Rock climbing is one of those adventure sports which are very popular among the young people. If you are also interested in it then you might be aware of the fact that you will need good quality rock shoes for mountain climbing. However, you need to pay extra care while buying them as a wrong pair of shoes can be very painful and you will even think of giving up climbing. Here are few tips which can help you while purchasing rock shoes.
1. Opt for an all around rock shoe
First of all, you must know that there are different kinds of climbing and for each kind specific type of shoes are available. However, for beginners we must suggest an all around rock shoe as you'll be doing all sorts of climbing and shoes designed for one kind of climbing may be uncomfortable for another one, whereas these all around rock shoes are not only comfortable but also they allow you to experiment and improve.
2. The shoes must stretch
Rock shoes are not meant for general purpose wearing, they are designed keeping in mind the fact that they have to face very rough and harsh conditions. While buying rock shoes, you must always remember that they stretch, so you need to make sure that the material used for making these shoes has that property, otherwise wearing them is certainly going to be a painful experience. For instance, we will not recommend you to buy shoes that have linings and rubber bands because the problem with them us that they won't stretch much. Do not buy the shoe if it is painful and your toes are cramped.
3. Take the help of internet to make good deals
If you are not satisfied by the quality and cost of the shoes available at a local shop then we will suggest you to look online as great deals can be found on the internet. However, you need to be extra careful in case of buying anything from on-line vendors. It may happen that what you see on the internet looks very much different from the one which has been delivered to you, in that case you'll be left unsatisfied and there's nothing which you can do. You might be stuck with a shoe that doesn't fit you properly. So, it is better to read the terms and conditions thoroughly before ordering your shoes online. This way you can ensure that you can send them back in case they are not of the proper size or there is some other problem with them.
4. Take advantage of discounts
Everyone knows that rock shoes are not fashion accessories. Now you must be thinking that why are we discussing it here? What we want to convey is that if they are not fashion accessories, then what's the point in purchasing the latest models, especially when you have last year models available to you at a cheap rate during off season. In fact, the best time to buy rock shoes is late winter and spring; this is the time when they are heavily discounted. Most of the online vendors and mountain shops have close out specials. However, if you are thinking of taking advantage of discounts, then it is better to shop early, otherwise you'll be left only with really big or super small sizes to choose from.
5. Rent shoes before buying them
The first thing that you need to make sure before buying rock shoes is to find out whether climbing is a sport you will stick with or not. Obviously, there is no point in spending bucks for buying rock shoes which you'll not be using, otherwise. So, it is much better to rent shoes from your friends for the first few times that you go climbing, be it in a rock gym or outside. This way, you'll get a better understanding of how you climb. You will also get to know how the shoes that you have rented are performing which will be of great aid while buying your own rock shoe.
6. Go for a trusted name
If you don't have any previous experience of buying rock shoes, then we will suggest you to go for a trusted brand. It may happen that you have to spend a bit more, but also the shoes will be of good quality. You must buy your shoes from a reputable mountain shop. These shops have experienced sales staffs who have a great deal of knowledge about climbing. They can certainly help you out in choosing the right pair of shoes for you.
7. The shoes must be well fitting
Size of the shoes is one of those important factors which determine how much comfortable your shoes are going to be. If they are loose, then most of the time you have to take care that they don't just slip out and if they are too tight, then it is definitely going to be a very uncomfortable experience. So, the best thing that you can do is to get a snug but comfortable fit.
8. Used pair of rock shoes
If you don't want to spend much on your rock shoes then we will suggest you to buy used pair of rock shoes. You will such bulletin boards in shops and gyms. You can also find some great deals on the internet, for instance, have a look at E-Bay, there you can find one matching your requirements.
9. Take the help of shoe demos
Many local climbing gyms will provide you a facility for shoe demos where you can easily figure it out which shoes work for your foot. There will be different rock shoes available that will help you to determine the type which suits your climbing style.
10. Avoid improper sizing
The most common problem that has been observed with the beginners which they face while buying rock shoes is that of improper sizing. They come in UK, US and European sizing and converting one unit of size into another one may be tricky. So, the best thing that you can do is to try them on in person before buying.
Source: Climbing
