Reddit bouldering shoes. Normal climbing shoes without a rubber are not made for toehooking and will be short lived if you do that, depending on your level of experience and style of bouldering. But even the cheapest climbing shoes are miles better than rentals. I prefer top-rope over bouldering and currently am not planning to ever climb outdoors. Pretty much the only shoe that fit semi-comfortably, due to my wide, flat Hobbit-esque feet. Whatever you do start out with a simple comfortable pair of shoes. Any recs would be appreciated! After about two months of climbing regularly, my gym threw out a huge number of their basic rental shoes due to wear and tear. They need a resole and so I need another pair of shoes, preferably something that fits a different niche than the A subreddit designed to help those looking for rock climbing shoes. And yes we are scared of falling. La Sportiva Tarantulace is an inexpensive, comfortable, and durable beginner shoe. However it seems most of the folks pushing high double digits generally trend toward stiffer shoes The rest of the shoe will continue to wear down and isn't replaced. 8s. Check out Oliunid - their shoes are insanely cheap for some reason, without sales. And fit is the most important thing about climbing shoes. As for slipping inside of your shoes, that really shouldn't happen if you're wearing tight shoes. Some people here have recommended more "advanced" shoes. The type of shoe you want is more based on style of climbing and personal preferences. I moved from relatively flat red chili shoes to La Sportiva solutions (I needed the large toe box as my toes are twisted with arthritis). Wipe down the insides periodically with an abrasive rag saturated with either rubbing alcohol or antifungal spray to rub off any packed down dead skin. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The home of Climbing on reddit. Until then, a single pair of shoes should meet your climbing needs. I've tried on everything at REI and found that my heels were getting rubbed raw from standing on my toes to test flexibility. 34 votes, 53 comments. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. Does anyone have recommendations for a anti-bac shoe Sanitising Spray to use in a new pair of shoes after each climb to try and stop them getting so stinky? Like what spray are gyms using? I have wide feet with high arches and it seems like most climbing shoes are meant for narrow feet. I have super disgusting feet thanks to my sweaty climbing shoes. If you can, find a store near you (climbing gyms will often sell shoes, if you're in America there's probably an rei near you) and try on different brands, since each will fit differently (different toeboxes, different heels, etc). It’s also easier for me to smear and do moves like heel and toe hooks. It makes it easy to do precise footwork on smaller holds. For starters, check out some all-around climbing shoes that offer all-day comfort. As you delve deeper into the world of climbing, you may find you’ll want specialized shoes for specific types of climbing, based on fit, feel, friction, comfort or durability, and end up with a quiver of shoes. My current shoes are scarpa vs women's, which kinda fit in the heel l (I'm able to perform fairly tough heel hooks) but still too spacy for my taste. So much so, that ordered myself a Climbing shoes nowadays are constructed with performance in mind so having painfully tight shoes is fortunately a thing of the past. If you have climbing shoes by La Sportiva, Five Ten, Evolv, or Scarpa, I would love to know how their sizing compares to your regular street shoe. I buy all my shoes on poshmark and geartrade. See full list on climbing. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. A great shoe is unparallel TN pro. Do you think buying better shoes would make a difference or is it just a kind thing? Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Best Top New Controversial Old Q&A andrew314159 • I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for a beginner to intermediate climbing shoe for the bouldering gym? La Sportive, Scarpa? Greetings! I'm mostly an intermediate-advanced (v5-6) gym boulder climber, and am looking for shoes that fit small/narrow heels. In comparison to the first shoes I ever bought (some sort of Evo brand shoe), these newer shoes helped my climbing because they fit my feet really well. I've been climbing for 4 weeks and am climbing 5. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. Its honestly preference based. Anyway, his shoes have developed a fragrance. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. From the start I have been using La Sportiva Finales and loved their fit. