Climb Max Guide To Shoe Sizing

Buying shoes online can be challenging so here are a few things to think about.

1.Climbing shoes should fit snug, like a glove-slightly uncomfortable, but not painful.

2 .An accurate measurement of your foot using a Branic® foot measuring device(most shoe stores will have one) is crucial to anyone trying to assist you via e-mail or telephone.

3. Define the type of climbing that you are currently pursuing.

A. Bouldering Steep, dynamic, powerful climbing, requiring precise footwork. Shoes purchased for bouldering should fit tight, at least one half size below your actual foot size. Performance velcro or slipper models are the most sought after for this style of climbing.

B. Sport Climbing Generally speaking sport climbs tend to be significantly longer than boulder problems. Entry-level sport climbers should look for a snug fitting shoe with edging in mind, but forgiving enough to be worn for longer periods of time. A half a sizebelowyour actual foot size, (refer to # 2) is a good place to start.   

C. Traditional Climbing Free climbs vary from single to multiple pitches  (1pitch generally = a rope length) so shoes purchased by the entry-level trad climber should fit with this in mind. Start at your actual foot size, down size accordingly as you progress to more challenging grades.   

D.Crack Climbing Toes should lie fairly flat in the shoe to allow for the camming and leveraging needed when crack climbing.

4. Stretch Unlined leather shoes will stretch the most; a half to a full size, so fit these shoes allowing for stretch. There is nothing worse that an overly stretched floppy fitting climbing shoe. Some shoes made of leather have liners sewn into them to reduce stretching; depending on the grade of leather used count on a half size of stretch or under. Synthetic shoes tend to stretch very little especially if they are lined as well. Synthetic shoes should fit the way you want them to out of the box.

5. Adjustment Laces provide the most amount of adjustment so this style of shoe is popular with entry-level climbers starting outdoors as well as multi pitch trad climbers.Velcro shoes are very popular with boulderers, sport climbers and entry-level gym climbers. Velcro closures provide fast, easy entry and still give you a little adjustment to work with.Slippers provide no adjustment and are usually worn by climbers seeking an extremely sensitive, performance oriented climbing shoe. Entry-level climbers rarely wear slippers because they must be down sized to allow for stretch. Due to the lack of adjustment, it is not rare for slippers to be down sized a full size below your actual foot size.

6. Toe Boxes Asymmetrical toe boxes focus your toe position to provide better edge control, as holds get smaller. Most performance-oriented shoes have an asymmetrical toe box. Traditional toe boxes are more rounded and tend to suit trad climbing for their smearing and crack climbing capabilities. This style toe box will edge but is not focused on edging on tiny holds. A traditional style toe box is best for those people with Morton’s toe as well. Morton’s toe is a condition in which a persons second and third toes are longer than their big toe.

7. It helps tremendously to try climbing shoes on before you buy on-line. So find a shop and try as many styles on as possible. Although they would prefer to sell you the shoes, a good pro shop will be happy to let you try shoes on. Even if it is not the particular model you are looking for this process will help you determine your size range in the different climbing shoe styles.

Please feel free a give us a ring. The customer service rep will know the nuances of fit within the different models we carry. So Please Ask Questions, we want to find the right fit for YOU!

1.800.895.0048

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