Climbing lives and dies by the weather and the rock, so it’s no surprise most of us try to tread a little lighter. If you’re shopping for yourself or for a climbing buddy, an eco-friendly gift is an easy way to do that. This guide rounds up the best eco-friendly gifts for climbers, from chalk and shoes to ropes and jackets, so you can find something they’ll actually use without adding to the pile. Want more options? We’ve also got a big list of gifts for climbers and a non-gear gift guide if you want to keep browsing.
A quick heads up: the price brackets below are a rough guide. Availability and pricing change over time, so double-check the current cost on the retailer’s page before you buy.
Top 3 Eco-Friendly Gifts For Climbers
If you’re not sure what to get, start with these top three. They work even when you don’t know the climber’s size or what’s already in their gear closet, because a climber can always use more of this stuff.
Edelrid Boa Eco Climbing Rope, 9.8mm
Rope is about the most important piece of safety gear a climber owns. It’s also one thing you want to buy new, since you can’t see what’s happened to the core of a used one.
That’s why plenty of climbers retire and repurpose their old ropes into rugs and bags. But what about the new one? The Edelrid Boa Eco is a solid answer.
It’s a tough, all-around rope made from high-quality yarns left over from production, so it gets a one-off look with the same handling and strength as any other Edelrid rope.
Thermo Shield treatment uses heat to stabilize the yarns so the rope stays supple for its whole working life. As a bluesign® approved product, it uses on average 62% less CO2, 89% less water, 63% less energy, and 63% fewer chemicals to make.
ORGANIC Climbing Chalk Bag
Chalk is the not-so-secret weapon behind a lot of good climbing (we’ve got eco-friendly chalk further down), and the chalk bag is what keeps it on hand when you need it.
Even if they already own one, swapping in a more eco-conscious bag sets a good example at the crag, and it feels good hanging off your waist.
Handmade in the USA, this chalk bag from ORGANIC Climbing is built by upcycling scrap material left over from cutting, so no two bags look the same.
So iLL Sloper Brush 3.0 Eco
Caked-on chalk makes holds slick and hard to grip, and that’s where a brush earns its keep (here’s more on picking the right chalk in the first place). This one is eco-friendly and does double duty. Most brushes are just a handle and bristles, good for one job. This one adds a sandpaper backing.
Sanding down fingertips and callouses is how a lot of climbers keep their skin healthy and avoid flappers that catch on holds.
Made with premium boar hair bristles and a recycled plastic handle, the generously sized So iLL Sloper Brush 3.0 Eco gets holds clean, and the sandpaper backing handles callous care.
GIFTS UNDER $50
ECO Gold Chalk, Honnold Edition
Chalk is one of the more environmentally damaging things climbers use, which is a shame because it’s also one of the most useful for holding thin edges. It dries your hands and cuts sweat so you can keep your grip.
Some brands, like Black Diamond, have started making products such as this chalk more environmentally conscious. This one is also a partnership with Alex Honnold, one of the most famous climbers in the world, whose foundation works to bring responsible energy to people everywhere.
Made from pure magnesium carbonate, a byproduct of the desalination process rather than something mined from the earth like typical chalk, ECO Gold is purer and easier on the planet than most chalk out there.
In other words, it’s about as easy on the environment as it is on your hands. Because it’s so pure, it’s also extra absorbent, so you get strong drying power and better grip. A percentage of every bag sold goes to the Honnold Foundation, which supports solar energy for a more equitable world.
Pur Chalk, Eco-Friendly Chalk
Because chalk is tough on the environment, it’s always been a bit of a balancing act to climb well and still climb green (our chalk FAQ digs into the details). The good news is a few brands have worked to make their chalk as sustainable as they can.
Eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable, Pur Chalk is made from 100% pure magnesium carbonate with no fillers or drying agents, so you get maximum sweat absorption. It comes in a reusable, resealable, and recyclable bag.
Arc’teryx Large Ion Chalk Bag
A chalk bag is one of the things you always want at the crag. This one straps to your waist easily and leaves room for both chalk and your hand mid-route. It’s also bluesign® approved, so it’s built mostly from recycled material.
Fumbling for chalk to get your friction back burns energy you’d rather save for the crux, so the Large Ion keeps access simple. The bigger volume and stiff brim make chalking up quick, so nothing slows you down on the redpoint.
WRIGHTSOCK ECO Run Tab Socks
Most of us don’t wear socks in our climbing shoes (though some climbers make the case for it), but we do wear them with approach shoes on the hike in. For that part of the day, you want a sock that’s eco-friendly and still supports your feet and cuts down blisters.
Because climbing shoes fit so tight, blisters are brutal and can end your session early, so a good approach sock matters more than it looks.
If blisters are your main enemy on the trail, the WRIGHTSOCK Eco Run Tab socks offer blister-free comfort and support for long and short days in breathable, moisture-wicking REPREVE® fabric.
The sustainable, strong, lightweight double-layer build uses REPREVE recycled polyester fibers sourced from 1.9 plastic bottles.
