Climbing Shoe Size Guide
Climbing Shoe Size Calculator. Choosing the right size climbing shoes is crucial for performance and comfort. Use our climbing shoe size guide to ensure a proper fit.
Consider factors like leather stretch, foot shape, and heel width. Remember, a snug fit is essential, but avoid excessive pain or discomfort. Happy climbing!
What Can The Size Calculator Do?
When using our size calculator, remember it’s not meant to give you specific advice on which climbing shoe to pick. For that, check out our climbing shoe buyer’s guide or talk to our customer service. The calculator helps you find the right size in the shoe you want.
Climbing shoes should fit very tightly, leaving little room for error in size or fit. Since climbing shoe sizes can be different from regular shoe sizes, finding the right fit can be tricky.
But, we’ve got a tool to help. We gathered feedback from customers about their climbing shoes – over 3,300 reviews for 206 models from 18 brands. We didn’t just ask about size; we also asked how they use their shoes and about their climbing skill. This information helps make choosing your size much easier.
The climbing shoe market changes a lot, with models being updated or new ones being released. That’s why we keep updating our calculator. We rely a lot on feedback from climbers to keep our tool helpful.
Steps For Finding The Perfect Size Climbing Shoe
To find the perfect climbing shoe size, start with a size calculator using climbers’ feedback. Climbing shoes need a snug fit, so accuracy is key. Consult a buyer’s guide or customer service for model recommendations. Factor in your climbing skill, shoe usage, and brand variations. Stay updated on new models and sizing changes.
Brand And Model
Every brand has its size chart, which might not match the usual sizes of street shoes. Plus, street shoe sizes can vary between brands too, making things a bit tricky.
Luckily, sizes from the same brand are usually consistent. We can use what our customers tell us to figure out how sizes vary by brand.
For instance, La Sportiva’s shoes tend to be two sizes smaller than your regular shoe size, Scarpa’s are one size smaller, while Evolv’s are very similar to street shoe sizes.
When picking the right size, the shoe’s design matters too. A shoe designed to hold your heel tight and curl your toes slightly needs to be smaller than a shoe where your toes lay flat.
Climbing Discipline
How you plan to use your climbing shoes matters a lot for picking the right model and size. The size you need can change a lot depending on what you want from your shoes.
If you climb or boulder on walls that go straight up or lean back with tiny places to step, you need shoes that can focus all your power on your big toe.
Shoes made for this have a tight heel and make your toes curl up in the front for the best power. You should pick a smaller size for this.
For bouldering with lots of moves where you use your heel to hang on (heel hooks), your shoe needs to fit very tight around the heel so it doesn’t slip. Shoes that fit snugly around the heel are best here.
If you like climbing where you need to use a lot of the shoe’s bottom to feel the rock (like on slabs), softer shoes that let you bend your toes are better. These shoes let you feel the rock better and can be more comfortable.
In mountain climbing, you usually aren’t pushing your limits as much and might wear your shoes for a long time. So, it’s better to pick shoes that are a bit roomier for longer climbs.
Climbing Level
The level of the climb and the climber’s skills are very important. How hard a climb or boulder is, and how big or easy to use the hand and foot holds are, really matter.
Beginners can use shoes with bigger holds, but advanced climbers work with very small holds and steep or leaning walls. So, advanced climbers usually wear tighter shoes than beginners.
For example, a professional boulderer might choose shoes up to one and a half sizes smaller than someone just starting. In mountain climbing, there might be a whole size difference between new and professional climbers.
Empirical Data
When picking the right shoe size, consider how you’ll use them and honestly assess your climbing skills.
| BEGINNERS (< 7) | ADVANCED (7 – 9) | PROS (> 9) | |
| Bouldering | -0.6 | -1.2 | -1.8 |
| Sport climbing | -0.5 | -1.0 | -1.7 |
| Alpine climbing | -0.6 | -0.9 | -1.3 |
The link between your climbing skill, what kind of climbing you do, and your shoe size is shown in a chart we made from customer feedback.
Boulderers choose the tightest shoes, and mountain climbers pick the roomiest, with sports climbers in the middle.
