends stoked and inspired for their next hike or backpacking adventure.

There are a lot of outdoor-specific apps on the market, many of which are free! Know a friend who is tech savvy and loves learning on the go? Send them a list of free and inexpensive app suggestions, or buy them a topographic or survival app for the safety on the trail.

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It’s hard to beat cozy toes at the end of a day on the trail. Give your friends’ feet a break from their trail shoes. Cabiniste booties are not only spacious and warm, but with reinforced soles they enable users to complete all their evening camp duties in comfort. They are also available in a women’s-specific pair.

Merino wool is a fantastic choice for a base layer, as it continues to insulate even when wet, and is naturally smell-free. Help your friends to layer up efficiently no matter what the weather with this high quality piece that they can also wear on its own. Remind your friends to care for their merino properly to maintain garment longevity.

The classic Patagonia fleeces are loved by many. The Better Sweater is one of Patagonia’s most popular pieces, renowned for its comfort and versatility. Made with polyester knitted fleece, this midweight jacket is great to wear on its own or under a shell as part of a layering system. Also know that you’re giving your friends the gift of environmental consciousness when supporting Patagonia.

This jacket is a great choice for the day hikers on your friend list. The Houdini offers extremely lightweight protection from wicked winds and light rain. Weighing next to nothing, this low profile jacket (that tucks away completely into a tiny pocket) has your friends covered.

With a weather-resistent shell and 650-fill power down that meets the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) requirement, this jacket is hard to beat. It also comes in at a great price point for packable down that won’t break the bank! Women’s and children’s versions are available, making it a superb choice for everyone on your hiking gift list.

Tasty, easy, lightweight, and reliable. Freeze dried food is quick couldn’t be simpler – just add water! This Mountain House assortment includes Chili Mac with Beef, one of the most popular flavors from a company with a long-standing history in freeze dried food. If your friends are weight-conscious with regards to what is in their pack but are not interested in cooking for themselves, this combo bucket would be an excellent treat.

Ursack bags are smell and tear resistant to protect your precious food from interested critters. We recommend one of these bags for your hiking friends who have a “base camp” where they can leave their camping and food supplies. Multiple different Ursack sizes are available.

These lightweight chairs are perfect for lounging around camp in the evening. They are fantastic backpacking chairs; low profile enough to strap to a backpack, and weighing in at only 1 lb 4.8 oz. Your friends will be grateful for the comfort they’ve gained, and they’ll love the unique two-foot design that allows them to rock back and forth.

This is a great gift for your friends who are doing multiple hikes from a car-camping location. Wash the sweat, dirt, and grime away at the end of each day on the trail. The Helio shower doesn’t need to be hung – rather it provides 5-7 minutes of great shower pressure with the bag right on the ground. The bag has an 11-litre capacity.

These sleeping pads are extremely light, weighing in at only 8 ounces. They would make a perfect gift for your backpacking friends or the thru hiker in your life. Internal baffle design offers 2.5 inch thickness and insulation provided by air pockets without the added weight of down or synthetic fills.

Hikers love to unwind at the end of the day. A hammock is a fantastic, low volume lounge chair that takes relaxing to the next level. The Eno Doublenest Hammock is affordable, made from ultralight, durable 70-denier nylon, and provides roomy comfort for two people.

These all-weather blankets are made with an adventurer in mind! DWR-treated ripstop nylon encases soft and warm high-lofting down that is held in place with a delightful flow stitching pattern. They are cozy but also lightweight, offering a great alternative to a traditional sleeping bag in warm summer months.

The North Face Furnace 20 is an affordable, lightweight mummy bag that is awesome for three season backpacking. This 20 degree F sleeping bag contains 600 fill power ProDown that meets Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and repels water more than other down. Furthermore, if water does get on the bag, ProDown dries out faster than other down types.

The Big Agnes Encampment 15 is filled with 100% recycled synthetic insulation, intended to keep you just as warm as in a down bag. This sleeping bag is semi-rectangular bag, offering spacious coziness. Plenty of thoughtful details went into the bag design, like stretch panels that act as pillow stabilizers, and hooks for a sleeping bag liner. Your backpacking friends are sure to find it a thoughtful gift as well.

Trekking poles can make all the difference on a long hike when carrying heavy weight. The Hiker Hunger trekking poles are made from lightweight, carbon fiber and designed with comfy cork handles. The poles have an easy-to-use quick flip lock adjustment mechanism for when extending or compressing. The set includes rubber tips, rubber feet, mud baskets, and snow baskets and comes with a carry bag.

A Kindle is an awesome idea for the avid reader in your life who enjoys a good read when out in nature but without the weight of heavy paper. Kindles provide lightweight reading on the go. They’re easy to haul to the summit of a mountain peak and take up little room on longer backpacking adventures.

A yoga mat is a versatile gift for a hiker, regardless of whether they practice yoga or not. A mat also provides a comfortable space for warm-up stretches, core and body strength exercises, and body maintenance such as rolling out knots on a foam roller or lacrosse ball. The options are endless.

Do your hiking friends love photography but don’t want to carry a heavy camera with them on the trail? Consider gifting them an Olloclip Core Lens set that attaches right to their smart phone camera. Small and simple, these lenses can significantly boost photography potential. Other great higher quality lenses are the Moment New Wide Lens and the Moment New Tele Lens for professional quality close and far shots.

There is a benefit to having a virtually indestructible navigation unit with you on the trail. Garmin brings this to the table with the now updated eTrex 20x. This updated GPS unit has expanded memory for storing even more maps and data and an enhanced screen. Don’t let your friends head into the backcountry without a navigation unit, one of the 10 essentials.

Sometimes you need that little boost to keep your gear charged up on the trail. The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus is one of a variety of awesome options for a backcountry charging system. All you need to do is add sun! This particular kit comes with a Guide 10 Plus power pack that charges four AA batteries in 6-10 hours by USB, or just 3-6 hours from the sun. Comes with a 12V DC and USB to mini USB cords.

The JBL Clip2 Portable Speaker produces great sound from a sleek body weighing in at just 6.5 ounces. It is waterproof making it great for land or water. With an 8 hour battery life to keep the beats going, it’s hard to pass up this clip-anywhere unit. Please remind your friends to avoid the use of portable speakers on the trail if others are around – it is important to be respectful all people enjoying the outdoors.