Change The Sole Of Your Climbing Shoes Periodically
You have to change the soles of your climbing shoes periodically to extend their lifespan. You must do it before it starts affecting the rand. A damaged rand will reduce the efficiency of the pair and increase the risks of slipping.
We recommend you to replace the sole twice and replace the rand once. After that, you need to get yourself a new pair. Its dangerous to keep on wearing your climbing shoes after changing the sole twice and the rand once.
Anatomy Of A Climbing Shoe
As I said multiple times before, climbing shoes decay differently than regular shoes or sneakers. You need to know which parts of the shoe get damaged the most.
The soles and the rand are usually the two parts of a running gear that deteriorate the most as you keep on going climbing.
The sole and the rand get damaged the most when you step on rocks and edges. The sole is the part that protects the bottom of your shoe. On the other hand, the rand is a rubber sheath that protects your toes and the side of your feet.
While you climb, you step on rocks and edges of the surface. So, your soles endure the most damage as you place your footing. If you damage your soles totally, you will end up deteriorating the rand as well.
The rubber sheath of the rand keeps your feet tight so you can stick out your landing properly. Its not designed to deal with constant pressure. Keep that in your mind while you climb.
If you damage the rand severely, your shoe will lose its form and reduce performance. Not only performance, its dangerous to wear climbing shoes with a damaged rand.
Thats why shoe manufacturers put a line to mark the end point of the sole and the beginning of the rand. You can check it to determine how worn out your shoes are!
Should I Wear Socks With My Climbing Shoes
Typically speaking, no.
Youll want to buy a pair of shoes that fit snugly without having to wear socks. Beginners have a bit more leeway in this regard, but for the most part, when we talk about sizing and snug fits, were talking about feet without any socks on.
To be a little bit more comfortable, its okay to wear thin socks during regular training session.
Keep these tips in mind as you selectyour next pair of climbing shoes. Though they may not always becomfortable, you can strike a balance between comfort and utility. Indoing so, you can make the most out of your next climb.
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How Should Rock Climbing Shoes Fit Busting The No Pain No Gain Myth
Properly fitting rock climbing shoes are key to climbing pain-free and staying on the wall
Theres a common myth among rock climbers that your climbing shoes should be so tight as to be painful, which is why most of us climbers have a too-small pair of climbing shoes hidden, barely-used, at the back of the wardrobe.
Rock climbing shoes look like a rubbery combination of plimsolls and ballet shoes, and fit tightly to your feet, which helps you to feel the holds and stick to them a bit better. Though its true that your climbing shoes should be tighter than a pair of dress shoes or hiking shoes, if you go too tight you wont actually be able to do any climbing in them.;
Rock climbing shoes arent a small investment, and you want to find a pair you can climb in for years, so we set out to answer the question: how should rock climbing shoes fit? If youre new to rock climbing, be sure to also check out our guide to rock climbing for beginners.;
Is It Really That Bad If Your Climbing Shoes Are Toosmall
There are few things I can think of that are worse than climbing shoes being too small. Ok, I can think of worse things, but seriously, when theyre too small and your feet hurt, they will interfere with your climb. And thats not what you want. Those shoes are your grip and support on the wall or crag so its important you can tolerate them. Heres why:
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How Long Do Climbing Shoes Last Usually
As I said before, your usage determines how long your shoes will last. According to experts opinions, most climbing shoes may last 6-12 months depending on usage.
Please note the lifespan is estimated. It can vary from brand to brand. If you use your climbing footwear twice a week, you can expect similar results. But again, these are just assumptions based on experience. Your shoes can last longer or wear off faster.
Typically, most shoe manufacturers will advise you to change your pairs each year. Well, I dont agree with that. In this article, you will learn how to take care of your shoes and how they can last longer.
Its true if you use your pairs too much, they will last even less than a year. Were here to tell you that you can keep using the same pair for years if you follow some guidelines.;
How often you use your shoes per week is crucial. If you use them 3-4 times a week, it will wear off faster. You can expect a lifespan of 2 years from your shoe if you wear them just a couple of times every month.
Similarly, if you barely use your shoes, they may last 5-6 years. However, keep in mind you need to store your shoes in an insulated place. All types of shoes have a shelf life. If youre careless, your footwear will wear off fast!
You can use your climbing shoes for a long time if you know how to take care of the shoes and how to use them.;
Read along to find out how to extend the lifespan of your climbing shoes.
