A 1,400-word breakdown of last shape, downturn, asymmetry, and the single biggest mistake new climbers make at the shop.
Most beginners buy too aggressive a shoe and quit climbing because their feet hurt. Here's what the magazine reviews won't tell you.
FLAT-LASTED shoes are not 'beginner shoes' — they're the shoes most working climbers wear for 80% of their climbing. Downturn helps on steep terrain; it actively hurts on slabs and cracks.
SIZING:try them with a slightly puffy foot at the end of the day. You want the shoe snug, not painful. If your toes are visibly bent at the second joint, size up.
MATERIAL:leather stretches up to a full size. Synthetic doesn't. Buy accordingly.
RESOLEABILITY:a $30 resole every 18 months beats a new pair every 12.
Our pick for almost every new climber: the Vertica Granito All-Day.
