Five Awesome Gifts for Young Climbers
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Climbers are starting younger and younger these days. Just a couple weeks ago, an eight-year-old kid sent my project on lead, lowered, then blew Juul smoke in my face and Fortnite-danced away.
Maybe I dreamed that up, but tons of kids are climbing now. Heck, my gym is basically a birthday party factory. So, if you or someone you know has a young crusher at home, here are a few cool gift ideas for them.
And hey, maybe this stuff will distract them and keep them away from your project…
Slackers 6-Piece Tree Climbers
We were all climbing trees as a kid, but these strap-on holds take tree climbing to a whole new level. These holds attach to a webbing strap that cinches tight around the trunk of any tree (or thick pole) and allows kids to practice their climbing skills even without any branches or bark to grab.
Six plates are included, but the set only comes with four holds, so don’t worry, your kid won’t be able to climb too high.
If you’re still teaching your little one the ABCs, try using this book of alphabetical climbing terms.
Why teach your kid about Aardvarks and Books and Cats when you can teach ‘em that “A” stands for Aid, “B” for Belay, and “C” for campus board?
Can’t say the idea of sleeping on a sweat and chalk-covered, plywood wall strewn with hard plastic holds is appealing… but maybe that’s why someone decided to make it into a quilt!
If your kid can’t get enough of the gym, let ‘em bring the gym home with them with this unique quilt (Please Note: no sweaty guys yelling “Take!” included).
Yep, another ABC thing. Not sure if anyone other than you will ever get close enough to your infant to read all these (hopefully), and I doubt their infant friends will be able to read them either (when do kids learn to read again?).
Still, maybe your friends will come over for dinner, see this onesie on your kid, and realize how “ironic” and “laidback” you are. Since when did 33 become old???
Is El Cap always on your kid’s mind? If they can’t get enough of the big walls, maybe you should start training ‘em early with this “Hanging Sky Tent Platform Swing” (it’s basically a kiddie portaledge). Fix it from a central anchor point for 360-degree swinging capability. Ground stakes are included so you can use this on flat ground as a tent, too.
With a five-foot square base and max weight of 500 lbs, this thing isn’t really limited to kids, either.
Wait a second…
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Owen Clarke is a writer currently based in Tennessee. He is a Contributing Digital Editor at Rock and Ice and Gym Climber. He enjoys Southern sandstone and fish tacos, and is afraid of heights.
Follow him on Instagram at @opops13.