Whatever your climbing needs, there’s a climbing shoe to fit it. Shoes are not specifically indoor or outdoor shoes but constructed for specific types of climbing. Shoes range from sport climbing to traditional climbing shoes. A versatile shoe can transfer over between different types of climbing but won’t give you the best performance for a single type of climbing.
Significance
You climbing goal determines the style of shoe you use to climb. Climbing shoes vary from an all-day shoe, which is somewhat comfortable, to a tighter fitting sport shoe taken on and off throughout the day. You need a stiff midsole for climbing cracks and a softer midsole for bouldering or sport climbing. High performance shoes are low-cut while others, best for crack climbing, cover the ankles to protect and support them.
Types
You can purchase climbing shoes specific to nearly every type of technical climbing including bouldering, sport climbing, traditional and crack climbing. A slipper works best for sport or gym climbing but doesn’t have enough support for crack climbing. A gym shoe also has a curled toe for pulling on tiny holds. A crack climbing shoe has more support through the insole and a flat toe for jamming into a crack. The rubber sole on the bottom varies in thickness, softer and thinner for a gym shoe and thicker for an outdoor climbing shoe.
Considerations
A climbing shoe fits snug, but shouldn’t cramp the foot. A tight fit insures the ability to feel holds with your foot. Fit is affected by the cup of the heel, the curl and width of the toe and the shape of the insole. A lace-up shoe can be made as tight or loose as needed depending on the difficulty of the climb. A slip-on can have a Velcro closure but won't adjust as much as a shoe with laces, so it should fit snugly from the beginning.
Sizing
Don’t get fixated on a specific size as each shoe company has a different last, the hand-carved foot the shoe is built around. Unlined leather shoes stretch more than a lined shoe, which maintains form and size. Whether it’s a crack climbing shoe or a bouldering slipper the fit should be snug with no room to wiggle, but not so uncomfortable you can’t climb in it.
Function
Shoes aren't made specifically for indoor or outdoor climbing but typically indoor climbing is sport climbing or bouldering. For these types of climbing select a high performance climbing shoe with a curled toe and cupped heel. Gym walls are rougher than rock surfaces outside, so if you are climbing exclusively indoors a thicker sole on your shoe will last longer.
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