What should I be looking for in rock climbing shoes?
Written by climber on March 20th, 2009
Molly D asked:
I recently began rock climbing and am about to join a gym, so I will be climbing more frequently and I would like to buy shoes rather than use the sub-par rentals. I spend most of my time bouldering, but I am not sure if I should get boulder shoes or all purpose shoes since I am still a beginner. I would love any and all helpful info, what brands are best, what type of shoe to look for, what I a good shoe consists of, etc. Thanks a bunch!
I recently began rock climbing and am about to join a gym, so I will be climbing more frequently and I would like to buy shoes rather than use the sub-par rentals. I spend most of my time bouldering, but I am not sure if I should get boulder shoes or all purpose shoes since I am still a beginner. I would love any and all helpful info, what brands are best, what type of shoe to look for, what I a good shoe consists of, etc. Thanks a bunch!
Tags: Par, Rock Climbing Shoes
2 Comments at "What should I be looking for in rock climbing shoes?"
It depends actually…
For beginners,get a shoe that fits well with your foot.Why?Simply because your toes are not used to getting curled up and stuffed into an area where your toes will not be able to breathe properly or none.
Blisters are likely to happen and you don’t want to get that funny look from people knowing that you are wearing shoes that are too tight.A good shoe does not mean certain brands of climbing shoe but how well your feet are able to adjust itself to the shoe’s capacity.After all,most climbing shoes expands over time due to constant wearing.
When trying for your shoe size,I would recommend that you try it yourself on the rock in the gym, if that’s possible.I don’t think you would want to go back to the shop to get a change for a new pair of shoes after purchasing them.Remember if its slight pain it’s ok but not too painful.That’s insane.
Another advise is that after climbing,wipe off that dirt/chalk on and around your shoe with your clean hands.Why?To prolong the shoe’s life capacity before it starts to wear off and and who knows if it helps on your performance?Dry/Wet cloths are not encouraged from my experience because they might rub off some rubber on the shoe that may pre-start the wearing off period or even damage which normally few climber knows.Heat expands rubber right?Correct me if i’m wrong.Thanks.Treat your shoes like your babies and it will take care of you too.Happy climbing!!
well, since you’re a new climber, you’ll probably wear out your shoes pretty quickly, so find a cheap pair for your first shoes. Evolv makes good shoes, that you can find for a good price. madrockclimbing.com. has good shoes, and a great outlet store where you can find incredible deals on shoes. as far as types, if all you want to do is boulder, then you’ll probably want some fairly aggresive shoes, good for heal and toe hooks.
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