ClimbCare review: climbing balms created by a climber, for climbers
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When Steve from ClimbCare contacted me about testing and reviewing his climbing balms, the email stood out from the usual pitches that land in my inbox.
Steve isn’t a big outdoor brand with a massive marketing budget. He’s a UK climber who decided to develop a range of balms because he wanted something that worked better than what was already available.
Having worked with startups in the past, I was instantly intrigued. Building a small business takes a huge amount of commitment and hard work, especially when you’re trying to get your name out there. But what really caught my attention was Steve’s focus on sustainability, natural ingredients, and grass-fed tallow.
Although I’ll admit, that was my one hesitation. While I’m not vegan, I’ve been choosing vegan cosmetic products for years wherever possible. If something’s not essential, I’d rather look for natural, animal-free alternatives.
So we chatted, and Steve told me about his vegan climbing balm and vegan lip balm. I was in. And because my husband was happy to test other products, we added the Tallow Balm for Climbers and Performance Deodorant Balm.
About ClimbCare
ClimbCare was founded by Steve Harper, a GB para climber from Coventry. He started climbing in 2023 and instantly fell in love with the sport. Already self-employed, he wanted to build a new business around something he felt passionate about.
When someone he knew started making soap using tallow, Steve found the perfect way to connect climbing with a business.
“I went down a mad rabbit hole of wondering if I could come up with a unique climbing balm with ingredients that all had a purpose and was more effective than what was already available.”
Steve wanted to create a water free product using ingredients that were as sustainable as possible. After research, testing, and plenty of trial and error, he created the original tallow balm.
But he didn’t stop there.
“The tallow balm was the original but I had lots of people reach out asking about a vegan version. So I swapped out a couple of the ingredients to make it as similar as possible.”
ClimbCare launched in December 2024 and now produces a range of small batch outdoor skincare products, including hand balms, lip balm, deodorant, bug bite relief, and foot balm.
Alongside the business, Steve is continuing his own climbing journey as part of the GB para climbing team, with the goal of competing at the 2028 LA Paralympic Games.
One thing I love about Steve’s story is that he also wants to support other climbers coming through the sport.
“I love getting involved in helping athletes. At the minute it’s only product, but I’d love to help out a bit more financially in the future. Most athletes, myself included, are self-funded so anything I can do to help I will.”
First impressions of ClimbCare
The ClimbCare website is easy to navigate and does a great job explaining the product and ingredients. Each has a full ingredient list, but there’s also a separate ingredients page explaining what each does and why Steve chose it.
For anyone who likes knowing what they’re putting on their skin, it’s genuinely interesting reading.
We received four products to test:
The products arrived with lovely personal touches - a bag, handwritten note, and even a packet of Love Hearts.
These small gestures are one of the things I love about independent businesses. They remind you there’s a person behind the product and create a connection between the maker and customer that’s often missing with bigger brands.
Tallow Balm for Climbers
Mr Outdoor-Girl tested the ClimbCare tallow balm, and his initial reaction was:
“Oh, it’s a bit greasy.”
It wasn’t the most promising start, but just a few minutes later, that completely changed:
“Wow, it’s all absorbed in. Didn’t expect that so quickly.”
Working in old church clock rooms, his hands get a fair bit of abuse from dust, ropes, and oil, so he needs something to look after them. Like me, he’s used climbing balms around his cuticles before, making him a great person to put this one to the test.
His final verdict?
“Heals all your boo boos fast. Goes on greasy and absorbs easily.”
In short, he loved it and now uses it regularly. High praise from someone who doesn’t normally get excited about skincare!
Vegan Hand Balm for Climbers
What can I say - this was fantastic for my poor cuticles.
I often go to bed with sore skin around my nails after being outdoors or gardening, and this balm made a noticeable difference overnight. It feels quite heavy going on, but absorbs much faster than I expected.
As a climber, I learned to pack balm around my cuticles and on dry patches rather than all over my palms. After a few days of using the vegan hand balm, my hands felt much better.
I can’t comment on how it performs during climbing sessions because, confession time, I’ve not climbed for a few years. But I’d always have used a balm after climbing anyway, so I can see exactly where this would fit into a climber’s routine.
