How to Choose Rock Climbing Shoes
Which type do you want?
- Neutral shoes. Great choice for beginners; allow toes to lie flat and provide all-day comfort.
- Moderate shoes. Good all-around shoe. A slightly downturned shape and stickier rubber makes them good for technical climbing.
- Aggressive shoes. The very downturned toes put your feet in a powerful position for challenging sport routes and bouldering; less comfortable than the neutral or moderate shoes.
Choose key features.
- Shoe closure options include laces, straps or slip-on.
- Uppers can be synthetic or lined- or unlined leather. Unlined leather uppers can stretch a full size, while synthetic uppers don't stretch much.
- Climbing shoe last is the foot-shaped model around which a shoe is built. Most rock climbing shoes are slip-lasted, which tend to be sensitive and less stiff than board-lasted shoes.
Consider these shoe fit tips.
- Shop later in the day as your feet can swell up to a full size during the day.
- Your toes should lie flat or be comfortably curved; your toe knuckles shouldn’t bunch painfully.
- Try them on in person for the best fit.
