Buying shoes...?

[chris_f]

So i plan to buy my first pair of climbing shoes in a week or two, along with a chalk bag (i can rent all the other gear i need from my school mountaineering club).

My understanding is that they're supposed to feel too tight... is this correct? I was told that my toes shoes feel jammed into the shoes. Almost like they should be squished up against each other and into my big toe. From the side they'd look sorta like this: ^ (you know, bent in the middle).

Am i understanding this right? I don't wanna get shoes that are too big, nor do i want to get ones that will hurt cus they're too tight.

[Buk]

Buy them from a rockclimbing store and have the associate help you, usually they are pretty involved in the sport. My shoes are way too tight and make climbing miserable. They are supposed to be tight, but don't get them so tight that they make you consider skipping a route. Put them on in the store and see if you can stand to wear them for 30 minutes, climb in them if they have a wall at the store.

[Kaiser]

On the other side, if you get them yourself, they may be too loose. They shouldn't be comfortable when you are standing in them - your toes will feel crushed and if you see climbers who are standing a lot , they will often remove their shoes or loosen up the laces. In general, they say to get 1 shoe size smaller than your street shoes. Since they will be your own shoes, make sure you try them on without socks, the way you will be using them (most people who rent shoes don't realize this since they have to wear socks for hygenic reasons with rentals).

Buk gave you great advice when he said to buy them from a knowledgeable store. REIs usually have a small wall where you can try them on and see how they climb.

One more piece of equipment you may consider buying: your own harness. When you climb, it's much easier to fit into your own sized harness than to adjust all those straps. Since your life depends on it, it's also nice to know how many climbs are on that piece of equipment, how much of a beating it has taken, be able to check it thoroughly at home before you are rushed at a wall, etc.

Other things you may want to consider buying (since they are cheap): one or two locking carabiners, and an ATC (belay device).

Seems like you have the bug! Enjoy!

[Mountain_marc]

Don't forget that, depending on which type of shoe you get, they will stretch!

A new pair will hurt for a while, after a while they will start to feel better.

An unlined shoe will stretch more than a lined shoe.

I usually get unlined shoes 1 street size down (Other that LaSportiva)and they're fine till the holes start.

LaSportiva Miuras - Highly recommended, it's almost like cheating!

[chris_f]

Thanks for the help guys! [img]smile.gif[/img]