I wasthe queen of flappers—until recently.I’ve been climbing on and off for over six years now and I feel I’m just learning how to take care of my hands properly. The secret of mysuccess (which isn’t a well-keptsecret) is filing down my calluses when they protrude too much andapplying balm regularly. I haven’t hada flapper in months and I’m no longer ashamed to shake hands. But not all balms are created equal. These are the four I would recommend.
ClimbOn! Lotion Bar ($9)
What I like: Delightful herby lemon smell;doesn’t absorb too quickly; the bar itself lasts longer than other balms.
What I don’t like: Bar design can behard to use;thick consistency is not ideal for the workday.
I’ve had for nearly four years, as you can tell by the batteredmetal case. It isby far my number-one pick for climbing balm. The lemon-herb smellhas become quite nostalgic for me, and the lotion bar isthe best for really getting into the small cracks in my hands. The balm stayson my hands longer than others I’ve tried and has a thicker consistency, which helps its healing powersbut isn’t ideal for workdays.That’s why Imainly use this balm right before bed at night asan ultra-deepmoisturizer, or other times whenI don’t mind my handsbeing all greased up. The lotion bar design can be unwieldyto use and I have to give the metal case a good shake to get the bar out in hot temps. Overall, this is the balm I reach for when my hands are in dire shape.
Metolius Climber’s Hand Repair Balm ($10)
What I like: Not toooily; small tin;solid consistency.
What I don’t like: Off-putting smell;melts easily in hot conditions.
This is I grab during the workday orother situations where I need clean, non-greasy hands. Theformula is the least oily of the bunch and settles into the skin quickly without leaving much of a residue. It’s easy to get as much as I need without overloading. But buyer beware:I did leave this balm in my climbing bag on a particularly hot trip in the desert and it melted fast—requiring me to wash my bag afterward.Leave this balm at home for best results. The smell is supposedly lavenderand tea treebut I find it a little reminiscent of gasoline.
Charlotte’s Web Hemp Infused Balm ($15)
What I like: CBD-infused; small tin;a little goes a long way.
What I don’t like:Greasy formula; overpowering scent; small amount in tin.
CBD-infused products are all the rage these days, with some athletes even ditching ibuprofenfor the extract,and havefound CBD tohave anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and pain-relieving properties. is my go-to balm when I have an open wound that won’t heal or inflammationin my joints or muscles. It has a thinner consistency than other balms in this review and can be quite greasy, so I use it only at home. The smell is an overpowering mix of menthol and cinnamon that can be too much sometimes, but it can have anaromatherapy effectwhen I’m in the right mood.
Dr. Bronner’s Organic Magic Balm ($10)
What I like: The most bang for your buck; scentless; made from all organic ingredients.
What I don’t like:Very loose consistency; thebigger container takes up more space in my pack.
If you’re looking for quantity, has you covered. For the same price as others in this review, you get twice the amount with very a similar formulation. I love this balm because it has no noticeablesmell and only a few ingredients. The balm has a very loose, almost buttery consistencybut that meansa little goes a long way. Unlike other balms, this one can be found at most drug stores so it’s easy to replace when you run out. The larger size means I don’t usually carry it with me to the crag.