A climbing shoe is an essential component for a climber. It can create or break a climber experience. As it is a regular and most used expensive part for a climber, every climber has this question, “How Long Do Climbing Shoes Last?”
This question has no specific answer. The answer depends on many factors. These are the materials and the stickiness of the shoe, the root of climbing, the use time, and the method to repair a shoe.
Here I am going to share these factors in detail. I hope it will help you know how long your climbing shoes will go.
How Long Do Climbing Shoes Last?
If you are a regular climber, may your climbing shoes will not go for long. A traditional climber needs two or three pairs of climbing shoes per year.
We know this is costly, but it is necessary to change as it helps to climb perfectly and catch a good grip.
If you are an infrequent or irregular climber as per month you climb for once, then may your shoes last for around- 2 years or upper. Of course, the material and the climbing routes affect this time limit.
If you are a yearly climber, your shoes may go for 3 to 4 years, including without any exterior damage of shoes.
If you are a regular gym climber, you have to take 3 or 4 pairs of shoes per year for sure; of course, the period depends on the quality of your shoes and the routes of your climbing.
A climbing shoe is an investment for a climber to fill up his target and reach his destination. How good your investment will be, your result will come good more. Just as you maintain your climbing shoes, your shoes will give the same returns.
What Are The Characteristics Of Good Shoes?
To make your climbing shoes for extended use, you have to choose a good shoe wisely at first. Size, style, and materials are essential characteristics of a good shoe; all are good indicators too for choosing a good climbing shoe.
Perfect size and suitable stylish shoes made with appropriate materials can be a long-time partner for a climber.
Size
To climb ideally, a climber needs a perfectly fitted shoe with his feet size and comfortable to wear. In the beginning, people would like to wear tight shoes; they used to buy a shoe- 2 times smaller than the actual size.
But now people like to wear the correct size shoe for their climbing. To pick the right size shoe, you may need to follow some factors.
Like many climbers, doesn’t like to wear shoes, but if you want to wear them, buy a smaller shoe than your actual size.
Moreover, if shopkeepers have a climbing wall, you can try new shoes on the climbing wall before buying. If they don’t have the wall, you can stretch the shoe and try facing your toes to pick the perfect size.
Style
There have many different styles of climbing shoes; these styles are:
Flat: this style is best for beginners as it comprises thick soles and firm midsoles. It has a demerits side, too; the thick soles can disturb the sensitivity of the climber’s feet.
Moderate: These types of shoes are not suitable for beginners. To wear these shoes climber’s feet have to be in a fit and sound state. Yet, these shoes can provide a good grip. They also appear with thin soles that will give you well feeling.
Aggressive: Aggressive shoes are best for pro climbers as these shoes contain foot curves. They’ll help you grip small holds. As rubber soles are skinny, these will offer you a much sound feeling.
Materials
Materials are the most crucial factor for a climbing shoe’s longevity. They contain two soles; an inner sole and an upper one. These soles are made with soft and sticky rubber.
Soft rubber enables to bear the friction and stick to the rock face, whereas hard rubber can’t do the same. This hard rubber has the feature of sliding.
Thick rubber shoes are the best for a jam or crack route climber. These shoes also go for long, more than thin rubber shoes.
But narrow rubber shoes give great sensitivity, and they can help you find the corners instantly. Synthetic, lined leather or leather can be used to make the upper layer of shoes.
Thus it will increase the longevity of climbing shoes. Leathered shoes are more comfortable, and it is long-lasting. But it stretches more than synthetic shoes.
Sometimes it grows to a level, and it becomes one size bigger. Synthetic shoes don’t stretch like leather shoes; in this way, these shoes are much better to use.
But synthetic shoes are heat sources; they trap more heat. Thus our feet sweat so much, create a foul smell, and it pesky to wear.
How to take care of your climbing shoes?
Climbing shoes are a regular partner for a climber, and it is also expensive to buy. So its maintenance is essential to increase longevity.
“How to take care of your climbing shoes?” To find the solution to this question, we must take some steps. These steps are:
- It would help if you bought the shoes according to the size and fitness of your feet. Otherwise, if you buy a smaller one, your shoe will be torn.
If you buy bigger, your shoe will be loose, disturbing you during the climbing time.
- Take care of the footwork. Wrong footwork can disaffect your shoes like clumsy footwork harms your shoe’s stickiness. During the climbing time, don’t drag your toes.
- Climbing shoes used for walking or jumping are the worst idea. We should avoid this kind of habit.
- Maintain Good hygiene: the climbing route is not clean; thus, your shoes will become dirty. If you don’t clean your shoes after each use, the dirt will destroy the rubber on your shoes. You can take some carpet pieces at the climbing time by which you can clean the rubber. After complete climbing, you should wash your shoe with a wire brush and warm water.
How to Preserve the Stickiness of the Shoes?
Preserving the stickiness of climbing is another essential factor in increasing the shoe’s longevity. The stickiness of shoe rubber will help you get the best grip for climbing.
To preserve the stickiness, we should clean our climbing shoes after each use. We can use warm water with a wire brush for cleaning; thus, the worn areas will also be clean.
But be aware, don’t use warm water directly; otherwise, your shoe will lose its lifespan. Another thing to keep in mind is that clumsy footwork will reduce your shoe’s stickiness, so rehearsal your footwork perfectly.
Final Verdict
Climbing shoes are like a body part for climbers. How Long Do Climbing Shoes Last? This question’s answer depends on how much your use time is and how you maintain it.
Taking suitable size, style, and good material’s shoes, preserving the stickiness of shoes, and taking care of shoe cleaning; all these factors will help a climber’s shoes go for last long.