How tight is too tight for rock climbing shoes? If your toes are as crunched as can be is that too tight?

Question

They kinda hurt too, like when I point my foot up and down, it hurts alot quite a bit, but they are bran new Mad Rock shoes and I dont know what they should feel like.

Answer 1

There's actually an easy answer to this one. Your shoes should be just tight enough so that when you grab the front part of your shoe, you find it hard to rotate it about your foot. If you find that you can rotate your foot a little inside your shoe, it's not tight enough for good edge holding. In other words, you'll find yourself rolling right off critical edge holds on rock, and you don't want that. Of course, you could achieve this by buying a shoe 2 sizes too small and forcing them on, like what Cinderalla's sisters tried to do with the glass slipper, but then your feet will probably die. Take the time shopping for exactly the right fit.

Answer 2

I hate to say it, but no.
For one it really depends on the type of climbing you are doing. For a multi pitch long climb you are going to want a more comfy shoe (as the grade permits). Too tight is going to be very hard on circulation.
But for bouldering....that's another story. You can slip off your slipper after every problem and let your toes regenerate.
I have a few different types of shoes.
My slippers are very tight.
I suppose they could be so tight that they cause too much pain to use, but getting your toes into a cruved point is the idea.
I have used the 5.10 moccasym for some time. I buy mine tight enough so that they are tough to get on, but not so tight that it hurts to stand.
Shoes will break in and stretch too. I don't know how well the Mad Rock shoes are made, but most have a period of break in. I have heard of some guys watering their slippers lightly and wearing them wet to help break them in. I've never tried it, but might be an idea

Answer 3

You want them to be snug on your feet. If they are hurting your feet ALL the time then I would say too small. I can climb in mine and they are comfortable and thats what matters - after all you're not going to hike in them.

They will stretch if you think that you can bare them and to make them stretch a bit more wear thin trainer socks inside them at first to stop them rubbing and to make them stretch quicker.

Hope this helps and all the luck in the world with the climbing - there is not a better sport out there :-)

Answer 4

A lot of people say go as tight as you can go but that is not necessarily true...if its too tight, you can hurt your foot just to get on a hold a penny's width or go a half size bigger and not do that route. It doesn't really matter for indoor rock climbing, but hard core outside you will know.

c heck out Petra rock climbings website (Vermont)

Answer 5

Too many climbers wear their shoes too tight. The bottom line is you won't climb well if you're in pain! Sounds to me like their too tight, try swapping them at a gear swap, or website like the MEC gear swap page, or on ebay, there are others in the same situation as you.

Answer 6

When I bought my first pair of climbing shoes I was told they should be snug, but they shouldn't hurt. Like all new shoes they have to be broken in, so they'll stretch a bit, but if they hurt, they're probably the wrong size.

Answer 7

Wear socks and put shoes on till they fit tight. Take the socks off make sure they are comfortable and not too lose (especially if you have thick socks.

Answer 8

the right size for rock climbing shoes is one size smaller than your usual shoe size.