ABOUT 8A

We believe climbing can change the course of a life.

 

Before climbing, I was searching for who I was and where I belonged. Climbing helped me become more courageous, resilient and alive. It ultimately led me to Jasper, my wife, my daughter and a community where I belonged.

8A grew from that experience—a way to create something rooted in the pursuit that gave me so much, and help more people discover where climbing can take them.

Why I started 8A

Years between the gym and the crag shaped what I wanted from clothing: quality materials, lasting comfort, room to move and pieces I would keep wearing after the session.

I struggled to find those qualities together at a fair price. I started 8A to build the pieces I had been looking for.

Based in Jasper, Alberta, we keep the collection intentional. We wear our products through climbing sessions and everyday life, using that experience to improve the fabric, fit and details.

Why the Skeleton?

The Skeleton is a symbol of the process.

When we project a hard climb, we face moves we can’t yet do. We fall, figure out what needs to change and try again. That work builds more than strength. It shapes how we respond to hard things, on and off the wall.

The Skeleton Tee and Hoodie carry that story: a reminder of the repeated attempts, the people beside us and where climbing can take us.

What 8A means

The name comes from a personal climbing goal—something that asks for patience, commitment and progression.

You don’t have to climb 8A to share that pursuit. Whatever your grade, you know the feeling of facing a move you can’t do yet and choosing to return.

That same commitment guides how we build the company: learn, improve and keep going.

Jason Patience
Founder — Jasper, Alberta