About ClimbArchive

A peer-to-peer lending library for climbing guidebooks.

Climbing guidebooks are the maps to our shared playgrounds — but most of them sit on a shelf gathering chalk dust between trips. ClimbArchive is a living library where members list the books they own, browse what other climbers have, and request loans for upcoming objectives.

It's free, community-run, and built on trust. No subscriptions, no rentals, no shipping middleman. Just climbers passing knowledge of the rock the way it's always been passed: hand to hand.

How it works

  1. Check in at least one guidebook from your shelf. Your contribution unlocks borrowing and grows the archive for everyone.
  2. Browse the archive by region, country, or climbing discipline.
  3. Request a loan from the owner, agree on dates, and arrange an in-person meet-up.
  4. Return the book in the same condition you received it.
  5. Leave a review so the next climber knows what to expect.

Don't have a guidebook to share? We get it — cost, availability, and geography aren't the same for everyone. If that's your situation, reach out and we'll unlock borrowing for your account.

Buy the book

Climbing guidebooks exist because authors spend years cleaning routes, writing descriptions, and drawing topos — often for little financial return. Buying a guidebook is the single best way to support the people who document our crags and keep new editions coming. If a book is in print and you climb in that area, please buy a copy.

ClimbArchive isn't here to replace your bookshelf. It's here to fill the gaps:

  • The guidebook is out of print or nearly impossible to track down.
  • You're planning a one-off trip to an area you're unlikely to return to — though honestly, there's nothing quite like having the book on the shelf to remind you of the trip.
  • You want to preview a book before buying to make sure it covers what you need.

The archive works best when it sends more people to the bookshop, not fewer. If you borrow a book and love the area, consider buying your own copy — the author earned it.

Why a library?

Guidebooks go out of print. Editions get lost. Local knowledge fades when nobody passes it on. By keeping books in motion instead of in storage, we keep the route beta — and the stories that come with it — alive for the next generation.

Contributors

  • Chris Kelly: Original concept. Chris first proposed the idea of a shared climbing guidebook library as a community spreadsheet - the spark that became ClimbArchive.
  • Nic Williams: Design and development.