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. something that provides you with good support without being extremely soft would be great. I did have this talk with someone in… The linked blog post summarizes my attempts to find climbing shoes for my large wide feet. I'm a complete beginner and have been indoor bouldering a handful of times. V9 usually takes a few tries, i can knock out most 10s in a session or two. Keep in mind everyone has different opinion on shoes varied by price, what everyone in their community has, foot shape, climbing style, etc. In my climbing gym rentals are not good shoes and f*cking expensive, so I'm curious what rental shoes cost in your local gym? Maybe in comparison to the entrance fee? Normal day-pass in my bouldering gym is 13. . What do you guys think? edit: I don't really get the hate about me not Id really like to purchase shoes from them but they dont have anything thats high assemtry with a wide toebox like the La Sportiva Testarossa or Scarpa Mago. Both are great performance shoes, at the cost of some level of durability. Am I crazy for finding this really gross? Climbing shoes aren’t allowed in the bathrooms at this same gym but climbers can wear their tennis shoes they wear outside/in the bathroom on the wall that I touch with my hands? I know climbing isn’t necessarily the most hygienic sport but this seems like an easy thing to regulate. I feel like I don't trust my shoes and want something with more agressive with downturn and asymmetry. Consider: if you are able to wear socks in your climbing shoes, how much grip can you really get with your toes? Hi there Front-Entertainer647. I also prefer soft shoes to stiff ones, and prefer somewhat downturned shoes. Unfortunately, they are starting to get a little damaged, so I am looking to upgrade. The ones that feel good when you try them on. Laces or Velcro? I'm just a beginner, but I've climbed both and haven't noticed any difference in feel. I'm progressing fast and climbing in a gym that set with small footholds. Outdoor climbing is a different beast where for each type of climb you may have a different shoe, but what about for those long days in the gym? What shoe do you use/recommend that manages to perform on boulder problems and walls alike yet doesn't get uncomfortable for those longer days of nonstop climbing? Even after climbing for around 3 years neither one of us knew how to properly clean our climbing shoes. They feel really well balanced between soft and stiff. Ive scored multiple pairs of almost $200 shoes for like $80 bucks because sizing climbing shoes is so hard. You will see a benefit wearing different kinds of shoes for different styles of climbing, no matter how skilled of a climber you are. Over several hours they can really start to hurt. Unpopular opinion, if you are still learning techniques and climbing lower grades, get a cheaper pair (La sportiva Finale, or something) to climb on V2s and practice V5s and wear your solution comp when I have this exact problem. This whole time I've been climbing with the gym rental shoes and I'm wondering if it's time to finally buy my own shoes. Please can you offer me any advice on what would be an appropriate level shoe to try next. "I climb V8-V9" means nothing when it comes to suggesting shoes. Have been climbing for I haven’t been bouldering long and have the cheapest shoes from decathalon. 10 Asym's. Shoes vary so much between brands and even within a brand's models, let alone people's foot shapes, pain tolerances, climbing style preferences, and preferences on sizing street shoes. Suprisingly confy for an aggressive shoe. does anyone have any experience with shoes from china? will they just fall apart immediately? (granted the glued seams of the boreal brand shoes i bought here in germany are also coming apart) another concern would be how does the gym like colored rubber? i guess it I've been using shoes widely considered a multi-pitch trad shoe for everything for years. However, there is some pressure on my big toe that became almost unbearable near the end of my (2h) climbing session to test them out Jun 12, 2025 · We put 23 pairs of climbing shoes to the test on boulder problems, sport climbs, and traditional routes. I am on 5c+ 6a level but always feel unsafe with my feet on volumes and slabs. Is it possible your feet are just wide? A lot of women’s-specific shoes are built on a narrower last; you may have better luck with a men’s shoe. Are aggressive downturned shoes mandatory for hard bouldering? In all the old master of stone videos, everyone is climbing… I've been bouldering over a year now and have well and truly caught the bug. Though even after reading CF's climbing shoes guide, I was still lost on one thing. Moral of the story is you don't need to break the bank or your feet right now. As skiiers like to say, run what you brung. For example, if you are climbing a slab, you’re gonna want shoes that have a good smearing ability. TLDR: I am looking for intermediate but comfortable climbing shoes for indoor climbing with slight/medium downturn and low/medium pre-tensioning. I myself have been climbing for a bit more than half a year and have been using La sportiva Zenits which has been enough for me (climbing up to V5, projecting V6), although I do not have anything really to compare to so would love some input on what to recommend! Best website to buy climbing shoes online? Hello just newly got into climbing, looking to buy a pair of shoes to buy online but don't really know which website I should be looking at. 10 Kirigamis). Personally, I like my street shoes to fit snug, and so my climbing shoes are at most a half size down from my street shoes (though my current climbers are the same size as my trail runners). I understand we all want cool looking shoes but buying shoes based on appearance is the worst possible way to shop for new climbing shoes. 