Methenamine produces formaldehyde on reaction with water in the skin. If you are allergic to formaldehyde don’t use it. As ever consult a doctor for professional opinions and don’t use the internet for health advice. Urgent Care – Repair Split Finger Tips, Flappers, Cuts ClimbOn isn’t the cheapest product we tested, but it’s far from the most expensive, and it’s in the ballpark of most salves we tested. It helps that you don’t have to use too much — the bar feels like it will last quite a while. O’Keeffe’s is the other cream-style product we tested, and it’s also the least climbing-oriented (or marketed) of the six.

All in all, the right climbing balm and handcare routine can make your sessions better, safer, and a whole lot more fun. If you care about the ingredients in your balm, we recommend using EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to research the ingredients in the balms you’re considering before buying. Tip Care vs. General CareAnd that’s a bummer, because the ClimbSkin is far and away the most expensive product in our test. Per ounce, it costs around double most of the other products we tested.

Most of the options here are relatively affordable and will last a while — choose one that makes sense for your budget. How We Tested Extreme abuse And most importantly, DO NOT forget to reapply your handcare climbing lotion before bed. It’s a super important step that newbies often skip. How do climbers take care of flappers? How well did my skin heal using the salve? Did it make a substantial difference? What were the characteristics of healed skin? If you’re looking for quantity, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Balm 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 noticeable smell and only a few ingredients. The balm has a very loose, almost buttery consistency but that means a 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.None of these are terrible attributes, and in general the O’Keeffe’s cream was pleasant if uninspiring. There are dozens of amazing climbing salves that you can buy these days, from the premium ones like ClimbOn and ClimbSkin to some of the local mixtures. Here’s how you can choose the best one for yourself. 1. Make a budget. Also try to keep your nails trimmed and neat. If you leave your nails to grow too long and then cut them close, your fingertips can feel very sensitive and bruise easily. Attentive climbing skin care is essential to long term performance.

Like the Joshua Tree, it’s a soft solid that sits in a tin and allows a fingertip or two to be dipped in at a time. It smells pleasantly citrus-y and it’s easy to apply. The ingredients list is short and pleasant, and the salve smells gently herbal, but it reminded some testers too much of Burt’s Bees Hand Salve.The hardcore wax-based climbing salves are mostly for severe restoration of the skin. They’re usually applied to hands after a long history of skincare neglect.

However, the pros don’t outweigh the cons in this case – the residue of this salve is oily, so you’ll have to wait and sit around for about 10 minutes before you can go about your day. Research your chalk and skin type to make the right choice. Whenever you’re climbing, monitor your hands for cuts and tears. Retreat immediately if you notice one and apply first aid. 3. Handcare After Climbing Recovery-wise, the ClimbOn seemed to produce the most reliable healing. I personally care most about performance outdoors, which means that I like my tips to be ready for a beating. The ClimbOn heals without softening much, which is helpful for maintaining a solid layer of durable skin. So, this choice mostly depends on your preferred skin texture. Wax-based salves are suitable for comparatively harder skin with their pros for climbers.One of the main things you need to do when bouldering is take care of your hands. Make sure calluses don’t get too big, to avoid them ripping off, and keep your skin in top condition by using cream, or other products. Should I use oil, salve or cream for my hands after bouldering?