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How do you like your shoes?


AlanD

7-Jun-2005
6:54:06 PM

I used to wear shoes a few sizes smaller than normal. The best move I made was giving them away and buying shoes that fitted properly, firm but not excessively tight. So much better not thinking about the pain your feet are in.


cheesehead

8-Jun-2005
7:23:16 AM

>the heel too. I've got really narrow and small heels and no one really
>makes shoes that fit properly. Makes it difficult to buy anything that
>fits properly. At the moment, while heel hooking in my manky dislocating
>shoes, if I go for a heel hook my *^$@*! heel is prone to slipping out
>of the shoe...
>

5.10 aren't great like this. I avoided them like the plague because of the rubbish heel (coupled with my narrow heel). I ended up buying some recently for smearing work where heel-hooks aren't an issue. It sounds like the girly Anasazi's fix this problem. Some guys I know (and I) are thinking of getting them for this reason.
La Sportivas fit me beautifully for 'tight shoes'. The heel feels like it fits good (with/without my extra heel), but I can rip the heel off in heel hooks at times.

8-Jun-2005
6:40:09 PM

My how things have changed! Comfortable climbing shoes! Who would have thought of it nearly 40 years ago!

After learning to climb in comfy walking boots, gym boots, and at one stage, gum boots I finally bought my first pair of rock "boots" in the (then) regulation 1-2 sizes too small. Agony getting them on and off, but never really noticed the pain while climbing...probably because I was gripped out of my mind most of the time.

Still have deformed feet which the kids find very amusing.


Tav

8-Jun-2005
8:31:32 PM

On 7/06/2005 climbau wrote:

>I use to use those socketts just to get my shoes on, I had a pair of Boreal
>Zens' that were just way too tight and my foot wouldn't slide in. But Socketts
>Changed all that :)
>
>Now I just wear reasonably comfy shoes for everything.

Socketts! That's what they're called! How great are they? Not too thin, not too thick...I sound like a promo chick that started work at Kellogs for just right. But yes, I think they rock too my friend. I'm working on the comfy shoes. I'm getting sick of the "I can't stand up! My heel's going purple!" thing. I think I'll just accept that I have a pain barrier.


Uncle Chester

8-Jun-2005
8:44:17 PM

Just out of curiousity,how many people that wear socks in climbing shoes wear socks in thongs?


Tav

8-Jun-2005
9:06:16 PM

On 8/06/2005 Uncle Chester wrote:
>Just out of curiousity,how many people that wear socks in climbing shoes
>wear socks in thongs?

I have a real dislike of this look. Mainly because I know this guy I used to know on the b'ball circuit that did it. The idiot thought he was God's gift to women and seemed to think that socks with thongs were the biggest turn on for chicks...ugh.

But that was a very shrewd joke you made there, very nice indeed. I take it you don't wear socks with your climbing shoes then?


Paulie

8-Jun-2005
9:26:08 PM

On 6/06/2005 cheesehead wrote:
>I now have 'Haglungs deformity' - meaning bony growths, esentially a second
>heel on each foot. Not good.

Yeah mate, your feet would scare small children and make them cry :O

I have 2 pairs. 1 for all day stuff and 1 pair for hard technical climbing.

My all dayers are 2 sizes smaller than my street shoe size while my slippers are 3 sizes smaller...I use my slippers very rarely (mainly because I don't climb many hard things anymore) and when I do they hurt to all buggery!

Paulie


Uncle Chester

9-Jun-2005
10:53:53 AM

>But that was a very shrewd joke you made there, very nice indeed.
i try my best

>I Take it you don't wear socks with your climbing shoes then?
yeh, im not big on socks...
might use some frilly ones if i was going to dress-up climbingcompetition

dalai

9-Jun-2005
11:26:59 AM

Pity you missed the 80's then Uncle Chester
http://www.rockclimbing.com/photos.php?Action=Show&PhotoID=55402

I am one of the few remaining old guard then, as I have to have my shoes super tight. If I can get my foot into the shoe without a plastic bag on the foot and quickdraws on the heel tabs within the first couple of months then I bought too big!


cheesehead

9-Jun-2005
11:29:25 AM

In fact it was Dalai who seduced me to the dark side in the first place.
"That went on a little too easy Mat. I think you need smaller"


Tav

9-Jun-2005
11:51:59 AM

>"That went on a little too easy Mat. I think you need smaller"

Ahh foot binding lives on in us all. At least now it's not only females...


LittleMac

9-Jun-2005
12:13:48 PM

I love a tight, really tight, shoe. The dark side lives on.

gfdonc

9-Jun-2005
12:48:28 PM

On 8/06/2005 Uncle Chester wrote:
>Just out of curiousity,how many people that wear socks in climbing shoes
>wear socks in thongs?

Socks in Birkenstocks, yes.
Socks in climbing shoes, not for many years.

Back to the topic of the thread, I have the view that I have never once regretted buying shoes too loose, but have several times regretted buying too tight. On this basis I suggest playing it safe and going for a comfy fit rather than enduring pain. I for one can't climb well when my feet are agony.
On the other hand my supertight Chili's are now a great fit .. maybe my feet have shrunk in the colder weather.

- Steve

There are 33 messages in this topic.