10 range. This is just my opinion. Carrotfueled's guide to climbing shoes (lightly edited by tinyOnion & soupyhands): Shoe Terms Downturned the general shape of the shoe, and more specifically the angle of the toe and foot posture. I used to sell climbing shoes and often people look for “beginner” or “intermediate” shoes. Sorted me right out. Will I as I develop? What are the pros and cons of each? Hi everyone, I've been climbing for about seven months now, primarily using decathlon shoes. Not just the big toe, but all sections of the foot must be able to press. I have a slightly wide foot with a high arch, so I think something like the Instincts, Furia A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. Anyone here have experience or knowledge of how to get around climbing with poorly structured feet? Or is the solution to just slowly build structure back into my foot My husband's climbing shoes have developed a smell. Stiff shoes make better all rounders than soft shoes. Seems most people like other shoes for indoor bouldering better. Most seem to me relatively flat, particularly the 5. Please contact the moderators Shoes should always be tried first and never buy something you have not tried. Running shoes AREN'T. Without having tried them they seem to be cheaply constructed shoes that will function as climbing shoes, rather than climbing-shoe-shaped-things so I would give them a go. (My sneaker shoe size is 10 btw. What are the best bouldering shoes for 2025? Here I bring you my top six picks. During this time, they allowed anyone to climb in their 'pro' shoes at no extra cost (just some black 5. Aggressive/downturned/cambered shoes have a curve to them that naturally puts your foot in a pulling position. What fits me perfectly might be awful on your feet. 90€ Happy hour is 10. I would be incredibly grateful for recommendations from experienced climbers! Here's some additional information about my climbing habits: I After each session with your shoes spray the insides with the final spray, then put the boot bananas inside. So just do some research, and I'm sure you'll find Scarpa Instinct, La Sportiva Solutions, and other similar shoes from other brands will probably be recommended. I’ve never worn socks, rentals or no. If you are set on only bouldering, you will be more happy with the boulder one in the long run, but keep in mind that with rubber there is a little loss in comfort. Am male with EU 40. A subreddit dedicated to discussing and reviewing climbing shoes. Welcome to climbing :) In all seriousness my most aggressive shoes are borderline unbearable for more than 15 minutes when they're brand new but they stretch to be perfect within a few sessions. Hey everyone, I was thinking of purchasing my first pair of climbings shoes but was wondering how the sizing compares to my regular street shoes. 90€. I have flat and rather narrow low-volume feet. They’re pretty great all-around bouldering shoes… Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. Velcro or Lace? I know that climbing shoes are usually a discouraged topic here, which I understand. They are often referred to as the perfect rental shoes, and that made me think if i should even get them, or start with a shoe recommended frequently for beginners (eg. I'm sure having more shoes can be nice, but definitely not required. Looking for some good climbing shoe brands and what the best shoes to buy from those brands are/ I normally wear 10 1/2 and 11s in shoe size Hot take: stiff vs soft shoes Warning: potentially controversial opinion incoming. We both spray our shoes with the anti-stink spray our indoor climbing gym recommended, but I know that on at least a few occasions, he didn't spray after climbing. I'm wearing flat soft shoes atm but I wanted to get a more stiff aggressive shoe for learning overhangs now that I've improved. I would suggest something that has a good midsole. Look for a fit that's like slipping into a comfy pair of running Judging from your post, you want your next shoes to be all-around bouldering shoes (as opposed to comp-style bouldering shoes). 34 votes, 128 comments. Top contenders right now from looking around the web seem to be Dragos, Instinct VS, Solution Comps, Otakis, and Hiangle Pros, but I'm open to being sold on something else. Climbing shoes should last about 3-9 months if you climb once or twice a week. 20 votes, 26 comments. It’s definitely worth some work on your feet now to prevent worse pain later in life. Climbing shoes are supposed to be a bit uncomfortable and especially starting out your feet won't be used to them. Have a friend that is getting hooked on bouldering so he is contemplating some shoes to avoid them sweaty rentals. In this review we look at the best shoes for bouldering — since shoes are the main driver of your performance when tackling that bouldering problem. OP, if the shoes fit they should be fine for all your current climbing pursuits. I've started climbing about a year ago and I'm currently doing V4s pretty solid and working on V5s and Im using my feet quite a lot. the LaSportiva Trantulla). there is one thing i just can't seem to get the beta for. I have narrow heels and have always had issues with my shoes chafing my heels. I use them bouldering, top-roping, sport lead, trad, indoor, outdoor, every kind of rock, every temperature. it has the perfect balance between aggressive toes box with provides great edging, softness, and midsole support, and the unparallel RH What's your guys' opinion on buying used climbing shoes? I'm a broke student who hasn't found the right kind of shoe yet. I was wondering what the best