Climbing shoes

Climbing shoes are close-fitting shoes with sticky rubber soles for standing on small holds. Flat, more comfortable shoes suit beginners, long routes and cracks; downturned, asymmetric shoes help on steep and overhanging rock. Choose the closure: laces adjust most precisely, hook-and-loop straps are quick on and off between routes, and slip-ons are minimal. They should fit snugly without pain, and unlined leather stretches more than synthetic uppers.