Joshua Tree Organic Climbing Salve

I bought this salve based on a recommendation from Andrew Skurka (a professional backpacker that routinely hikes +6000 mile trips). I now wish I had found this stuff years ago! When I was professional woodworker/custom fabricator I always avoided most lotions and salves. Not because I did not need or want the protection (as I did), but because every type I used softened my skin, which only made additional scratches and scrapes more likely and damaging. They also all seemed useless on calluses. That is where this stuff is different, it offers the same conditioning and repair of other hand and foot balms, but does not soften skin. Instead it leaves a layer of protection behind that is not sticky (like raw beeswax can be) or that changes my grip in any way. And it conditions my calluses in a way that leaves them feeling like they actually should be part of my hands, not dry pads that could fall or scrape off under heavy exertion. Now that I have a white collar job, I use salve to recondition my hands and feet after backcountry camping trips. Amazingly it just visually eliminated all of the scrapes and nicks left on on my hands after 4 days of canyon hiking and scrambling in the Anza Borrego desert. I agree with others that it is best used at night before bed, as the application is a little oily. Smells unique, a bit outdoorsy and manly but not too strong, I kind of like it. Finally, its pricy considering it is mostly bees wax, but a little goes a long way so for me, well worth it.

This is our favorite climbing balm! Works great and helps my skin feel refreshed after a long climbing session.

I have been section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail since 2014, with 75 days total on trail; each year we hike consecutive 20+ mile days. It is both an art and science for blister prevention in these conditions, and this salve is an integral part in healing and maintaining healthy feet. When I first started using this product 2 years ago I was only putting it on my feet at night, but I noticed the next morning that the salve that remained on my feet had sufficient lubrication for a few hours before I had to re-apply. I was using a different product (Body Glide) during the day, but this year I decided to leave that home and instead just re-applied the Joshua Tree salve all day and it worked perfectly. Now I have one less thing to carry! Plus, every year after our hike my feet have numbness for a few weeks (family history of neuropathy) but this year it's not as bad after having used this product 24/7 during our hiking trip. My (Ayurvedic) massage therapist tells me that there are some ingredients in this salve that are restorative and this is why my feet aren't as sore this year. I wholeheartedly endorse this product for long distance hikers. Hat tip to Andrew Skurka's blog for recommending this product to the hiker community.

I've tried so many "post-climb" creams and this really is the best. It doesn't soften the skin so much but does help the recovery. Since it lets your hands stay tough, you'll be set for the next climbing session, unlike other creams which help recovery but then your hands get destroyed next time. I use it immediately post-climb if I am not the one having to drive back (it's pretty greasy for a car's steering wheel). Then again, more importantly, I apply it to right before falling asleep on days that I climbed.

Love this stuff. It can absorb pretty quickly into your skin without leaving much of a waxy coating on your finger tips. It does it's job well and will take care of your skin nicely. Best part is that this stuff lasts. One of these tubs has been around with me for almost a year.