way to getting rid of the stench in my bouldering shoes is. My climbing improved so much during this period, that I was noticeably worse when they restocked the basic shoes. I have five ten teams and la sportiva futuras for my try-hard shoes so I am not worried about getting something ultra-performant. I've really enjoyed it and want to start doing it lots more. Maybe you can head down and take a look around! Probably not too useful if you're asking how to clean them, but Prevention >>>> cure I use Boot Bananas and keep my shoes untied and out in the open between sessions to let them dry and air out - no smell at all! A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. But considering you are climbing for a few months and climbing v4s, it's not like you are complete newbie. Agreed. com Hello just newly got into climbing, looking to buy a pair of shoes to buy online but don't really know which website I should be looking at. Any recs for a wide climbing shoe? Beginner climber, very wide feet (prefer 4E in regular shoes). If your climbing gym or the rocks in your area (if you go outdoor bouldering) uses big footholds you don’t need very tight, precise shoes. I'm happy with them for now, but am interested in other options that those with similar feet might have found. It didn’t take long to discover that others in our climbing circles also had this same conundrum. They let me try the different types of shoes ranging from more comfortable shoes, to the more aggressive ones which provide more precision but are less comfortable. I've been climbing for a few years now and always wear generic printed ankle socks from Target. I’m currently using Instinct VSRs and I’m pretty happy with them overall. If you're a teen, a senior, student, firefighter or something comparable id count myself towards casual climbers, and i found a relatively colorful pair of climbing shoes on aliexpress that i fancy. Everyone has different shaped feet and different brands and models will fit everyone differently. Did you know that r/climbing has a complete wiki on climbing shoes? Check it out here. You can probably look at different kind of models, just maybe avoid strictly performance-oriented shoes for now. Climbing shoes, mountain boots, decent dress shoes are all designed to be resoled by having multpart soles and readily available tread/outsoles. I don't have experience with the Theory but given that it's a mostly rubber/synth shoe (not leather) it won't stretch THAT much but still probably more than you'd think. I am currently climbing at around the V3/V4 level. Shipping was also incredibly fast - I placed the order on a Monday and had the shoes by Thursday. Broken in shoes can be more comfortable but they can also lose stiffness and structure. Your shoes can last up to two years if you are a casual climber who only climbs once every few months. Climbing shoes have wildly differing shapes. Solution comps are what I use. Check in over there, they will certainly appreciate your post. I consider myself a fairly high level boulderer. ) It’s the first purchase I would make in terms of climbing, besides a membership at a gym lol Reply reply LiveMarionberry3694 • I got shoes when I got a membership, but a large part in that was because my gym was running a special where you get a harness, shoes, chalk bag etc. Check out our posts for advice and reviews. It's a conversation starter at the gym and reduces hot spots for me while aiding in ease of taking my shoes on and off. Anybody have any recommendations on some good burner gym shoes? Currently I am rocking some of the old blue hiangles from the $50 sale a couple years ago, but I am starting to burn through the toes. 1. Sizing down is common occurrence in climbing shoes because, as another commenter said, people tend to wear a looser fit in their street shoes. Some people in this sub climb in rentals for months before buying their own shoes. I wonder if OP doesn't like the way some shoes draw tension around the toe or perhaps dislikes more symmetric (toe-to-center) designs? As it is, they've picked just about the narrowest shoe in the bunch. What are the softest shoes available from each brand? What is the softest overall that you have tried? For la sportiva, I've found mantra and theory to be the softest, but I'd like to try some other brands. There is no need for bigger shoes with these, in fact it's sometimes easier to get into the shoe because there is less friction (similar to how some people use plastic to get into new shoes). If you're climbing that hard, you should know that a big cave will be best suited by totally different shoes than a slab problem, which will be best suited by totally different shoes than a crack problem, and so on. Also, resoling is best done before the rand on the toebox starts to wear. However, the sheer number of choices has left me overwhelmed. My reasoning is that the downsides of stiff shoes can be mostly mitigated, whereas with soft shoes, there are some things you simply cannot do. For cheaper shoes, you could probably find very lightly used pairs that will be comparably good to resoled shoes. Unless these absolutely don't fit you for some reason, there's no reason to start elsewhere. So I guess what Im asking is, are these 'rental type' shoes worth buying as my first own shoe? Or should I invest in something more prominent? (Also I found very little about Red Chilli shoes