2019 BUYING POWER: 15 Items worth buying this holiday season

Kicking off our 2019 favorites, we are introducing this fresh new BGC cropped sweater! Whether you’re staying in for a Netflix and chill night or pairing it with some leggings to send outside, this sweater is soft, warm, and has your back, wherever you go! Want an added incentive to adding this to your wardrobe? The product is made in the U.S. by a company committed to ethical and sustainable practices. INVEST: $55.00

“Why do people who need quality products have the least access to them?” This is the question that has driven Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis to create a company committed to offering healthy and delicious options. As climbers, we need our protein for our post and pre-workout fuel. So check out this delicious chocolate fudge plant based option to kick start your day! Support a company that supports you (along with some pretty badass athletes)! We also love that they provide vegan recipes on their website! INVEST: $39.99

Have you heard of Asian Bouldering Crew? Well, get ready! This instagram is on fire! Their page mission is “Celebrating sends, advocates, and entrepreneurs in the Asian-Pacific Islander (API) climbing community.” The community is big and continues to grow and we’re excited to start seeing these rad dumpling stickers on the crag. Grab yours here and start spreading the word. INVEST: $1

This year, we’ve been reflecting on ways to support other communities through what and how we buy. This season, wrap your gifts in paper designed and created with Indigenous community and culture in mind. Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa-Choctaw) is the cofounder of NTVS and uses his art to create one-of -a-kind art that everyone can support. Check out the great designs offered for this holiday season here and cruise their website for even more amazing products like Frybread Grease Lip Balm and dope patches! INVEST: $12.99

Some brands out there are hard pressed to support one athlete of color. Sherpa has three and their total rockstars! Sherpa is doing what we hope to see other brands doing – creating a brand that supports community. From employment opportunities for women to education & scholarships, this brand is making a big impact. This Chutney Yellow puffy is the jacket we love. With a great color and recycled featherless down insulation, you can climb peacefully, knowing that your outfit is an investment in a company that knows its values. INVEST $199.95 (Installment payments available)

Teens got stink? We got you. Exploring can bring out some interesting new smells around the house. No worries! Chantel Powell and her son have got your covered. Using kid-friendly and ingredients all of us know, Play Pits have created some great deodorants for the young climbers out there! Our recommendation is the SUGA version with grapefruit and lemongrass scents. INVEST: $11.00 (Subscription also available)

Brought to you from the great state of California but rooted in Debbie Wei Mullin’s love for her Vietnamese culture and coffee, Copper Cow Coffee, brings us some great on the go beverages! We suggest The Classic to start but with flavors like Thai Iced Tea and Rose Latte, we’re pretty sure you’ll find flavor you love! Added reason to support this company, they’ve got an all woman team! INVEST: $15.00 (Subscription available)

We love this company because its prioritizing eco-friendly ingredients and packaging. Buttermilks is a vegan company which reflects in their product and packaging. This product is great for all of your crag adventuras! Check out the Guacacado Climbing Balm for your flappers and tips. Extra plus: the packaging doubles as a nail file! In support of the owner’s father and other fighters and survivors, Buttermilks donates $1 of each Guacacado purchase to Cancer Research Institute. INVEST: $9.00

Inspired by a desire to pee without the chilly winds and frantic searches for appropriate height bushes, She Fly launched their crowd funding campaign to create a pant for folks who want to easily urinate on the trail or in the back country. For a bit of insight into how it works, here’s what they share on the website, “The patent pending zipper design have a traditional zipper fly and a SheFly that starts below the first zipper fly and extends around to the back of the pant, allowing you to pee without taking your pants off.” They also manufacture the pants at a Fair Trade and zero-waste facility in Dharamshala, India! Check out this great woman-owned company and pick up a pair of Bold Pee Hiking Pants. INVEST: $128.00

“Let’s be tender to ourselves, to one another, to the world around us. I don’t care to “conquer” a climb; I prefer to think of it as becoming friends with it.” This is the sentiment we hope to foster in the outdoor community. Narinda Heng and Leslie Sam Kim created this great Tender Sender Tee. All of the base tees and tanks are also made in eco-conscious, 100% sweatshop free, WRAP-certified factories that use water saving dye machines! Pick up a shirt and rep your values at the crag. INVEST: $26.50

Our feet are what grounds us most throughout the day. As we walk to the crag , to the gym, and navigate our lives, let’s remember that the land we appreciate everyday is stolen Native land. Urban “Native Era was born in response to Indigenous led social movements as a way to represent ourselves in everyday modern contexts.” Warm those feet with a fresh pair of Native Land socks and support this great Indigenous owned company! INVEST: $14.95

Aman Anderson is dedicated to developing better training methods and encouraging young athletes to advance in the sport. From the competitive youth climbing team he runs to developing innovative training tools like the Grippul XL, BF is catching the attention of the climbing community across the states. The research he uses to develop his tools has been previously presented at the International Rock Climbing Research Association Congress. The company is small but the outcomes are big! Get yours today and hang on just about any part of this cool new board! INVEST: $80.00

Going outside means dealing with elements that can damage or dry out our hair. Natalya King, a 22 year old entrepreneur and business owner understands how frustrating it can be to find natural products that work for natural hair so she started making her own. Her products are made with different ages, skin and hair types, and experiences in mind which is why BGC is partnering with her in 2020! We suggest the hair serum for your crag adventures but also think the Booty Love is worth checking out! INVEST: $35.00 (BGC Premium members will have access to discounts in 2020!)

We met the Seirus team on the floor of Outdoor Retailer. So, what sets them apart from all the other booths? Well for one, the are one of the VERY few companies owned and operated primarily by people of color! They also have outstanding quality gloves for the your snow and winter activities. If you’re on the market for a pair of gloves that’ll keep your dedos warm but also allow you to snap your adventures to your compadres, then this All Weather glove is for you! INVEST: $49.99

By now, you’ve probably know who Latasha Dunston is. She’s made waves in the industry with the design she submitted to a recent online contest (left). Jitterbug art represents her own love of the outdoors from lavish house plants to skiing, Latasha successfully portrays the quirky and sometimes complicated relationship we have with the outdoors. Rock this pin on your gym or chalk bag. INVEST: $12.50