Climb On Equipment | Best Selection of Rock Climbing Gear in Canada

About Us

Climb On Equipment is an independent Canadian retailer located in Squamish, British Columbia.

Who We Are

Climb On Equipment exists to serve those who play in the mountains and work at heights. We provide trusted expertise and aim to create an inclusive experience to support patrons in their lifelong pursuit of vertical goals.

Image of Stawamus Chief in Squamish - photo by Alex Ratson

A clear view of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish, BC. Photo by Alex Ratson

Located in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples — Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), British Columbia — Climb On Equipment is a climbing, rescue, and work-at-height specialty retailer. We stock a huge selection of climbing gear and apparel, alpine camping and work-at-height equipment. We are a trusted member of the climbing community and have been providing advice and expertise with quality service since 1993.

Do you want to dive deep into gear knowledge and tech tips or explore local events and stories? We love these topics. Explore our many online resources found in the learning section of our website. Please don't hesitate to contact us for help from finding beginner climbing gear to getting the best equipment and advice for challenging rigging situations.

Over the years, Climb On has grown and changed, but some things remain the same, namely the dedication to climbing. Our owners are local climbers, our staff are climbers, and rather than diluting our assortment into new sports, we have deepened our commitment to climbing and all its disciplines with an even greater depth and breadth of assortment for people who work and play at heights. As our team has grown, so has our expertise, but we remain more committed than ever to serving our community.

Our Story

The Beginning

It started with George Hanzal, and $3000 worth of gear brought back from the outdoor show in Prague and sold from George's garage.

Escaping the Czech Republic in the eighties, George landed in Vancouver with no financial means, unable to speak English, and a medical degree not recognized in Canada. Nevertheless, he began to establish a new life, while his passion for climbing from his former life persisted. George was already a skilled climber and soon made his way to Squamish, where he encountered a dynamic climbing community, featuring notable climbers such as Peter Croft, Tami Knight, and Hamish Fraser. He lived in the forest beneath the Chief, took on various odd jobs to support himself, and with only a rack of nuts for protection, he climbed many of the hardest Apron routes.

By the '90s, George established himself in Canada. He met his wife Birgit during a climbing trip, and they started a family together. He was putting in long hours driving trucks for Cardinal Concrete but felt there had to be a better way to balance work, family, and climbing. Back then, Squamish didn't have any climbing stores, and since he was well-versed in climbing, he decided to take the plunge. With the fall of the communist regime in the Czech Republic, the borders opened up, and many of his climbing friends were starting their own businesses. He started his own venture with $3000 worth of gear brought back from the outdoor show in Prague and sold from his garage.

Image of legendary
Squamish figures - Joe, Brian, and George

A Paul Bride photo of Climb On at the Chieftain Centre showing legendary Squamish figures - Joe Turley, Brian Moorhead, and George Hanzal.

The first Climb On retail store opened its doors on Cleveland Avenue in the mid-90s, where Lucas Teas is currently located. Over the years, the store relocated several times within Squamish but consistently featured a climbing wall and a new route book on the counter, inviting climbers to share topos of new climbs. The staff consisted of local "dirtbags", professional climbers, travellers, and friends, who all shared a passion for climbing. Customers would come not only to hear captivating climbing stories but also to select the latest in sticky rubber and swap tales while upgrading their gear. It was common to find a small group sipping beers and grinning with satisfaction from the pitches climbed that day.

George retired in 2006 and passed the reins of Climb On to Dan Butler, also known as "Montreal Dan".

Image of Dan behind the counter at Climb On

Dan behind the counter at Climb On - 2nd Ave location. Photo by Thomasina Pidgeon

Image of Dan Butler, Ashley Green, and George Hanzal

Dan Butler, Ashley Green, and George Hanzal. Photo by Thomasina Pidgeon

The store remained a small but dedicated climbing shop with a new route book always on the counter. It was still a spot for climbers to gather, share stories, and catch the latest news. On especially bright days, the store would sometimes close early, as Dan, being a climber himself, couldn't resist the allure of the sun on granite. By 2012, Dan felt it was time for a new chapter and handed over the store to Ashley Green.

The Evolution

With a few floor staff, Ashley started to refine and modernize the business by adding new inventory management and computer systems.

Young, driven, and with a keen eye for business, Ashley transformed the store. By 2015, she kicked off Climb On's e-commerce shop. The inventory got a fresh update, with vibrant climbing pants lining the shelves. As the business continued to evolve, one thing stayed constant: Climb On was still owned and operated by a passionate climber for local climbers.

Image of Ashley - Climb On / Out West Exchange Gear Store

Image Climb On / Out West Exchange Gear Store

Ashley's climbing career started when she moved to Squamish in 2003. At a young age, she had no concept of what rock climbing was, but she moved here to live with her parents and save money for adventure travelling. Quickly drawn into the local climbing community, she immersed herself in trad and multi-pitch climbing. Dreams of adventure travel morphed into dreams of climbing trips and while her parents eventually moved further away, the local access to climbing, skiing, and biking kept her in Squamish.

