10 Climber-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gifts
Whether you readily partake or not, Valentine’s Day is as good an excuse as any to upgrade your climbing/life partner’s gear closet. My husband Casey does not readily partake in our national day of love, but I’ll probably still get him something because one of my primary love languages is gifts (no shame).
Here are some of the Valentine’s Day gifts for climbers I have my eyes on. I’ve put them in order from little, inexpensive things that just about any rock enthusiast can use, to the most massive investments a climber can make in their relationship, aside from a custom van.
1. 8BPLUS Athletic Finger Tape ($8.90)
Most of us would be delighted to receive a fresh roll of tape in lieu of—or even better, taped atop—a box of chocolates. Plus this tape is made without plastic packaging and with hypoallergenic materials. It’s available in three colors and comes in a wacky pattern that will lighten the mood on brutal offwidths.
2. Rhino Skin Solutions Repair Cream ($18.95 for 3.4oz; $28 for 8oz)
Climbers can always use more skincare love—especially in the depths of winter. As a flight paramedic and climber who has three or four DIY home projects going on at any given time, Casey’s hands are pretty much always jacked up. So some Rhino Repair Cream is in order. Made with menthol, honey, tea tree oil, and willow bark, it’s an all-natural choice that doesn’t use any artificial ingredients. Combined with the roll of tape above and a bottle of whiskey, Casey might actually be stoked about Valentine’s Day this year.
3. YETI Rambler 18oz Hotshot Bottle ($30)
A couple that caffeinates and hydrates together, stays together. Because no one is on their best behavior when insufficiently caffeinated or dehydrated. I love that this bottle is completely leakproof and can store hot and cold drinks alike. It’s great for bringing that extra cup (or two) of coffee for a mellow morning of cragging, or for an electrolyte drink for long days out there.
Shop YETI Rambler Hotshot Bottle
4. Petzl Connect Adjust Lanyard ($49.95)
There’s nothing as sexy as safety and I love this easily adjustable lanyard for clipping into anchors. Whether I’m about to clean a climb or we’re in the midst of a multi-pitch route, this lanyard is so easy to use. I girth-hitch it to my harness and use it like a daisy chain. But unlike a daisy chain, its length can be adjusted without unclipping.
5. Red Chili Kneerock ($59.96)
Is 2025 the year of the kneepad? Look no further than Chris Weidner’s recent ascent of The Green Mile (5.14c, ~500 kneebars) at age 50. Or consider Emily Harrington’s insistence that Anna Hazelnutt get on Team Kneepad yesterday. Indeed, the time has come for a pair of kneepads in Casey’s climbing bin and these are one of the few pairs purpose-built for climbing.
6. Black Diamond Camalot Z4 ($89.95)
Bomber protection, bomber love. A trad dad can always use a few more Z4s (a 2020 Climbing Editors’ Choice pick) on their rack. I’ve got a .5 and .4 in my cart.
7. Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Alpine LT Pant ($129.99)
Most of us, including my partner, could use another pair of climbing pants, given the wear we put on knees, harness touch points, and hems on long approaches over talus fields. This pair is a durable choice with movement-friendly fabric. The cargo-style design is also great for securely stashing essentials, or bringing your phone up on the wall to snap photos.
Shop Men’s Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Pant
Shop Women’s Mountain Hardwear Chockstone Pant
8. La Sportiva TX4 EVO Approach Shoe ($169)
Our best all-around approach shoe of 2024, the TX4 EVO Approach Shoe is a versatile choice that performs on the trail and on rock. Casey doesn’t own a pair of approach shoes, so these are a serious contender for V Day gifting this year. One thing we love about this shoe is its Mythos lacing system, which allows you to really dial your fit. Did we mention the TX4 is as clingy as that gym climber you met on Hinge last year?
The shoe also comes in a boot version with GORE-TEX weather-proofing and is available in women’s sizing as well.
Shop Women’s TX4 Approach Shoe
Shop TX4 GORE-TEX Approach Boot
9. Black Diamond Hydra Ice Tool ($309.95 each)
For a few years, Casey has been giving me printed-out pictures of ice tools for birthdays and Christmas. The idea is I can trade in the picture for the tools I want. But between the steep price of ice tools and my indecision, I’ve delayed the redemption of this recurring “gift” and soldiered on with my Vipers. This year, instead of gifting me a picture of tools, Casey gave me actual tools: the Black Diamond Hydras. And they’re amazing.
Of course, now Casey is envious and wants his own pair. It’s unlikely two pairs of tools are in the budget this season, but I’m still considering it.
If you want to go big for your ice climbing/life partner this V Day, I can’t think of a better piece of gear to do it with. The Hydras are wildly versatile, with a modular design intended to be compatible with a variety of picks, adzes, hammers, and more accessories. This lets you tailor the tool to what you’re climbing.
10. Coros Vertix 2S Adventure Watch – $699
Casey has had a streak of bad luck with watches that keep breaking. But Coros watches appear to be virtually indestructible. Plus, if you listen to Climbing Gold, then you know Alex Honnold wears one. Climber-friendly features include a GPS navigation system, offline topo maps, an altitude mode that lets you check your blood oxygen levels, and a battery life of 118 hours.
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