How to Buy Shoes for Bouldering
If you're at all serious about bouldering, you'll want to buy climbing shoes. Here's how to choose the right pair.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Athletic Tapes
- Climbing Gear
- Climbing Harnesses
- Climbing Helmets
- Climbing Ropes
- Climbing Shoes
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1
Plan on spending between $80 and $140 for your first pair of shoes.
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2
Buy regular rock climbing shoes with sticky rubber soles. You'll find a variety of styles for all levels of experience at outdoor stores.
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3
Try on friends' shoes before making a purchase. Ask other boulderers which shoes they like the most.
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4
Buy your first pair of shoes at a store so you can try them on. Avoid purchasing shoes over the Internet or via mail order until you're sure you've found a pair that fits well and suits your style.
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5
Choose shoes that are snug around your entire foot. As a general rule, your climbing shoe should be about one size smaller than your street shoe.
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6
Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are swollen and at their largest.
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7
Feel free to ask for advice and help from a salesperson, but beware: If the salesperson doesn't climb, he or she probably won't have the faintest idea how climbing shoes are supposed to fit.
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8
Try out your shoes on a practice climbing wall, if the store has one. Most stores will not accept returns on any climbing equipment - including shoes - so be sure you leave with a pair that you like.
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9
Shop around for the best deals. Sometimes shoes are offered at huge discounts when new models come out or when stores try to clear their inventories.
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10
Read shoe reviews in climbing magazines such as "Climbing" and "Rock & Ice." Different shoes are intended for different types of climbing (boulderers often prefer slippers to lace-ups for ease in getting the shoes on and off between climbs).
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1
Tips & Warnings
Buy a pair of rock climbing shoes only when you're sure you really like to boulder. Many people think they like the sport, shell out cash for an expensive pair of shoes, then rarely - if ever - use them.
As you boulder more often, you'll probably decide that you're ready for tighter - and, unfortunately, more painful - shoes. If you're just starting out, however, pick shoes that you can wear for extended periods without going crazy.
Bouldering is a physically demanding sport that could result in serious injury. We recommend that you seek the proper equipment and training before undertaking this activity.
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Comments
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jayfe
May 31, 2010
One way to graduate into bouldering shoes is to get a good pair of approach shoes first. Approach shoes should also have a thin sticky sole, but you're able to stretch your toes out to the end of the shoe, and you can tighten or loosen the laces for walking, or moderate bouldering. My Mad Rock "Flash" bouldering shoes HURT to walk in, and my toes curl under a little when they're strapped on, but on a wall, they're just fine. They are my first, my "beginner" bouldering shoes, and like other reviewers state, they do stretch. There are more predictable fitting, more expensive shoes. My approach shoes are "Five Ten Guide Tennies," and can be worn all day, and provide suitable traction for moderate climbing. I can snug up the laces and climb most of my day-to-day climbs in them. My own history is that I began climbing as a ten year-old in tennis shoes, then owned thin soft boots, with... -
tjboulder
Feb 19, 2008
my street shoe size is 10 1/2 and i wear an 8 climbing shoe. if you know you love bouldering and are gonna stick to it, and you're tired of renting shoes, get some aggressive shoes as far as the fit goes. as far as how far the toe is turned down, unless you KNOW that's what you want, don't go too extreme. a little campus is good but too much isn't good if it's your first shoe. there are all sorts of shoes for all sorts of feet. the important thing is not the look but how it fits and feels. it should fit your foot like a glove. or in this case a....sock. and it'll hurt. a lot. but don't worry about that. they'll break in after climbing with them for awhile and your toes will toughen. i got my first pair a couple of weeks ago. i've been bouldering for about 5 or 6 two hour sessions and they've broken in a bit already. i'm really glad i didn't go for the 8 1/2s for comforts sake. if you go
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tjboulder
Feb 19, 2008
my street shoe size is 10 1/2 and i wear an 8 climbing shoe. if you know you love bouldering and are gonna stick to it, and you're tired of renting shoes, get some aggressive shoes as far as the fit goes. as far as how far the toe is turned down, unless you KNOW that's what you want, don't go too extreme. a little campus is good but too much isn't good if it's your first shoe. there are all sorts of shoes for all sorts of feet. the important thing is not the look but how it fits and feels. it should fit your foot like a glove. or in this case a....sock. and it'll hurt. a lot. but don't worry about that. they'll break in after climbing with them for awhile and your toes will toughen. i got my first pair a couple of weeks ago. i've been bouldering for about 5 or 6 two hour sessions and they've broken in a bit already. i'm really glad i didn't go for the 8 1/2s for comforts sake. if you go
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Nov 30, 2005
If you are doing a lot of bouldering you might want to look out for shoes designed specificly for bouldering, they have much more cusioning than regular shoes and can help lots when falling often!!
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Nov 30, 2005
If you are doing a lot of bouldering you might want to look out for shoes designed specificly for bouldering, they have much more cusioning than regular shoes and can help lots when falling often!!