Yet, these differences mainly show up at higher skill levels. Beginners should wear shoes about half a size to one size smaller than their regular shoes, no matter their climbing type.
Pros usually go two sizes smaller than their street shoes, with boulderers picking shoes a bit tighter than mountain climbers.
This chart helps show how shoe size varies by climbing type and skill. But, remember, these are averages across all brands and models! There’s a big range depending on the brand and model.
For instance, Evolv shoes are just a little smaller than street shoes, while La Sportiva’s are much smaller.
To consider everything important like brand, model, climbing type, and your skill level, and get a shoe size that’s right for you, it’s best to use our size calculator.
The Difference Between Buying And Wearing
When picking the right shoe size, there are a few tricky factors to think about even though we can easily measure things like how steep a wall is.
Shoes made of leather stretch more after you wear them a few times compared to synthetic ones. A tight shoe can become just right after two weeks. At La Sportiva, they say shoes can stretch to be half a size to a full size bigger.
In summer, when it’s hot, your feet might swell. This means very tight shoes can start to hurt. It might be a good idea to have an extra pair or to choose shoes that are half a size bigger for comfort.
Most climbers don’t wear socks to get a better feel for the wall. But, some climbers wear socks either because they like to or to keep their shoes from smelling.
The shoe sizes we talk about are for wearing shoes without socks. If you wear socks, remember this and maybe pick a slightly bigger size.
Fit For Climbing Shoes: Climbing Shoe Size Calculator
Finding the right fit for climbing shoes isn’t just about the size. There’s an old saying, “Cobbler, stick to your last,” which means stick to what you know.
This saying works for climbing shoes too. Usually, shoemakers follow their unique shapes, or “lasts,” for making shoes.
Often, you’ll find that shoes from one brand fit you well, but shoes from another brand don’t fit right, even if they’re the same size. Your friend might have the opposite experience with the same brands.
How Does The Cut Differ Between Brands?
We asked some of our customers if they think their climbing shoes are narrow, wide, or normal. Our information for some brands is still growing, but we’ve started to see some trends. We’re happy to share these early findings with you.
We can’t say that all shoes from one maker will fit perfectly because different models can fit differently. But don’t worry, two things make choosing easier: how the shoe fits around the front part of your foot, especially the tip, and how it fits around your heel.
Cut of Climbing Shoes From Selected Brands
| BRAND | CUT (TREND) | CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES TALLY |
| Andrea Boldrini | normal | 5 |
| Boreal | slightly wide | 12 |
| Edelrid | – | 0 |
| Evolv | normal | 10 |
| Five Ten | rather narrow | 20 |
| La Sportiva | rather narrow | 127 |
| LACD | – | 0 |
| Lowa | normal | 4 |
| Mad Rock | rather narrow | 4 |
| Mammut | normal | 2 |
| Millet | normal | 2 |
| Ocun | normal | 13 |
| Red Chili | rather narrow | 26 |
| Rock Empire | normal | 1 |
| Rock Pillars | normal | 5 |
| Scarpa | normal | 76 |
| So iLL | – | 0 |
| Tenaya | rather narrow | 13 |
| Wild Climb | normal | 1 |
Fit On The Forefoot (Foot Shape)
- Egyptian foot (big toe is longer than the second toe): Best with La Sportiva, Scarpa.
- Greek foot (second toe is longer than the big toe): Good choices are Five Ten, La Sportiva; Scarpa might not be ideal.
- Roman foot (big toe and second toe are the same length): No specific brands mentioned for this type.
For specific foot needs:
- Narrow forefoot: Evolv, and Ocun are good brands.
- If you have Hallux Valgus (bunion) or are likely to get it, choosing the right climbing shoes is crucial. Despite what might seem logical, wide and flat shoes aren’t best. Opt for shoes where your toes are slightly curled but not squeezed inward too much.
Fit On TheHeel
Choosing the right heel shape is easier. You can pick from narrower or wider heels. According to customer feedback, La Sportiva, Scarpa, and Five Ten fit well for narrow heels. Boreal has options for wider heels.
For narrow heels, shoes with pre-tension fit tightly. You can learn about pre-tension and downturn on our Base Camp Blog.
