Ever feel like that newbie at the gym when doing a new sport?
Well.
There is no better way to feel that way at the climbing gym than if you are wearing socks with your shoes.
We’ve all done it, I know. When I tried on my first pair of climbing shoes (Evolv Defy’s) I was told nicely by the guy at the gym that “most people don’t wear socks with their climbing shoes”.
I am eternally glad he did.
Here’s why.
Feel
When you’re climbing, you need to feel everything. You need to feel every little nook and cranny of the rock/climbing holds because sometimes that’s all that gets you up the climb.
If you wear socks, you’re going to be less precise with your climbing.
Climbing shoes fit very tight
Remember how we’ve talked time and time again that you need to size down handily with your climbing shoes? I wear a 10.5 in a street shoe and a 9 in climbing shoes.
They’re tight.
And they’re tight purposefully because it helps you stand on smaller feet than you’d be able to otherwise.
If you wear socks, you’ll have to size up which will make you less precise.
What about rental shoes?
I know, rental shoes feel gross. But climbing gyms deodorize and sanitize their shoes after every wear, and I have never heard of a case of athlete’s foot from climbing shoes.
But there’s a solution to rental shoes – buy your own. Here are our choices for the best climbing shoes and the best climbing shoes for beginners.
Featured image credit: Rock and Ice