Scaling cliffs and navigating vertical rocky passages can be difficult - more so if one isn’t prepared with the right safety gear and clothing. One of the most important pieces of technical gear for any climbing trip is your climbing shoes. Your feet are one of the four main connection points from your body to the rock face (the others consisting of your hands and other foot). Without proper foot attire, you’re likely to find yourself having a hard time sneaking your feet into slim footholds and relying more so on your upper body strength and even your safety lines to ensure that you’re staying attached to the rock surface.
Every type of climbing shoe is designed with a unique frame, and each type of climbing requires a different style and/or shape. By understanding the intricacies of climbing shoes and melding that knowledge with your planned trip, you’ll have an easier time when perusing the extensive inventories of climbing shoes available on the market today.
Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, choosing the right pair of climbing shoes can be a daunting task. Here’s the down and dirty on how to choose the right pair of climbing shoes for you. At Outdoor Shopping, we have a vast inventory to choose from. Shop our extensive collection of climbing shoes at Outdoor Shopping today.
Design
The anatomy of a rock shoe varies in its style and composition, but the same general pieces are included in every climbing shoe:
Slingshot Heel Rand: This is at the heel of the shoe and defines the shape of the shoe itself while keeping the toes pushed forward.
Rand: This is the strip of rubber that covers the perimeter of the shoe between the sole and the upper.
Midsole: Spanning the distance between the footbed and the outsole, stiff midsoles make for a better edging and protecting of your feet in sharp cracks while more flexible midsoles enhance smearing capabilities.
Toe Box: The shape of the toe box itself can vary to fit a variety of foot and toe shapes.
Style
What type of climbing do you plan on doing? If you’re new to the game, then it’s important to note that there are many types of rock climbing adventures to be had, but choosing the right climbing shoe can depend heavily on what you plan to do. Here are some basic styles to take a look at.
Style | Guidelines | Highlights |
Bouldering and Sport or Gym Climbing | Designed to direct power downward towards the toe, these specialized shoes typically have a hard, downward-pointed toe but can come in more comfortable, flatter versions for those who plan to do more than one or two pitches without feeling the discomfort of the aggressive shape. |
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Steep Face: Sport and Trad Climbing | The toes of these can be slightly curled but are typically designed for intermediate routes. If your route has lots of pockets, opt for a style with pointier toe. |
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Crack Climbing | While these climbs typically vary in length, crack climbing can extend for multi-pitch routes which demand a looser, more comfortably-fitted shoe. These are designed to stretch and help prevent foot fatigue on longer days. |
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All-Day Comfort | Built for a variety of climbing techniques, these shoes come in loose-fitting, comfortable shapes and are designed to cater to novices who may experiment with different climbing styles. While this category isn’t steadfast, it’s generally comprised of the lower-priced and less-aggressive styles. |
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Construction and Fit Considerations
If you have a style in mind, then it’s time to start delving into the details of the fit of the individual shoe itself, which can vary drastically from brand to brand. Here are a few construction points and fit considerations to keep in mind:
Materials: Shoe uppers can come in one of two material compositions:
Material | PROS | CONS |
Leather |
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Synthetic |
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Closure Systems: There are three main ways that you can secure climbing shoes to your feet:
Lace-Ups: Consider these the traditional choice for beginners, as it offers the most versatility. They are the most adjustable and typically provide the most uniform, customizable fit for your rock shoes.
Rip-and-Stick: Offering superior on/off construction, this ‘hook and loop’ style is ideal for bouldering and gym climbing.
Slippers: Elastic closures offer the most sensitivity with the lowest profile. This closure system is typically found on light shoes and is fun for training purposes.
Last: When climbing shoes are built, they’re constructed around a ‘last’ which gives them their instep height and volume, heel and toe dimensions, and width. Last shapes can fall into two categories:
Semi-Flexed: These are the most comfortable and flexible option.
Cambered: With a downturned shape, this last cranks out shoes with an aggressive toe shape ideal for toe and heel hooking on overhanging rocks.
Weight: Women’s models tend to be cut lower and have a smaller heel cup, making them lighter than other styles. While weight is not a huge factor in climbing success, it’s important to note that different shoes designed for different genders can have a difference of a few grams.
Foot and Toe Shape: Not everyone has the same shape to their foot and toes. There are many toe shapes out there, and your climbing shoe will take this into consideration by being categorized as having one of the following toe shapes to suit:
Shape | Guidelines | Best for: |
Flat/Traditional | Similar to a snug-fitting shoe and are best for beginners or casual climbers. |
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Pointy | These have low profiles and pointed toes good for navigating pockets in rocks. |
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Symmetrical | For people with Morton’s Toe (where the second toe is longer than the big toe), these are idea. The shoe is shaped with the longest point in the middle rather than where the big toe fits. |
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Asymmetrical | These have a sharp point at the big toe, making them good for those with their biggest toe as the longest point and who want to focus more power from their climb towards the inside face and biggest toe. |
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Down-Turned | Known as the ‘cambered’ shoe, these are designed for climbers who pull in with their feet. |
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Shop our extensive collection of climbing shoes at Outdoor Shopping today.