BTW, top tip: Testing it during a heatwave meant I decided to store it in the fridge. It worked a treat and stopped the oils from melting.
Vegan Deodorant Balm Review
This was another product tested by Mr Outdoor-Girl. I’ve finally settled on a natural deodorant that I love so didn’t want to swap mine out, but he was happy to put this one to the test.
It comes in a tin and is applied with your fingers. He found it easy to use, with a fresh scent that wasn’t overpowering - citrus and cedarwood, which I thought smelled lovely. It absorbed well without leaving any residue on his clothing and kept him feeling fresh.
Because it comes in a small tin, it’s ideal for throwing into a bag for days outdoors or freshening up after an adventure.
Overall, he was really positive about its performance, but said he’d be more likely to use it on the go to freshen up rather than as his everyday deodorant because of the size.
Vegan Lip Balm Review
The ClimbCare vegan lip balm was always going to be a tough one to beat as I’ve been using the same lip balm every day for years.
I loved the texture - soft, smooth, and moisturising without leaving my lips dry again a few minutes later. It also has a lovely, subtle vanilla scent.
The only downside for me is the packaging. I personally prefer a tube-style lip balm so I don’t have to put my fingers into the product to apply.
That said, the screw top tin is pocket friendly and avoids the need for plastic tubes, which is a real bonus if you’re trying to make a more sustainable choice. The practical packaging makes it ideal for throwing in your rucksack, and the balm itself is lovely - well worth adding to your kit.
Quick comparison
Tallow Balm for Climbers
A rich tallow balm for dry, cracked hands and cuticles.
Vegan Hand Balm for Climbers
My favourite - a vegan climbing balm for everyday use or overnight hand recovery.
Performance Deodorant Balm
A fresh smelling, vegan deodorant balm that’s perfect for on the go adventures.
Performance Lip Balm
A nourishing vegan lip balm in pocket sized tin.
Overall verdict of ClimbCare balms
My favourite product was the Vegan Hand Balm.
I’ve used climbing balms for years, and this one is right up there with the best performing ones I’ve tried. I love that it’s natural, vegan, and created specifically with climbers in mind.
Mr Outdoor-Girl’s favourite was the Tallow Balm. He’s also used other climbing balms over the years and was impressed by how quickly this helped his dry, damaged hands.
The lip balm and deodorant were both great products too. The only thing stopping the lip balm becoming an everyday essential for me is the tin application. If ClimbCare ever releases a cardboard tube lip balm, I’ll be the first in the queue!
The biggest compliment we can give is that when these hand balm tins run out, we’ll happily replace them ourselves.
I always enjoy learning about founder stories, and it’s lovely hearing about a climber creating a solution to a problem they’ve experienced themselves. Knowing these products are still being made by Steve in small batches at his kitchen table makes them even more appealing.
That’s what you get with independent businesses. You’re not just buying a product, you’re supporting the person behind it and the passion that went into creating it. So, if you’re looking for natural skincare, a vegan climbing balm, or simply want to support a small UK outdoor business, ClimbCare is well worth checking out.
As a bonus, you can also follow Steve’s climbing journey as he works towards his Paralympic ambitions.
Follow Steve from ClimbCare
Steve Harper is a GB Para Climber and the founder of ClimbCare - creating small-batch climbing skincare and deodorant products since December 2024.
He’s currently training towards his goal of competing at the LA2028 Paralympics Games, where para climbing will make its debut.
Keep your fingers crossed for Steve at the World Series event at The Big Depot in Manchester in summer 2027, which he expects to be a selection event for the Paralympic Climbing Team.
Follow Steve’s journey and find out more about ClimbCare via his website.
Note: These products were provided free of charge for a review. As always, all opinions are my own, and receiving products does not guarantee a positive review. See my Product Reviews policy for more information.
You may also be interested in reading:
To understand the technology and breathability ratings for waterproof jackets:
Guide to choosing a waterproof jacket in 2025
For an evening streaming climbing films:
The best climbing films to stream in the UK
To extend the life of your outdoor kit
Tips to make your outdoor gear last
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Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, a UK-based outdoor adventure writer and SEO content specialist. She’s a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, combining outdoor storytelling with SEO content and web design for small businesses.
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