Aggressive climbing shoes (with lots of pre-tension and downturn) are tighter and have less room to move than simpler, wider shoes. This means beginners have more choices than advanced climbers or pros.
Difference Between US and European Climbing Shoe Size
In the climbing shoe size chart, European half sizes are smaller steps than US half sizes. This makes European sizes more precise, offering a closer fit.
European sizing adds about four more sizes for each range, giving you more options. This is great for climbing shoes, which are often less-bendy because of the tough rubber.
How Should Climbing Shoes Fit?
Climbing shoes are usually tight, and stiff, and make your foot bend in ways it’s not used to. But, you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable every time you wear them.
Watch out for pain on the sides of your feet, the tops of your toes, and the back of your heel. If walking across the gym hurts after trying a few times, the shoes might not fit right.
Just like any shoe, different brands fit differently. Your foot’s width, your arch, your toe length, and other things decide which shoe size and brand fit you best.
For example, La Sportiva shoes are usually narrow, while Scarpa and Evolv are better for wider feet. I prefer Scarpa because I have wide feet.
Climbing Soe Reviews
Choosing the right shoes is very important for climbing. While the design matters, it’s more important to find shoes that fit well and are comfortable. If your feet hurt too much, climbing will be hard. Look out for our upcoming shoe reviews.
Before buying new shoes, think about fixing the ones you have. If they’re still good, fixing them can save money, help the environment, and save you from having to wear new shoes.
Climbing Shoe Sze Calculator: Wrap-up
Choosing the right climbing shoe is important because climbing begins with your feet. You need shoes that fit perfectly. If you’re not sure our shoe size calculator is right, go to a store and try on shoes yourself! Every foot is unique, and we hope this helps you start.
FAQ
How Do I Know My Climbing Shoe Size?
Beginners should wear their shoes half a size to one full size smaller than their street shoe size, more or less irrespective of their climbing discipline.
How Many Sizes Do you Have to go Down for Climbing Shoes?
To optimize performance and ensure a stronger grip, more experienced climbers suggest buying a climbing shoe that is 2 sizes smaller than the size used for other types of footwear.
Should Climbing Shoes Be the Same Size as Street Shoes?
Putting it All Together. Armed with a good idea of size and toe shape, we recommend you start with your street shoe size, then go up or down depending on a few key factors. It is important to choose a shoe that is built for the type of climbing that you want to do.
What Happens if Climbing Shoes are too Big?
Any unoccupied space in your shoes reduces grip and sensitivity – your ability to feel the footholds – so you’re more likely to slip off the foothold when you’re least expecting it. This unoccupied space will also make your shoes wear out quicker. So what we’re looking for is a snug fit, but not too snug.
Do Climbing Shoes Need to Be Tight?
A new pair of rock shoes should feel like a tight pair of driving gloves, a bit uncomfortable is OK. The “uncomfortable” is subjective as comfort and pain thresholds vary. One thing is for sure, if you can walk around in those shoes and not feel any discomfort then they are too large.
Why Do Climbers Wear Smaller Shoes?
Then, a long time ago, climbers realized that they could climb more difficult routes by wearing special climbing shoes.
This was not only due to the special soles but also because shoes became tighter, which resulted in climbers having more sensitivity in their toes for small footholds.
Do all Climbing Shoes Stretch?
Shoes made from predominately synthetic materials won’t stretch too much, expanding by up to ½ a size throughout their life. Leather uppers will be more forgiving on your foot, stretching 1 to 2 sizes and often breaking in quicker.
How Tight Should a Shoe Fit?
Generally speaking, there should be about one finger’s width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nicely and snugly.
Should I Buy Climbing Shoes a Size Bigger?
Climbing shoe fit: For the best performance, climbing shoes should fit snug but not painfully. Getting the right fit will help you climb harder and longer.
Is it Better to Buy Smaller or Bigger Shoes?
As we all know, if you wear a shoe that is too tight it will hurt your feet and lead to foot ailments, such as blisters, bunions, and calluses.
But wearing a shoe that is too big will cause us to walk in an unnatural and dysfunctional way. This can lead to serious foot problems.
