Climbing Shoes | Our Ultimate Guide To The Perfect Fit

[@chelfyn]

I always size my shoes for straight toes. Way more comfortable and builds up real strength on your foot. I can stand on all (OK 95%) of the tiny holds that people with cramped feet stand on but I can climb for hours without discomfort.

[@abc123s100]

Personally only boulder, indoor and sandstone, and always wear socks. Been a few years since I've gone raw in a shoe, so can't say what I'm missing out on but haven't felt like sensitivity has been an issue with me. For reference: weight = 195 lbs, recent shoes = Oracle, Instinct LE, Oasi, outdoor V6:indoor V7/8

[@dennis1802]

The myth goes that wearing socks makes a little less contact there’s more distance between your body and the rock, but that what i heard from oldtimers who climbed oldschool but very technical

[@HiImBQ]

I'm actually missing a lot of shoes and their fit, like Drago vs. Veloce vs. Skwama vs. Instinct VSR... Solution Highangle etc.

[@raeechil]

Upgrading to a la sportiva miura just made me aware that though I thought I was a masochist, I'm clearly not.

[@partnah2887]

beginner here. i actually went 1 full size up from my street shoes on them Black Diamond Momentum’s. there’s a little bit of space on either side of my heels, but fits nice and snug other than that.

[@richardsmith9918]

I got my first pair la tarantulas 14 are perfect fit but not soft enough. Socks would keep the shoes from getting nasty I'd reckon

[@fugitivephilo]

Rather than "trad" vs "sport," what matters most is (a) rock type and (b) single vs multipitch. You can do multipitch sport on granite, or you can do single pitch trad on sandstone... and yes, there is single pitch sport on granite, I mean, that is most of Squamish...

[@newgunguy4176]

What are the best shoes for beginners regardless of price? Not all beginners are looking for affordability.

[@phongy]

The ones that fit your feet and allow you to comfortably climb. As you get better you can start looking into aggressive shoes. The reason beginner shoes exist outside of comfort, is the rubber is more durable but less sticky because your footwork is going to be bad and you’ll be burning through rubber faster.

[@mikaelwerner1]

"Super comfortable right out of the box" 😂 I've been climbing for decades and have never found one single climbing shoe even close to being acceptably wearable at all. No climbing shoe will ever outperform my usual approach shoes.

[@j.l.5966]

I agree! No climbing shoe is super comfortable out of the box. Unless you try on a pair at least 3 sizes up. And that’s still iffy at best 🤣

[@RossPotts]

Last question about the socks. Makes no difference to me, unless someone needs my extra pair. Then I won’t let them near them unless they have socks on…

[@kendallzylstra5957]

Ooo I need new shoes badly

[@bourad]

There’s no way you guys aren’t hearing it? Shoving it into the crack? It’s good for edging? Hahahah

[@druncle1977]

Guess what a crack specific "bouldering cave" is called.. That's right, a crack den.