Do Not Wash Synthetic Climbing Shoes
Please note that this washing tip only applies to leather shoes and not to synthetic shoes!
Wash at low temperature
In order not to ruin the rock climbing shoes, you should rinse them at a low heat and with no or very little or no gentle soap. Oppositely there is a big chance that the leather and rubber in the shoes will be damaged. If you use shoes with lacing, remove the laces before putting the shoes in the washing machine.
Let them dry
The best way to dry the climbing shoes is to just leave them at room temperature with absolutely no direct source of high heat. The shoes should nevernot be dried in a microwave, oven, dryer or drying cabinet as this will destroy the leather and in the worst case also soften the shoes rubber.
To help maintain the shoes shape while drying them its best to put newspaper inside the shoes.
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How Long Do Climbing Shoes Last Honest Answer
Climbing shoes can be expensive. You will need climbing gears throughout your whole climbing career.;
Maybe you bought a new pair a couple of months ago. Its already looking bad. So, its natural youd wonder how long do climbing shoes last? This is totally normal.
The lifetime of climbing shoes depends on the usage. The more you use, the faster your shoes will wear off. You need different types of shoes for different surfaces as well- like indoor and outdoor climbing, for example.
If you want your climbing footwear to last longer, you need to take care of them. Were here to help you with that. Follow along to learn how long climbing shoes typically last and what you can do to extend their lifespan.;
Wear Your Climbing Footwear Only When You Climb
Just like some people wear their trainers all the time, some wear their climbing shoes all the time. Well, thats not a wise thing to do. The rubber of the outsoles stick out to provide traction on rough surfaces..;
These shoes are only for climbing, not for daily use. The more you use them, the faster they will wear off. So, please wear a different pair while you go out.
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Tips To Remember While Buying Climbing Shoes
Shoes made of leather material have a greater stretchability factor as they might expand after a few uses. Keep that in mind while buying leather climbing shoes. You may have to go through a painstaking process of breaking in new shoes if you buy a smaller size to adjust them to your feet.
Shoes made from synthetic or mixed material usually do not stretch that much, which means you can get the perfect shoe size at the very beginning. Make sure you shop for shoes in the evening when your feet are already a bit swollen to get the right size.
Your shoes should not have any air pockets or extra space for your toes to wiggle. But they shouldnt be so tight that your feet get potentially compressed, either.;
Make sure the shoes are nice and tight around the heels as well. But it shouldnt be too tight to put pressure on the tendons.
Take assistance from the professionals at the store if you are confused about the right fit. Its always better to pick one after trying many different shoes than to buy a pair of the wrong size.
Buy climbing shoes based on your requirements. Take into account factors like whether youll be climbing indoors or outdoors, your level of expertise, the shape of your feet and toes, etc.
Remember, if your shoes cause you pain while even just putting them on, theyre too small for you. Having a tight fit might not be comfortable, but it definitely shouldnt be too painful or harmful to your health.
Should You Have Multiple Pairs Of Climbing Shoes For Different Sends
This depends on what type of climber you are and how much you are willing to dedicate to your climbing gear collection. Many climbers that are just starting out will invest in one really comfortable and long-lasting pair of moderate shoes. When they decide that their climbing level has progressed to a point where more aggressive shoes might be more helpful, they often keep their older, more worn pair of climbing shoes to use for longer or easier climbs, since they will likely be super comfortable by that point.
If you want to get really into outdoor sport and trad climbing, perhaps having more than one pair of climbing shoes will serve you well. Many climbers like having a looser fitting and less aggressive shoe for trad climbs since you will most likely be climbing below your limit and be on the rock for much longer. If you want to push your grade and project hard sport climbs, a tighter fitting and more aggressive shoe may be better.
Another reason why you might have a few pairs of shoes is if you are really into a variety of styles of climbing. Often times, people who like bouldering will go with tighter shoes, since the problems are shorter and the foot placements are often more precise. That being said, the amount of time that you will be wearing the shoes is also much less than it is with sport climbing or trad climbing.
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Wear Thick Socks And Use A Hair Dryer
If you dont have the patience to putyour shoes in the freezer but still dont want to shower in them,consider using a hair dryer.
Keep in mind that when you do thismethod, youll need to wear several pairs of thick socks. This willhelp keep you protected from the heat of the hair dryer.