comapred I have been climbing exclusively in a bouldering gym for just over 1 1/2 years. Therefore I want to get myself a pair of shoes that will probably be for entirely indoor bouldering and general indoor climbing, I prefer bouldering though. On steeper walls, this helps set up your toes to not just push downward on holds, but When it comes to picking out climbing shoes for beginners, comfort and price are key. I want something velcro, semi-aggresive, and cheap enough that I Noting that some people that buy very expensive, very sensitive and soft climbing shoes to climb indoors potentially own more than 1 pair - and they aren't using these pricey shoes for every send. A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. I'm also interested in other ideas or experiences with taking up excess length. I got them half a size bigger than what I normally wear as they felt the best while trying them on in the store compared to other models like it. They're starting to wear out and break down at the toe, prompting me to explore new options online. Brands like Scarpa and La Sportiva have some solid options. So go to a shop, try on as may shoes as you can and buy the one that fits your feet best. These were our favorites. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. I've been thinking about the LS Miura, Scarpa Vapor or the Scarpa VS. 30 votes, 59 comments. Hi all, I've recently purchased my first pair of climbing shoes for indoors climbing, the Scarpa Veloce for women. Solution comp is the best all rounded bouldering shoes in my mind, while the theory is excellent for slab smearing. As noted in it, I ended up with too-long, but wide-enough TC pros during this round of shopping. Or google best shoes for wide feet. Most people prefer soft downturned toes on shoes for indoor overhangs. I've been bouldering with La Sportiva Tarantulaces and they've started to fall apart and get holes around the heel, so I'm on the search for some good intermediate shoes I recently started bouldering indoors and was looking for shoes because I can't stand the smell of rentals any longer lol As a beginner, I've narrowed down my search to the Mad Rock Rover and Evolv Defy. Climbing shoes so far appear to be torture devices. And for what it’s worth, the Testarossas are more aggressive than the Muiras, but I can perform equally as Hi there, I bought my first climbing shoes at Campers Corner, the staff were really helpful when I was a beginner back in 2021. Once you know what fits its easy to find them online! However, I have special socks for climbing that are very thin and made from synthetic material (some people also use ballerina socks or runner's socks). One thing I've always wondered, what's the "gold standard" for higher end bouldering when it comes to shoes? I've always liked the softies because I can feel a lot more. Since you're shopping online, finding a pair that feels good right off the bat is super important. But it can help your confidence, especially for foot swaps and heel hooks. You don't need the most aggressive shoes on the market and ultra top of the line shoes will only make a noticeable improvement in your climbing after you improve your footwork. I have tried them and now I review, and rate them. Also there is a whole subreddit devoted to climbing shoeswhich one you ask? Why, its r/climbingshoes, if you can believe it. I got Furia Airs for less than $160 including shipping to the US, which is almost 30% off MSRP. So can anyone offer general tips on what I'm looking A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. How to keep my bouldering shoes from absolutely reeking? Any advice and product recommendations are welcomed. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of it? Edit: Thanks for the advice We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Climbing shoes should fit you like a second skin imo, and the pairs I own are too tight to fit socks under. The Katana is actually fairly narrow. LaSpo miuras for moderate to steep sport, skwamas for bouldering! LaSport is the best IMO, they fit my feet well (they are wide). Use an insert or go for something like a Merrell (they Hey all, was wondering if anyone else here has had trouble with flat feet and bunions in climbing. Look for a fit in sport/bouldering/gym shoes where all of your toes are contacting the front and slightly curled in your shoes. Pay attention to your approach shoes in particular. As far as weak/flat arches, that’s something you can train. Getting your shoes resoled is also better for the environment. Take your shoes off between climbs every now and then and give your feet a break. Make sure the shoe fits as snugly as possible, without pain, from the tip of your toe/toe knuckle all the way to the heel. Share Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Add a Comment cbbclick • I have 3 pairs of shoes that I use regularly, indoor bouldering/ rope beaters, outdoor tryhard shoes, and a set of stiff comfy shoes for either wearing a long time or so I can pretend I can do multipitch. I have to go up a size or two to even get my foot in but then the shoe feels too long. Hello! Super new to this community, but here is a little about me: I started climbing a little over a year ago and I've started working in the v3-v4 range for the past few months (slower progress since I'm a 4'9 climber 🥲). uvozif uevc lievmo wpedusg qlnxpc mdyj hpk mhdkh dbzldx oxkzd