Ashley refining her crack climbing skills in the Smoke Bluffs.

Ashley enjoying splitter sandstone in Indian Creek.

Katy Holm joined the Climb On team in 2016, partnering with Ashley in 2017. From her background as an expedition climber and climbing guide, Katy believed that there is nuance to understanding the needs of climbers, and therefore value in growing a dedicated climbing shop. Instead of branching out into new categories, they focused on improving their offering to climbers.

Originally from Victoria, Katy started climbing at Fleming Beach in the '80s. Having freshly graduated from high school in the '90s, she could finally find time to make trips to Squamish. She remembers catching the Greyhound bus to Squamish with a small pack loaded with climbing gear, a partial piece of blue foam to sleep on, and a clear plastic tarp for shelter. At that time, the Chief was not yet a park and the “campground” was an undeveloped place where visiting climbers from around the world gathered to camp in the woods. Between her education and careers as a biologist, teacher, and buyer, her climbing journey led her to pursue expedition climbing around the globe — attempting first ascents and classic lines in places like Greenland, the Chinese Himalaya, the Cirque of the Unclimbables, Patagonia, Mount Waddington, and other areas in the Coast Range. Bringing the expedition mentality to Climb On has meant growing a successful specialty climbing shop.

Katy climbing on Moonlight Buttress in Zion. Photo by Fred Marmsater.

Katy climbing Freeway. Photo by Jeremy Frimer.

As a team, Ashley and Katy grew the business rapidly with Katy using her buying background to focus on store inventory and brand building while Ashley focused on store operations and business management.

They renovated the 2nd Avenue location in 2018 but quickly ran out of space for their growing assortment of products.

Climb On staff at the old Climb On store in 2nd Ave image

By July 2020, the pair moved the store into its present location on Cleveland Avenue. This allowed them to greatly expand their offerings in climbing gear, footwear, work-at-height equipment, as well as camping gear tailored to the needs of alpine climbers and road trippers. The store was bigger, but even more true to its core. If you walk outside the Cleveland Avenue location, the images that decorate the outside of the store, and the artifacts displayed, pay homage to the present-day and past-history of climbing in Squamish.

The new location "Opening Soon"

Bernie Sanders at Climb On Equipment image

July 9, 2020 - The new location finally opened. A few months later, stricter Covid-19 lockdowns happened in Canada; Bernie Sanders stopped by to greet masked customers.

The Climb On storefront with images paying homage to the present-day climbing in Squamish.

Image of staff wearing masks at the new Climb On store

Masked staff members keeping the dream alive during Covid times.

In 2021, Mike Palethorpe joined the ownership team. Climb On's success has been built on teamwork and each person's unique skill sets combine to make the business stronger. Mike brought over 20 years of dedication in retail with a deep connection to the outdoor industry across North America and Europe.

Mike's love of climbing spans decades and his passion for outdoor sports combined with the commitment to the community added another deep element to Climb On. Mike's climbing career started at university in the '90s, and a taste of the climbing lifestyle led him to take a semester off to climb, backcountry ski, and work at a Vancouver gear store. Early road trips to destinations like Squamish, Red Rocks, Smith Rocks, and Fontainebleau ignited a lifelong passion, and he's since climbed across the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Despite busier crags and evolving styles, the friendships forged through climbing adventures remain as meaningful to him now as it did to him back then. He still holds a deep commitment to the values of a true mountain outfitter, offering gear and advice exclusively for climbers, aligning with the values shared by the climbing community.

Mike ice climbing in Lillooet with Kris.

Image of Climb On members with the Edlerid team

Climbing day with the Edelrid crew. Left to right: Tyrone Brett, Fritz Schäfer, Scott Milton, Blair Williams, Mike Palethorpe, Katy Holm, and Tommy Caldwell.

In 2025, Katy moved on to pursue new climbs. Ashley, the founder of the new era of Climb On, and Mike, with his long standing industry dedication, take the business into the future.

The Future

Climb On is globally recognized as one of the best specialty climbing shops in North America. This title has been earned through the hard work of dedicated owners and their exceptional staff team. At Climb On, we are committed to truly understanding the needs of our customers and the climbing community as a whole. As the sport continues to evolve, we strive to carefully curate the best gear to support your journey. Our commitment goes beyond providing equipment — we aim to foster meaningful connections within both the local and broader climbing communities. Supporting climbers across Canada isn't just our mission, it's our passion.

Image of Ashley G and Mike P inside Climb On Equipment.

Mike and Ashley move forward, continuing their passion of supporting climbers across Canada and building the future of Climb On with the help of their staff and community.

Our Staff

From its inception, those that work at Climb On have been individuals with a lifetime of climbing experience, guides, route developers, professional athletes and those with a deep connection to both the sport and the community. Expertise and quality service remains core to Climb On. As we have grown so has our team which strengthens our collective knowledge. We are proud of the people who make this business what it is today.