Our Story
WHO WE ARE
Climbers that are tired of the same old.
We’re climbers who are tired of sterilized climbing gear. Our sport has the coolest gear of any and over time we as a community have accepted gear that is bland, lifeless, and lacks personality from the industry leaders. We are here to change that.
Back when climbing began the gear was an assortment of random pieces of whatever was available in the basements and garages of the pioneers. It was colorful. It was innovative. It was expressive. That’s the standard we climb to.
WHY WALIA?
Named after the world's most capable climber.
The Walia Ibex
Considered to be one of the most endangered species on the planet, the Walia ibex lives on the edge, literally. Found only in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, Walia’s navigate vertical cliff faces with a precision and confidence that most climbers can only dream of.
We named our company after the Walia because they are incredible climbers who look good doing it. Are you going to try and argue that the image of those bold horns and flowing beard scaling a cliffside is anything short of majestic? Didn’t think so.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Three things we never compromise:
You
Everything we make is engineered to keep you climbing. Every design decision gets held to the highest standard with you in mind. No shortcuts. Just gear you can trust to keep you safe when it counts.
Style
You only climb as good as you look. We think the gear world has gotten a little too beige. Walia products are built with personality — because you shouldn't have to choose between performance and looking good on the wall.
Sustainability
From natural ingredients to responsible sourcing and packaging, we design with the places we climb in mind because taking care of the environment is as important as taking care of your performance.
OUR FOUNDER
Keep it real. Keep it fun.
Walia's founder grew up hearing his grandmother say: "The world is a place that always needs more fun, make sure you're doing your part." Gramma Sue had a gift. Everything that entered her house left more colorful, more expressive, and more personal.
Years after her passing, our founder was hanging up his gear after a long day on the rock. He realized that for a sport built around such incredible life-saving equipment, most of it felt completely devoid of personality. The chalk was plain, the crack gloves were dull, and the quickdraws were forgettable. Functional, sure. But Gramma Sue would not have approved. And so, Walia was born.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Walia Timeline
X Chalk Is Born
A climber in Arizona couldn't find chalk that didn't destroy their skin. With the help of a pharmacist and Chinese herbalist, X Chalk was formulated and Zen Lizard was founded.
2005
20 Years Later
Zen Lizard distributed X Chalk to the climbing community for two decades, building a loyal following among climbers who swore by the formula.
2025
Walia Takes The Belay
Zen Lizard's owner saw the potential of what Walia had to offer and passed X Chalk on. Same recipe. New hands. Bigger vision.
2026
WHAT’S NEXT
X Chalk is just the beginning.
We're building a brand for every climber. Beginner to lifer, gym rat to trad warrior, gumby to hardman. More products are coming soon. More personality, more science, more community. Stay close.
Ready to feel the difference?
Try X Chalk and see why climbers have trusted this formula for more than 20 years.