What should I look for in a (beginner) rock climbing shoe?

Asked by: Todd Wohlman

In general, unless you’re just bouldering at the gym, we recommend that beginner climbers wear a shoe with a moderately stiff midsole to help support their foot muscles and ligaments as they build strength.

Are beginner climbing shoes worth it?

Section that means that you can lay lots of power through your toes. And it's very precise. All of your body weight is into your cramped up toes. And you can move very easily off small footholds.

What kind of shoes are best for rock climbing?

Our Team’s Climbing Shoe Picks

• Best All-Around Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Miura VS.
• Best Budget/Beginner Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Tarantulace.
• Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Instinct VS.
• Best Shoe for Crack Climbing: La Sportiva TC Pro.
• Most Versatile Shoe for Multi-Pitch Climbing: La Sportiva Katana Lace.

Should your toes curl in climbing shoes?

Should Toes Be Curled In Climbing Shoes? Basically, yes. Even in beginner climbing shoes your toes will be curled up just a little to keep them close to the front edge of the shoes. Your big toe will be curled down and this is probably the biggest pain point for most.

Do rock climbing shoes make a difference?

Climbing routes of lower difficulty can be done in regular shoes, but it is less safe and much more difficult. For all but the most basic rock climbs, climbing shoes are essential. They help keep your feet from slipping off small holds, and help balance the weight of your body onto your toes.

Do you wear socks with rock climbing shoes?

Comfort on the crag



By nature, climbing shoes are designed to fit snugly and aren’t very comfortable, often leaving you with uncomfortable rubbing or even blisters. A thin pair of socks, or even liner socks, will definitely help in this regard, providing a little protection from your shoe.

Can running shoes be used for rock climbing?

Running shoes do not work for bouldering or rock climbing because they are not rigid or tight enough. While you can climb the easiest rocks with running shoes, you will not be able to climb anything moderately difficult.

Are converse OK for rock-climbing?

Should you climb in Converse sneakers? Probably not. If you just got to the gym and realized you left your climbing shoes at home, Converse sneakers will not help you work on your hardest project in the gym, but you will still be able to get up some pretty easy stuff.

Is rock-climbing a good workout?

Rock climbing is a full-body workout, and you’ll need the power of your glutes, along with your leg muscles, to propel yourself upward. Back: Yes. Muscles like your rhomboids, trapezius, and lats work with your core to keep you stable on the wall.

What shoes should I wear for outdoor climbing?

Approach shoes are crucial, especially when you have a long or technical hike up to the crag. Companies that make good climbing shoes, like 5.10 and La Sportiva, also tend to make great approach shoes.

How do I know what size climbing shoes to buy?

Beginners should wear their shoes half a size to one full size smaller than their street shoe size, more or less irrespective of their climbing discipline.

What should I wear for indoor rock climbing?

We typically recommend shorts, loose pants, or leggings when climbing so that you’re able to move freely when on the wall. For women, a loose t-shirt with a sports bra underneath is an easy option (and likely something you already own!) Light, breathable, flexible fabrics are recommended.

Do climbing shoes stretch in length?

Just to add to the confusion, climbing shoes change shape and stretch as you break them in, so they’ll be floppier after a few weeks of wear (especially leather). Your feet also fluctuate in size from hour to hour and one of them may well be bigger than the other.

Why are rock climbing shoes so uncomfortable?

It’s pretty simple, once you start climbing your feet swell up and therefore cause your shoes to feel tighter than they previously were. If they felt snug before, they’ll feel even more uncomfortable (or even painful) now.

Can you walk in climbing shoes?

Climbing shoes should only be worn while you are climbing. Take them off while belaying, or hiking, or walking etc. In addition to wearing them out faster, wearing your climbing shoes while you aren’t climbing can make the toes of your shoes dirty.

Why are my climbing shoes slippery?

All climbing shoe soles are made of a rubber compound that will become sticker when heated. If it’s a sunny day, leaving your shoes out for a bit will definitely help with friction, just make sure not to leave them in the sun too long or the glue will start to melt and the rubber will warp.

Should I chalk my climbing shoes?

As a general rule, you do not want to put chalk in or on your climbing shoes. Putting chalk in your shoes can mitigate foot sweat but will build up and create a mess. Putting chalk on the outside of your climbing shoes will cause the rubber to lose its effectiveness.

How do you soften the rubber on climbing shoes?

Find your older shoes can use a little of this every season sticky rubber on your soles. It gives you more confidence.

How do you soften climbing shoes?

Take two zip-lock bags (one for each shoe) and fill them with water until they are roughly the size of your foot. Put the bags filled with water into your climbing shoes and lace them loosely around the bags. Put your shoes into the freezer and leave them overnight. Let your shoes thaw.

Do climbing shoes need to be broken in?

Every climbing shoe, regardless of how well they fit or what material they are made from, will need to go through a break in period. When climbers refer to breaking in climbing shoes, we are talking about the time it takes for a shoe to conform to the shape of our feet.

How are rock climbing shoes supposed to fit?

Avoid shoes that have dead space between your toes and the inside of the shoe since the shoe will not stay rigid when you place your toes on a foothold. Make sure your toes are flat or comfortably curved and that your toe knuckles aren’t bunched painfully against the top of the shoe. Your heel should have a snug fit.

Can climbing shoes be too small?

Too small! Your first climbing shoes should not be hurting you. The limiting factor for anyone in their first pair of shoes is not that they aren’t tight enough. It’s much more important you feel comfy so you can work on technique and get a lot of volume in to get better at climbing.

What are curved climbing shoes for?

The curvature of the shoe mainly helps your toe hooking. Toe hooks are especially useful in climbing overhangs and roofs. One of the uses of toe hooks is to shift your center of gravity. That means that you’ll often find yourself toe hooking an edge that’s pretty for away from your current centre of gravity.

What shoes does Alex Honnold wear?

What are Alex Honnold’s approach shoes? Honnold’s go-to approach shoe is the La Sportiva TX2. A favorite of many climbers, the TX2 is a lightweight, breathable shoe that uses the popular Vibram Mega-Grip to deliver a reliable and resilient shoe.

What are rock climbing shoes called?

This is especially true of performance climbing shoes, also known as sport or bouldering shoes, because they have a rigid design and a downturned toe which are perfect for climbing, but not for navigating flat ground.

What does LV mean in climbing shoes?

Low Volume Climbing Shoes

Low Volume Climbing Shoes. Lower volume climbing shoes simply refers to shoes that are narrower and/or have a smaller heel shape. Most climbing shoe manufacturers design lower volume shoes with women’s foot shapes and therefore they are often labelled as ladies climbing shoes.

Are rock-climbing and bouldering shoes the same?

Gym climbing shoes: Gym climbing shoes are appropriate for beginner climbers and regular gym-goers alike. Bouldering shoes: The typical bouldering shoe is a highly downturned shoe with a snug fit, a tight heel cup, and a soft midsole.