Things You'll Need:
- shoes
- damp rag/old toothbrush
- resoling kit
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Step 1
Ask yourself what kind of climbing you’re doing. If you’re doing long pitches that don’t necessarily require a lot of finesse, go for a nice, comfortable shoe that shouldn’t cost too much. If you’re doing a lot of crimping (very, very small holds) and smearing (no holds at all), be prepared for the most uncomfortable shoe you’ve ever tried on. In this instance, the tighter the better; muscling your feet into the shoe is exactly what you should, and when the shoe’s not on your foot, it should be curved like and on on your shelf.
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Step 2
Analyze your budget. Don't go all out on an unnecessary piece of equipment. Save the greenbacks for something important like a rope or comfortable harness.
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Step 3
Figure out how much you will actually use the shoes. If you plan on climbing everyday, invest in a higher end shoe than you would for weekend climbing.
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Step 4
Get up, go out, try some on. You can buy climbing shoes online, but just like anything you intend to wear, you can’t know how it fits until you wear it.
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Step 5
When you try your shoes on, take your socks off, you’ll get a tighter fit that way.
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Step 6
If you find one you want, but still want to buy it online, make a note of the brand, model, and size, then google it. There are plenty of places online that sell quality rock climbing shoes.
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Step 1
Only wear your shoes on the rock. Don’t get them in the dirt and dusty because that wears down their stickiness much faster than the normal rate.
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Step 2
Don't wear them wet. First of all, this is uncomfortable; secondly, your shoes will get stretched out of shape.
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Step 3
Don’t walk around with just your toes in; the heel cup can be your greatest ally and this will crush it.
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Step 4
When you get home with them, take an old toothbrush or damp cloth to the rubber to keep them clean.
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Step 5
Air them out so you don’t start getting bacterial growth . . . stinky shoes are best friends with athlete’s foot.
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Step 6
Store them someplace cool and dry; hot places melt the glue holding your shoes together and humid places encourage bacterial growth.
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Step 7
Finally, even with all your care, you will eventually need to re-rubber/resole your shoes. How long this takes depends on you: how you climb, and how much you climb. Count on at least once a year. You’re looking for pock marks, places of separation between parts of the shoes, and thin and ragged rubber. Don’t let the wear and tear get out of hand before you take them to be repaired. Most climbing gyms and mountaineering shops can take your shoes to be resoled, but you can also send them off yourself or purchase a resole kit for you DIY-ers.
