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ecocliffchick
Oct 17, 2003, 1:42 PM
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Ladies,
I know you've all probably been in this situation in the past, and I'm hoping your experience and creativity can help me out. It's my boyfriend of three years' birthday in a week and I need some creative suggestions for a gift. He's a strong and dedicated climber (sport, trad and bouldering), but somehow the "gift of gear" just seems impersonal and boring. Can you think of anyway to personalize giving gear or do you have any suggestions for a really cool gift that's gone over well in the past?
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arak42
Oct 17, 2003, 2:06 PM
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I gave a climbing boyfriend of mine one of those "stone nudes" calenders along with some other stuff. I like them because they are tastefully done and really neat to look at.
Of course, he thought I was the best girlfriend ever because I gave him pictures of hot naked chics... :roll:
GOOD LUCK.. men can be so hard to shop for!
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traddad
Oct 17, 2003, 2:07 PM
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Last Valentines Day my wife gave me a bright red rope all gussied up like a valentine. Great messages on so many levels.
"I love you and want you to be safe"
"It's dry treated so if we get whipped cream on it tonite......"
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mother_sheep
Oct 17, 2003, 4:16 PM
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I saw these cool little copper climber sculptures before. The copper is bent into the shape of a climber or mountaineer. They stand about 6" tall and run about $80.00. I wish I could give you more info on where to get them. They're used to be an advertisement for them in the back of Rock and Ice or Climbing. I can't remember which. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
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unabonger
Oct 17, 2003, 5:57 PM
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In my case, I was just happy to get bailed out of jail on my birthday.
Depending on his tastes, I'd say a stack of $1 bills and a round trip taxi ride to The Bustop (or whatever local t***y bar is near) would be a helluva gift.
Or if your tastes run toward the more pedestrian, how about the new Climb! history of climbing in Colorado edition. Oh wait, we're talking about a climber, forget reading. Maybe a guidebook to complete his collection for a favorite area. Maybe find a classic or rare old guidebook for his fave area.
Everyone can use a pair of BD Rock Bottom Pants for cool weather climbing trips. To personalize, fill the pockets with $1 bills, see above.
As a guy, I'd personally veto the sculpture idea. Seems kind of ornamental. I don't do ornamental.
The UnaGiver
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kimmyt
Oct 17, 2003, 6:04 PM
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Unless it's a sculpture made out of one dollar bills.
K.
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cndgirrl
Oct 17, 2003, 6:30 PM
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A big picture frame....in nice dark rich wood ( a manly choice, yes?) , the type that holds a few different photos and can be put on the wall and looks really classic. Then if you have some of his fav climbing pics , you can add them.
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markc
Oct 17, 2003, 8:28 PM
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In reply to: Can you think of anyway to personalize giving gear or do you have any suggestions for a really cool gift that's gone over well in the past?
I'm a guy, but here goes:
You mentioned he trad climbs. If his gear isn't marked (or if the markings are getting worn), surprise him by marking it all. It's cheap, but it takes quite a bit of time and it's pretty creative. You'll get bonus points if he likes the colors you select.
I would personally avoid the sculpture idea. Buying art for someone can be very difficult. I might personally find something like that a bit too kitchy (sp?). The framing of nice climbing photos is a good artistic suggestion.
To be frank, I'm to the point where I'll appreciate a practical gift about as much as a creative gift. You can always couple something practical with something creative, such as the rope suggestion. I wouldn't complain about that one.
An idea of budget might help. It would be the ultimate to unwrap a guidebook to somewhere I've been thinking about, think "Oh, that's kind of cool," and have a couple of plane tickets fall out! I'm not holding my breath, though.
HTH,
mark
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ecocliffchick
Oct 17, 2003, 9:23 PM
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Budget varies... I mean, I've got no problem spending a couple of hundred (canadian) dollars - especially if I'm getting a plane ticket in the deal! The guidebook suggestion is a good one. I know he really enjoys having guides to all the areas he's been to, and we are missing a few. This may be too short notice to get them though. His birthday is Oct 25th and I'd have to order them from somewhere....
Keep the suggestions coming!
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gblauer
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Oct 17, 2003, 9:26 PM
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In reply to: I gave a climbing boyfriend of mine one of those "stone nudes" calenders along with some other stuff. I like them because they are tastefully done and really neat to look at. Of course, he thought I was the best girlfriend ever because I gave him pictures of hot naked chics... :roll: GOOD LUCK.. men can be so hard to shop for!
Better yet, get a photographer to make a stone nudes calendar with you as the model!
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gblauer
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Oct 17, 2003, 9:34 PM
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My partner made me a nut tool and engraved it with "Tradbabe". It was really sweet. Since most people don't have nut tool creation capability, you could buy one and have it engraved. On another thread Brenda suggested slipping a silver heart charm into his chalk bag, so that everytime he reaches for chalk he thinks of you. Sweet.
How about a digital camera and a card reader? A puppy? Fish tank and fish? A gift certificate for a sports massage? A day with a climbing guide? An hour long coaching session (bouldering)? A membership to the local climbing gym? A gift certificate for an ice climbing lesson? Or a first parachute jump? A weekend away with you, to a mystery destination (staying at a romantic B&B)? Some type of lesson for something he has always wanted to try but hasn't (mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding etc)? A great new backpack? A camelback? Some stuff bags to organize his gear (stuffed with gift certificates for personal services from you!)? A stainless steel thermos (engraved perhaps) for those cold climbing days when you need hot liquid? A copy of ROck and Road? Better yet a signed copy of Rock and Road? A GPS?
I can think of more if you want...
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traddad
Oct 17, 2003, 10:12 PM
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Gail..
Can I send you my christmas list?
