We're not trying to sell you the most gear. We'd rather help you find the right gear.
Every year, RMI guides vote on the gear they trust most. Those Guide Pick™ winners make up most of this list. The rest are things the wider outdoor world already loves, and things we see climbers reach for at our Ashford shop season after season.
We kept it to 15. Every one of them earns its place on the mountain. Along the way, you'll hear from the guides and customers who actually use it.
Small but Mighty
$21
The bottle every climber owns, with a personal Whittaker Mountaineering touch. It goes up Rainier and to the office, and it'll outlast just about everything else in their kit.
“Perfect for a Rainier climb, high mountain peak, or long hike.”
- Kristian Whittaker, Whittaker Mountaineering Operations Manager
$26
Good socks are the gift nobody buys for themselves. These merino socks come with a lifetime guarantee, so if they ever wear out, Darn Tough replaces them.
“The greatest of all time, Socks!”
- Gene, Whittaker Mountaineering Customer
$89.95
For trails too icy for boots but not steep enough for crampons. Think Paradise in January. They fit nearly any shoe or boot and pack down small.
“These have saved me now more than once. It’s also opened up so much more winter hiking potential.”
- Collete, Whittaker Mountaineering Customer
Guide Pick™
$134.95
Summit days start in the dark. This is our guides' top headlamp pick, bright enough to light up the trail at 2 a.m. It's rechargeable too.
“It's bright, rechargeable, and lasts longer than most headlamps. I never have to worry about conserving the battery or moving off my head.”
- Brendan Oates, RMI Guide
Hard Gear Favorites
Guide Pick™
$169.95
Our go-to axe for Rainier's standard routes, and a Guide Pick™. It's a gift that says you believe in their summit plans.
“Black Diamond has improved the pick and spike geometry to make them easier to sharpen and added a sensible amount of curvature in the shaft making it a decent option on steep snow. These changes help it keep up with the more technical routes that have been developing on Rainier the last few years.”
- Thomas Skoog, RMI Guide
Guide Pick™
$132.97 $189.95
For general mountaineering, our guides prefer 10-point crampons. The Contact Strap is the one they trust most for clients. The straps fit almost any stiff boot, so there’s no need for a dedicated mountaineering boot. The stainless steel won’t rust. Think of it as the next step up from MICROspikes, for when the trail turns to glacier.
“Perfect for anyone looking to just get started in mountaineering.”
- Roland Scott, RMI Guide
$239.95
Light carbon poles that fold small enough to strap to a summit pack. Their knees will thank you on the way down.
“I CANNOT say enough good things about these poles. They feel like they are injected with helium - they are SO light. Unbelievably fast to deploy and stow, these poles pack down super small. I also love the attached pole baskets.”
- Calvin Jiricko, RMI Guide
$269.95
The mountaineer's stove. It's built to melt snow fast in wind and cold, which is exactly what high camp asks for.
"The pressure regulator is a game changer! Works great in the cold and burns consistently throughout the life of the canister."
- Andrew, Whittaker Mountaineering Buyer
For Early Mornings and Long Nights
Guide Pick™
$199
The fleece our guides wear on the way up. It breathes when you're working hard and still looks good around town.
“Patagonia makes great mid-weight climbing layers. The Patagonia R1 air is warm, breathable and fits very well into an alpine climbing layering system for a variety of temperatures.”
- Celeste Wilson, RMI Guide
Guide Pick™
$199.95
At the top of the Guide Pick™ list for heavyweight gloves, year after year. Warm enough for summit day without feeling like oven mitts.
“The BD guide gloves have a great combination of dexterity and warmth, allowing you to perform tasks without removing your gloves when it’s very cold.”
- Erika Birkeland, RMI Guide
Guide Pick™
$239.95
Warm sleep on snow. With an R-value of 7.3, it's the pad for winter camping and high camp.
“The Thermarest Neo Air XTherm NXT is the lightest pad on the market at its insulation value. Sometimes when I'm having trouble falling asleep at home, I imagine I'm lying on my Thermarest Neo Air XTherm NXT and I fall right to sleep.”
- Will Ambler, RMI Guide
Guide Pick™
$299
The insulated jacket people wear on the mountain and to the grocery store. A Guide Pick™ for a reason.
“The nano puff hoody cuts the wind while still being comfortable to climb in.”
- Raymond Holt, RMI Guide
Go Big or Go Home
$499.99
Two-way satellite messaging and SOS from anywhere. It's peace of mind for them, and for the people waiting to hear they made it back to camp. It needs a Garmin subscription to work.
"With Garmin's new service plans, you can pause service and change plans whenever you want, making two-way texting super affordable."
- Hannah, Whittaker Mountaineering Customer
Guide Pick™
$650
A Guide Pick™ shell built to handle a decade of Cascade weather. Waterproof, packable and tough enough for a summit push in sideways rain.
“Arcteryx hardshells are expensive but are definitely a cut above the rest.”
- Taylor Bickford, RMI Guide
From $2,595
The gift that puts everything above it to use. A half day of orientation, a full day of mountain school, then two days to the summit with the best guides in the business.
“How convenient basecamp is with rentals, food, orientation, lodging, etc. The climb - while equal parts pretty gnarly, brutal, scary and epic - was such a great learning experience with excellent teachers/leaders/guides.”
- Shelby, RMI Climber
The Gift That Always Fits
$10 to $300
Delivered by email, with a personal message and the send date you choose. They can use it online or at our shop in Ashford, just outside Rainier.
A quick note on fit. Ice axes are sized by height, and poles, gloves and jackets all come in sizes. If you're not sure, tuck a gift receipt in the box. Our team helps climbers find the right fit every day, so give us a call at 800-238-5756 or stop by the shop in Ashford.
Know which mountain is on their list? Shop by Summit for guide-tested gear lists built for that climb.
Shop by Summit
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