Climbing shoes come in a variety of types and uses. Choosing a climbing shoe is considerably easier the more information a climber has. Learn how to choose and use rock climbing shoes in this climbing video.
Different shoes have specific functions
Sticky rubber is found in climbing shoes
Climbing should be done more with feet then with hands
Keep shoes clean, free of debris
Josh is an avid climber that resides off the coast in central California. He has managed for a mountaineering sports company for several years and loves the sport.
JOSH HARING: Hi, I'm Josh and today I'm going to talk a little bit about how to choose rock climbing shoes. Shoes are probably the most important thing you're going to use when you rock climb. You want your shoes to feel like an extra layer of skin, like ballet slippers. We carry several different types of shoes here at Mountain Air Sports. Every one's a little bit different and each person fits a shoe a little bit different, so it's important that you try on different shoes. We sell shoes that are Velcro and shoes that are lace up. We also sell slip-on or slippers. Each shoe has a different use. Some people prefer Velcro or slippers for [SOUNDS LIKE] boulding. They want a shoe that they can take on and off very easily. Also on longer and multi-pitch routes, people tend to choose a Velcro shoe because they can remove it very easily. Lace-up shoes are nice because you can really get a good, snug fit regardless of foot shape. So lace up shoes fit the general population better. Also, in considering a shoe, it's important to note that these shoes have specific uses. Some shoes will be better for edging, for example, while other shoes are better for slab. If a shoe has a sharper point or it comes to more of a point, you can assume that that shoe is going to a little bit better for edging and finding pockets, maybe a little bit better of a bouldering shoe. Other shoes that are good would be shoes that are more for slab climbing or shoes that are very comfortable to be in all day long. They have a lot of surface area and they'll get you up at just about anything. Other distinct features in climbing shoe would be the sticky rubber. Just about every climbing shoe manufacturer uses some sort of top secret sticky rubber. What's important to now about the rubber is that it has far more traction than just about any other substance out there. The more rubber you have on the rock, the better grip you're going to have on that rock. Climbing should be done with your feet, more than with your hands. So, you're really relying on the footwear. It's important to keep your climbing shoes clean. I use a little bit of rubbing alcohol and just kind of keep the dirt and debris out of the rubber. In order for this rubber to work, it's got to be clean. Your first pair of climbing shoes probably won't last very long, so plan on 4 to 6 months. When most climbers start out, they're stepping up and sliding down on to a hold. As you progress, you'll notice that you'd become more accurate in finding those foot placements and you're relying less on the friction and sliding down and you're stepping up to those holds.
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