Forum Settings
       
Reply To Thread

Rock climbing shoesFollow

#1 Aug 24 2004 at 9:52 AM Rating: Decent
Just started climbing, and I recently bought a pair of shoes.

I basically was told that I would need to buy a size lower than my street shoe, and that I would want it as tight as I could stand, but not painfully so.

I wear an 11 in street shoes, and bought an 11 in rock climbing shoes, which I thought were probably too big based on the go a size lower recommendation.

These things are killing me. I've only climbed in them three times, but I have bruises on my toe knuckles when I take them off and my toes hurt for about a day after wearing the shoes for the two to five hours I climb in the gym.

Too tight, or is this normal and I should just put up with it until they stretch a bit?
#2 Aug 24 2004 at 11:29 AM Rating: Decent
They might soften up after you've had some time to break them in, but I'd say they're obviously too tight. You want them to be snug so your foot doesn't slip around inside, but they most definately should not be painfully tight.

Weren't you able to try them on before buying them?

Edited, Tue Aug 24 12:30:39 2004 by OnePrime
#3 Aug 24 2004 at 11:37 AM Rating: Decent
Weren't you able to try them on before buying them?

Of course, but since he said they should be a size lower than my regular shoe, I figured I was just being a puss.

I'll give them three more climbs and see what happens, but I think I'll probably wind up going with an 11.5 when I wear an 11 in street shoes.

Strange, n'est pas?
#4 Aug 24 2004 at 1:24 PM Rating: Good
****
7,821 posts
you will need em. I went to Arcaida Nation Park, no rock climbing shoes. i kept slipping. They need to fit very tight on u so the dont fall off.
#5 Aug 24 2004 at 6:48 PM Rating: Decent
****
7,861 posts
I personally wear my shoes 1.5 sizes smaller. They do need to be tighter or looser depending on the type of climbing as well. For "sport" climbing, shoes need to be really tight for better foot control. For "traditional" or crack climbing, your shoes can be a bit looser because there is less need for precision. I prefer traditional climbing and yet my shoes are still 1.5 sizes smaller. Honestly though, unless you're going to get into really hardcore climbing, shoes the same size as your regular shoes will be just fine for you. Just don't expect to climb any 5.13+ climbs. Smiley: grin Here are the ones I wear.

Edited, Tue Aug 24 21:27:08 2004 by Kastigir
____________________________
People don't like to be meddled with. We tell them what to do, what to think, don't run, don't walk. We're in their homes and in their heads and we haven't the right. We're meddlesome. ~River Tam

Sedao
#6 Aug 24 2004 at 8:48 PM Rating: Default
Lunatic
******
30,086 posts

you will need em. I went to Arcaida Nation Park, no rock climbing shoes. i kept slipping. They need to fit very tight on u so the dont fall off.


You're kidding, right. You could climb every one of those trails barefoot, and probably blindfolded. Rock climbing shoes? I've done most of them in wing tips.
____________________________
Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#7 Aug 27 2004 at 9:44 AM Rating: Decent
Well, the shoes seem more tolerable now, for whatever reason. I'm taking them off after an hour or so of climbing, which seems to greatly help.

In other news, I dropped my friend about twenty feet to the ground since I was distracted and not taking up the slack on the belay. You would think I pinged him in the knee with a retractable police baton or something.
#8 Aug 27 2004 at 10:43 AM Rating: Good
***
3,458 posts
Ditiris wrote:
Just started climbing, and I recently bought a pair of shoes.

I basically was told that I would need to buy a size lower than my street shoe, and that I would want it as tight as I could stand, but not painfully so.

I wear an 11 in street shoes, and bought an 11 in rock climbing shoes, which I thought were probably too big based on the go a size lower recommendation.

These things are killing me. I've only climbed in them three times, but I have bruises on my toe knuckles when I take them off and my toes hurt for about a day after wearing the shoes for the two to five hours I climb in the gym.

Too tight, or is this normal and I should just put up with it until they stretch a bit?
Are you wearing socks with them?If so try it with nylon booties, most socks dont work well with climbing shoes. Also you can stretch the arch a little....Basically just bend the shoes in half over and over.
#9 Aug 27 2004 at 10:53 AM Rating: Decent
Are you wearing socks with them?

Nope, my feet are sans clothing. Nothing but tight rubber and animal skin around my naked flesh.
#10 Aug 27 2004 at 11:17 AM Rating: Good
****
7,821 posts
Quote:
You could climb every one of those trails barefoot


rock climbing. no hikeing.
#11 Aug 27 2004 at 2:16 PM Rating: Decent
Quote:
You're kidding, right. You could climb every one of those trails barefoot, and probably blindfolded. Rock climbing shoes? I've done most of them in wing tips.


Hehe, Smash, sometimes you remind me of me. I once climbed one of the Flatirons in Boulder, CO with Doc Martins on. I also regularly hike in Kenneth Cole shoes.
#12 Sep 16 2004 at 12:34 PM Rating: Decent
Update: The shoes are too tight, at least the one on my left foot is.

I'm going to wind up going back and buying another pair a half size larger than my street shoes.

I'm climbing 5.8's with relative ease now. My friend, who started the whole climbing hobby, is still having trouble with 5.7's and he's in quite a bit better shape than I am, so making fun of him is always a bonus.

We've been attempting 5.9's, but I don't have the finger strength or technique for them. I probably need to take a class to learn how to maneuver my body in a somewhat graceful manner rather than just lunging to the next color-coded hold and hoping I have enough strength to hold on.
Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 313 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (313)