7 Balms, Salves, and Tools for Climbing Skin Care

A good climber knows that taking care of skin is just as important as training muscles. Our hands are our lifeline to the rock. Sweaty palms, flappers, and other skin issues can seriously stand in the way of success on a hard project.

But with so many climbing skin care products on the market, it can be tough to know which ones are worth your time and money. The seven balms, creams, lotions, and other tools below are worth checking out if your skin is holding you back.

[Also Read: A Climber’s Guide to Skin Care: Dealing With Sweat, Tape, Splits, and More]

1. Climbskin Hand Cream

This cream both heals torn, cracked skin and prevents excess moisture, unlike many hand repair balms that can leave your skin feeling waxy and polished. It’s both a pre-climb moisturizer and sweat-preventative, and a post-climb salve to soothe your dry skin and splits.

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2. Rhino Spit

This hand spray is designed to get friction and pliability back into hard, glassy skin, and it works well for many climbers. Rhino Skin Solutions offers their Spit in several sizes (1oz, 2oz, 3.4oz, and 8oz), so you can buy to suit your needs.

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3. Lattice Training Hand File

It’s smart to sand out imperfections in the skin, such as ridges and calluses, to prevent snagging and tearing when you climb. Sanding off layers of dead skin will also promote faster healing and/or growth. This little hand file is much easier to grip and apply force with than a piece of sandpaper, and comes with three extra pieces of sandpaper.

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4. Rhino Split

Rhino Spit is supposed to improve performance, while Rhino Split is designed to heal. This roll-on cream comes in two sizes (0.15oz and 2.5oz) and uses beeswax, vitamin E, arnica, dragon’s blood, and tea tree oil, offering a blend of occlusive (sealing) and antibacterial properties.

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5. Antihydral

Many pros rave about this obscure German drying agent. (Squamish Climbing Magazine called it “Skin Doping for Climbers” back in 2015.) Not only does it dry your skin out, but it actually sticks to the skin surface, forming a faux-callus, like a thick coating of climbing chalk. If your primary skin issue is excess sweating, Antihydral will give you a boost.

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6. Joshua Tree Healing Salve

This is the healing balm I always used as a younger climber, because it was all I ever saw at SoCal climbing shops. Many folks swear by this stuff, and it’s great for healing injury, but it’s best used post-climb or well in advance of your session, as it can leave hands quite greasy after application.

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7. Metolius Climbing Tape

Last but not least: the mighty tape. There’s nothing particularly special about this example from Metolius, but it’s broad, easy to tear into thinner strips, and pretty beefy. One roll lasts quite a while. A zinc oxide adhesive is used to fight moisture and keep your tape from slipping off.

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Conclusion

Climbing skin care is certainly important. “When you are fit enough to send your project, skin management is the second most important factor after proper conditions,” says 5.15 climber and trainer Cameron Hörst, an avid fan of Antihydral.

There are plenty of tools, salves, and balms you can use to aid you in your skin journey. But everyone’s skin responds differently to rock types and weather conditions, and can change dramatically as you progress as a climber. The most important thing be adaptive and choose the products that suit your individual needs. The longer you climb, the better you’ll learn to understand your skin.

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