Solution Climbing Shoe (Women's)

The La Sportiva Solution is one of the most iconic high-performance climbing shoes around, and this is the women's-fit version, shaped for a typically lower-volume foot so it locks in snugly. For a serious climber, it's a dream gift.

It's an aggressive shoe, which means it curves strongly downward (climbers call this "downturned") to hook the toes onto small holds on steep, overhanging rock. Give this to an experienced climber who's deep into bouldering (climbing short, hard walls without ropes, over a thick crash pad) or hard overhanging routes and is pushing her limits.

The signature feature is a locked-in heel that makes heel hooks feel secure. (A heel hook is when a climber latches their heel onto a hold to pull the body inward.) It's paired with precise, sticky rubber for the tiniest footholds. At around $209 it's a premium rock climbing gift, but for an advanced climber it's a name she already knows and very likely wants.