The sport of bouldering is part of the climbing family, which includes more established sports such as mountaineering and rock climbing. Unlike its better-known siblings, bouldering focuses on small sections of rock, typically 15 feet or less in height. It can be treated as a form of training for traditional climbers, but is increasingly enjoyed as a sport in its own right. Manufacturers of special-purpose athletic shoes, such as Vibram, make various climbing shoes that are well-suited to bouldering.
Bouldering History
Bouldering consists of free climbs on large rocks or small rock faces, using a shock-absorbing crash mat rather than ropes to protect the climber. The sport's roots date to the 19th-century pioneers of mountain climbing, who used boulders as a training aid on days when the weather didn't permit more serious climbing. The rocks around the French town of Fontainebleau were challenging enough to become a climbing destination in their own right. Most date the rise of modern bouldering to the work of climber John Gill in the 1950s. Gill's website offers a concise history of the sport.
Bouldering Basics
Bouldering's popularity is driven in large part by its accessibility. Gear consists of the crash mat and a pair of lightweight climbing shoes, a much shorter list than for most other forms of climbing. Because the climbing surfaces are just a few feet away, bouldering can be a social group activity, with friends supporting and competing against each other. Individual climbs, or "problems" as they're termed, can be easy enough for first-timers or challenging enough to thwart even experienced climbers. Because each climb is short, stamina is less important than in rock climbing and mountaineering.
Bouldering Shoes
Bouldering shoes are similar to other lightweight climbing shoes. They fit the foot more closely than standard walking shoes, which would be too loose for climbing. The toes of climbing shoes are flattened and slightly wedge-shaped, to help them fit into narrow crevices. They're often given a slight downward slant, or camber, so the climber can use the shoe to lever her body closer to the rock. The sole is usually stiffened lightly to provide support once the shoe is wedged into a crack. The stiffness varies, with someone who weighs 200 pounds needing more support than one who weighs 100 pounds.
Vibram
Vibram's primary niche in the climbing world is as a producer of components used by other manufacturers to build top-quality climbing shoes. However, they also produce a line of unusual shoes called Five Fingers, which are essentially a glove for the foot. They're used primarily for "barefoot" athletics, but also have some utility as a bouldering shoe. The flexibility and thin sole of the Five Fingers shoe allows the foot to feel and grip the rock well enough for casual climbing. However, they provide less support than a true climbing shoe and are unsuited for use on challenging problems.