Once youve put your socks and shoeson, place a hair dryer above the tight parts for at least twominutes. Be sure to hold the hair dyer pretty close to let the heatloosen the leather.
Disadvantages Of Having Too Tight Rock Climbing Shoes
As we have discussed earlier that professional climbers always choose small size shoes so their feet can easily fit in them, but what will happen if the shoes are too tight? There might be two kinds of problems that can occur due to tight rock climbing shoes, Climbing performance-related problems, and Health-related problems. Climbing could be really painful, if the grip of your shoes is too tight. Too tight rock climbing shoes can cause the angling of your toes to compensate for the small spaces. In simple words, your feet can become mangled due to too tight rock climbing shoes.
Apart from climbing performance-related issues, too tight rock climbing shoes can cause serious health-related issues. If your rock climbing shoes are too tight, you can get severe nerve or blood vessel compression. This compression will cause a tingling sensation on your feet at the start, but the damage can be really serious if you continue wearing too tight rock climbing shoes.
Rock Climbing shoes having tight grip, can cause serious foot injuries. For example, when jumping down from a certain height, you can injure your toes or feet because you will get less support from your feet in case of too tight rock climbing shoes.
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Tips For Fitting Climbing Shoes
- Try on shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are slightly larger.
- Climbing;shoes should feel snug all around your foot, without gaps or dead space that will reduce sensitivity. Gaps around the heel or under the;arch can cause the shoe to slip and slide around when you heel hook or cam your toes into a crack.
- Beware of shoes that are too short. The upper may stretch, but the shoes wont actually get longer as you break them in.
- Pay attention to the back of the heel. Stand on your toes to make sure the shoe doesnt press painfully on your Achilles tendon.
- Each brand has their own sizing.;Check our product descriptions for suggestions on where to start compared to the size of shoes you usually wear.
- Try on lots of different shoes! The best shoe is the one that fits you best, so take your time and try out several pairs.
What Size Climbing Shoe Should I Buy
Just like your regular shoes, buy a shoe that fits you perfectly, and supports your foot sole. If you have flat feet, buy a pair with a raised arch, and if you have an arched sole then purchase shoes with a lower arch. Make sure you are comfortable enough as you cannot risk losing your grip when youre vertically inclined.
Be sure to leave room for socks when you buy your rock climbing shoes. Remember, shoes expand over time, so do not buy climbing shoes that will become too loose once you break them in. Do not buy a size smaller, either. The last thing you need is a pair of climbing shoes digging into your Achilles.
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Place Them In The Freezer
If taking a shower in nothing but yourclimbing shoes doesnt suit you, you may want to try placing themin the freezer instead.
Unlike the former method, however, thisprovides only gradual stretches to your shoe and may need to be doneseveral times in order to get the desired fit.
Fortunately, the process proves simpleenoughjust make sure that you have the time to dedicate to it.
In order to do this method, youll need to fill two plastic Ziploc bags with water. After doing so, stuff them down into your shoes as if you were wearing them. Try to make sure that the plastic bag ends up being a size similar to your foot.
Next, place them in the freezer and letthem freeze overnightor for at least twelve hours. After doingthis, you may find that you need to repeat it several times.
How Tight Are Your Rock Shoes
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What Should You Find In Your Second Pair
After climbing for a short time, you might want to challenge yourself with more challenging routes or try to climb for more extended periods. When your climbing ability advances, you will need another pair of shoes that helps you to progress your climbing to the next level.;
At this stage, the shoes should be an extension of your feet that help to get the best buy on the rock. You should not purchase shoes that are too small as they will cause injuries to your toenails and toes. Besides, you might have some nasty foot problems such as hammertoes or bone spurs.;
My Personal Foot Problems Due To Excessively Tight Climbing Shoes
When I started climbing I was under the impression that yourshoes needed to be as tight as possible to feel the toe holds on the wall. Iwas in pain every session but fought through it. Due to wearing excessivelytight climbing shoes, Ive developed a massive bunion on my foot, in-grown toenails, nail bed infection, a subungual hematoma which also caused my big toenail to fall off, and general foot/toe pain. I can also see quite a bit of toedeformity on most of my toes.
If I could go back in time and tell my former self what to do Id let myself know that its better to be in snug shoes that feel slightly uncomfortable than in lots of pain. Not only do you climb a lot better due to the fact you arent grimacing on every toe hold you plant your foot on, youre also having a lot more fun climbing.
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