Steeped Coffee
What sets Steeped Coffee apart is a brewing method that skips machines and equipment entirely, made a lot like tea (handy if you’re after hot coffee at the crag). The coffee comes in single-serve bags that are nitro-sealed for freshness. It’s a genuinely unplugged coffee experience, from the award-winning packaging made with compostable and renewable materials to the non-GMO filters. All you need is hot water and a few minutes, and there are no plastic pods piling up in waterways or landfills.
GIFTS UNDER $100
Burton Packable Skyward 25L Daypack
This packable bag is handy for travel or tight storage, and it’s bluesign® approved, which means it’s built mostly from recycled material.
Whether you’re taking in sunrise from a summit or a window seat, this lightweight pack carries everything you need for the day. When it’s empty of snacks and souvenirs, it folds into its own internal pocket to stash in a suitcase or gear closet until the next trip.
Powertraveller Extreme Solar Charger
The Powertraveller Extreme Solar charger is a lightweight, clamshell solar panel with 5-watt, 5V 1A output, so it’s great for charging phones, GPS units, and handheld action cameras.
It’s ideal for small devices like cameras, phones, satellite navigators, GPS units, music players, watches, and headlamps. The panel opens to a 210° angle so it’s easy to strap to a pack, tent, or bike pannier while it soaks up the sun, and MPPT technology means it keeps delivering power even in low light.
Royal Robbins Alpine Mtn Pro Pant
Climbing pants are built to move and stretch with you through every position on a route. Compared to regular pants, they’re usually more breathable and reinforced so they hold up longer.
These pants are bluesign® approved with over 80% recycled content. The 4-way stretch double-weave fabric and multi-flex waistband give you full freedom of movement, and the C0 DWR finish dries fast and adds sun protection, which makes them a great pick for hiking and climbing.
Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4-Zip Fleece Jacket
Climbers tend to have one of two winter looks: fleece or puffer. If you love the classic feel and warmth of wool but want something that performs better outside, the Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4-Zip Fleece Jacket is an easy eco-friendly swap. Made with 100% recycled polyester and a low-impact dye process, it’s better for you and for the planet, and it pairs well with the rest of our tips on staying warm while climbing in the cold.
GIFTS UNDER $200
La Sportiva Mythos Eco Climbing Shoe
The Men’s Mythos Eco Climbing Shoe is basically the same shoe crack and multi-pitch climbers have loved for a generation, except La Sportiva now makes 95% of it from eco-friendly materials. The biodegradable leather upper comes from Idro-Perwanger’s metal-free tannery to cut environmental impact, and the Eco rubber is 100% recycled. If you’re unsure on sizing, our guide to how tight climbing shoes should be can help.
Maestro Eco Climbing Shoes
Built for comfort and performance on all-day routes, the men’s Scarpa Maestro Eco shines on face climbs and gives you dynamic support on tough objectives.
The lined premium eco-leather is durable and supportive while keeping the environmental impact of the tanning process low.
The North Face ThermoBall Eco Insulated Jacket
Head into cold-weather days with confidence in the women’s The North Face ThermoBall Eco insulated jacket. This slim-fitting puffy packs down small but delivers big on warmth.
The ThermoBall™ Eco insulation is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and keeps you warm even when it’s wet.
PreCip Eco Jacket
The women’s Marmot PreCip® Eco jacket stuffs into its own pocket, so there’s no excuse to leave it behind, and it’s sturdy and durable with a patented dry-touch finish.
The waterproof, breathable, PFC-free Marmot NanoPro™ recycled nylon face fabric lasts longer than ever thanks to its microporous coating.
Picking out gear is half the fun of climbing. The other half is actually getting stronger on the wall. If you want that too, our free newsletter sends one simple climbing drill you can do in about 15 minutes a week. Level up your climbing with 15 minutes of training and we’ll drop the next drill straight in your inbox.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a climbing gift eco-friendly?
Eco-friendly climbing gear usually comes down to recycled or upcycled materials, lower-impact manufacturing, or a certification like bluesign. In this guide that includes the Edelrid Boa Eco rope made from leftover yarns, ORGANIC’s upcycled chalk bags, and jackets built from 100% recycled polyester.
Is eco-friendly climbing chalk as good as regular chalk?
Yes. Options like Black Diamond’s ECO Gold and Pur Chalk are made from pure magnesium carbonate with no fillers, so you still get strong drying power and grip while being easier on the environment.
What’s a good eco-friendly gift for a climber under $50?
The Gifts Under $50 section has a few solid picks, including ECO Gold chalk, Pur Chalk, the Arc’teryx Large Ion chalk bag, WRIGHTSOCK Eco socks, and Steeped Coffee. Prices shift over time, so check the current cost before you buy.
Can you buy a used climbing rope to be more eco-friendly?
It’s not a good idea. You can’t see core damage on a used rope, so rope is one piece of gear you want to buy new. A better eco move is choosing a rope like the Edelrid Boa Eco and repurposing your old one into a rug or bag.
Are eco-friendly climbing shoes worth it?
If the performance holds up, yes. The La Sportiva Mythos Eco is made from 95% eco-friendly materials and the Scarpa Maestro Eco uses lower-impact eco-leather, and both keep the fit and support climbers expect.
