Climbing shoes
What are climbing shoes and what are they used for?
Climbing shoes, or simply "climbers," are shoes designed for climbing on artificial climbing walls (where holds and footholds are provided), bouldering walls, and in climbing areas. We also shouldn’t forget that climbing shoes can be used to tackle the most challenging via ferratas. However, the latter depends on our own abilities and physical strength.
What do climbing shoes enable us to do? They allow us to step precisely on smaller footholds, whether indoors, outdoors in climbing areas, or in the mountains. They are particularly effective when smearing (using friction to grip the rock), as they provide better contact than regular sneakers or shoes.
Which climbing shoes should I buy?
If you're deciding on your first pair of climbing shoes, prioritize comfort. Your toes should not be overly curled, as pain will make you complain more than actually enjoy climbing. The rubber should provide good grip both on artificial walls and outdoors.
If you plan to use climbing shoes in the mountains, it might be better to opt for lace-up shoes instead of slip-ons. Lace-up climbing shoes allow for a better fit, as the laces can be adjusted more precisely to the shape of your foot.
Most importantly, it’s good to know your own feet and also point out any specific foot characteristics to the salesperson. Based on their experience, they can recommend a model that suits your feet.
Here are a few examples of different types of climbing shoes:
- Suitable for beginners with high comfort – Durango VCR
- Suitable for beginners as well as longer sport climbing routes – Sausalito
- Comfortable with the best rubber – **Scarpa Force V** (Men's; Women's)
- Versatile – for more advanced climbers, long routes, serious training, and bouldering – **Scarpa Vapor V** (Men's; Women's)
- Shoes designed for the most demanding climbers (competitions, bouldering, difficult routes both in the mountains and on climbing walls) – the Instinct family of climbing shoes
Climbing shoes, or simply "climbers," are shoes designed for climbing on artificial climbing walls (where holds and footholds are provided), bouldering walls, and in climbing areas. We also shouldn’t forget that climbing shoes can be used to tackle the most challenging via ferratas. However, the latter depends on our own abilities and physical strength.
What do climbing shoes enable us to do? They allow us to step precisely on smaller footholds, whether indoors, outdoors in climbing areas, or in the mountains. They are particularly effective when smearing (using friction to grip the rock), as they provide better contact than regular sneakers or shoes.
Which climbing shoes should I buy?
If you're deciding on your first pair of climbing shoes, prioritize comfort. Your toes should not be overly curled, as pain will make you complain more than actually enjoy climbing. The rubber should provide good grip both on artificial walls and outdoors.
If you plan to use climbing shoes in the mountains, it might be better to opt for lace-up shoes instead of slip-ons. Lace-up climbing shoes allow for a better fit, as the laces can be adjusted more precisely to the shape of your foot.
Most importantly, it’s good to know your own feet and also point out any specific foot characteristics to the salesperson. Based on their experience, they can recommend a model that suits your feet.
Here are a few examples of different types of climbing shoes:
- Suitable for beginners with high comfort – Durango VCR
- Suitable for beginners as well as longer sport climbing routes – Sausalito
- Comfortable with the best rubber – **Scarpa Force V** (Men's; Women's)
- Versatile – for more advanced climbers, long routes, serious training, and bouldering – **Scarpa Vapor V** (Men's; Women's)
- Shoes designed for the most demanding climbers (competitions, bouldering, difficult routes both in the mountains and on climbing walls) – the Instinct family of climbing shoes