The right pair of climbing shoes could make rock climbing a fun and rewarding experience. On the other hand, the wrong pair could leave you feeling uncomfortable, making the trip unbearable and ruin the whole experience. Therefore, before you start looking for cheap rockclimbing shoes, you need to consider factors such as your climbing expertise, the fit and shape of the shoes, among others.
In 2019, there were about 9.89 million climbers in the US itself. Therefore, there is undoubtedly a market for shoes that cater to these climbers. However, with multiple brands involved, choosing the right climbing shoe could be an overwhelming decision to make.
The article will look at different climbing shoe features you should know about before you make a purchase.
Things You Should Know About Rock Climbing Shoes Before Buying
Fit
When buying a rock climbing shoe, the fit or size is an important feature to look out for. If your shoes are too small, you’d have to squish your feet to fit them in, making it uncomfortable for you. Conversely, if your shoes are too big, you don’t get the desired control and grip while climbing. You may even risk them falling off your feet.
Different brands size their shoes differently. Remember this point, especially if you are buying shoes online. But, if you are buying shoes from a local store, you could start by telling the salesperson your street shoe size. This will help them find a shoe size in your preferred brand, providing you with the right fit.
Shape
The two broad categories of rock climbing shoes types are flat and downturned shoes. As the name suggests, flat shoes will help keep your feet flat; there will be no scrunching of toes involved. These shoes are best suited for slabs or vertical walls. The sole of the shoes could range from soft to stiff.
Downturned shoes, on the other hand, are best suited for overhanging climbing or steeper routes. These shoes are shaped like a banana. The degree of the downturn can vary from mild to extreme. The shape of the shoe allows for better grip and control over rocks and edges.
Closure
The standard closure types available for rock climbing shoes are lace, velcro, and slip-ons. However, if you want a customized, snug fit, then go with lace closures. These shoes comparatively take time to put on and take off, but they offer better control over the fit.
If you are into bouldering, then velcro shoes provide overall better comfort and ease of use. With slip-ons, you can get in and out of the shoe quicker. If you do not want your laces to get into cracks and crevices, you could opt for slip-ons.
Cost
You can easily find cheap rock climbing shoes with the features mentioned above. However, you must read through shoe reviews online to understand what shoes fit into your budget.
If rock climbing is a weekend hobby for you, then you could go with budget-friendly flat shoes. Then, as you gain experience, you could switch to more technical shoes like downturns to better assist your climbing technique.
Make a note with respect to whether you’ll do indoor or open air. Since you successive either, doesn’t mean you’re solidified to a particular shoe. There are various kinds of courses accessible inside every that can make you go for a compliment shoe one day and a downturned one the following. It is more probable you’ll wind up going with an overall shoe for indoor exercise center circumstances, as a result of the accessibility of various ascensions across the board spot.