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onemistakebigpancake
Oct 18, 2003, 6:19 AM
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Don't know if he has a full trad rack yet, but last Valentine's I got a "bouquet" of nuts (stoppers, wallnuts, small cam). It was wrapped in tissue and ribbon... I thought it was pretty cute and romantic as I'd rather have a rack than dead flowers in a week. :D
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gblauer
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Oct 18, 2003, 11:48 AM
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In reply to: Gail.. Can I send you my christmas list?
As long as I can send you mine!!!! Ummm...what to get for a 16 1/2 year old who only likes Coach, Tiffany, Burberry...a 15 year old that thinks she is royalty and a 12 year old that loves to climb...
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ecocliffchick
Oct 18, 2003, 1:01 PM
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Thanks for all the great suggestions,
Unfortunately:
The digital camera - he's getting from his parents this year
Puppy - we live in a basement apartment and have no time (though we both want one desperately!)
Tank and fish - got it
Certificate for massage - that would mean someone else got to rub his bulging muscles (it that too rude for this site?)
Day with a guide - he is a guide
Coaching session or membership - he's an instructor at our gym, which comes with a free membership
Ice climbing - is not his bag of chips
Other sports - he's got the bike, the snowboard, the dive gear, etc.
New backpack - I admit, he does need one of these, but again it seems impersonal...
Camelback - he's a Nalgene kind of guy
Stuffsacks for organization - that would indicate some interest in organization - which suits me just fine, but this isn't my birthday present!
Thermos - we have 2
Rock and Road - got it
GPS - we know where the crags are... how will this help us?
Thanks for all the suggestions... keep them coming....
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ecocliffchick
Oct 18, 2003, 1:04 PM
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We are missing some guidebooks from past travel.
Does anyone know where I could buy copies of the guides to :
1. Rifle
2. Jack's Canyon
3. Red Rocks
Remember, I'm in Ontario, Canada so I'll probably have to order them, and I've only got a week....
Also, we're planning a trip (for next year) to Europe - Spain, France, Italy, Greece, - to both sight see and do some climbing - (3 months, maybe 4) and some guidebooks to some of the classic areas here would be great. Anyone have any favorites?
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granite_grrl
Oct 18, 2003, 5:48 PM
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I'm pretty bad at the gift thing, but when I did have a climbing bf and I was stuck for present ideas I got him the #2 camalot he was eyeing. It was mundane, but I giftwrapped every little portion of it so it was obviously a cam I think I managed it so you could even still pull the trigger. He got such a kick out of the gift wrapping that it didn't matter that it was a little mundane.
And Ecocliffchick, I don't know if you've talked with MEC yet, at the Halifax store they have guides for a variety of places around N.America. I don't know if the guides you're looking for are hard to come by, but it can't hurt to try close to home first.
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deleted
Deleted
Oct 18, 2003, 6:43 PM
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you sat he has [i:8db29f923c]everything[/i:8db29f923c]?
howsabout a course of [i:8db29f923c]penicillin[/i:8db29f923c]? :lol:
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hstewart
Oct 18, 2003, 11:26 PM
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Your boyfriend really DOES have everything...
If you're looking for something a little more meaningful than gear, how about taking a great picture from the top of one of his favorite climbs and having it enlarged and framed. Even cooler...have it enlarged poster size, mount it on foam board and hang it over your couch. I'd be totally psyched to get that as a gift....though I am a girl, so who knows. But your boyfriend's birthday is the same as mine, so maybe he has the same Scorpio mentality ;)
Good luck!
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enigma
Oct 19, 2003, 5:09 AM
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Okay my idea would be blindfold him and take him to a secret climbing place for the day, when he gets there have a big surprise birthday party for him and invite all his climbing friends. :idea:
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atg200
Oct 20, 2003, 3:23 AM
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In reply to: On another thread Brenda suggested slipping a silver heart charm into his chalk bag, so that everytime he reaches for chalk he thinks of you. Sweet.
i'd dump the girl on general principals if i ever got something like that.
i also agree with vetoing the sculpture idea. maybe if it has fire coming out of it and it can open beer bottles, but otherwise it'll just be a funny story two girlfriends later.
now, here is some good insight into the male psyche. we typically don't really appreciate or even notice subtlety or thought in the gifts we receive. most of the gifts i have ever gotten from girlfriends i have smiled, said thanks, and chucked into the white elephant gift pile. now every guy is different and has different hobbies, so everything depends on that. personally, i want gear, tools, and liquor. some guys want gear, electronics, and liquor. other guys want gear, pornography, and liquor.
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traddad
Oct 20, 2003, 3:38 AM
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ATG,
You didn't mention gear, gear and liquor, or gear, gear and gear, or liquor, liquor and gear........
You get my point.
Although....we appreciate creative packaging and delivery...........
Traddad
My knuckles are dragging....
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atg200
Oct 20, 2003, 3:41 AM
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yeah, a girl can give me a 10 pack of white socks, and if she does it naked it is the greatest present i have ever been given. especially is she also gives me a beer at the same time.
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maculated
Oct 20, 2003, 4:59 AM
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What about socks soaked in beer?
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bill_in_tokyo
Oct 20, 2003, 9:41 AM
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A Red Rocks guidebook can be obtained very quickly and directly over the net via e-book download from supertopo.com. Takes the form of a PDF file. Print it out, put it in a binder, tear out the pages you need for the day's climb and reprint the missing pages when you get home. Pretty handy and quite inexpensive, if I remember right.
As for cool guidebooks for Europe, check out this one for the Dolomites at Amazon. Nice pictures of an incredible destination, plus the topos themselves are accurate and helpful. http://www.amazon.com/...37?v=glance&n=507846
Then there's always the gift certificate for a hot oil massage - to be delivered by you, personally and privately. Hard to imagine that he'd object to that, or wait too long to cash it in...
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