Rock Climbing Shoes

[5v5 rider]

Hi peeps,

I've just started doing indoor rock climbing/bouldering and need to get myself some rock shoes. Now I've seen loads on t'interweb but I would prefer to try some on at an actual shop so I can get one that fits just right as I dont wanna guess the size. My question is..............does anyone know of any shops within the middlesex area where I can go in and try some??

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Phil

[Mr Toad]

Try Cotswold Camping - several branches about, inc Kingston & Shepherds Bush
If it's indoor stuff you're doing, you want 'em to fit right - try them without socks

cheers

[Quedos]

Tiso's is always good and Knowledgable.
the shoes to get best feel should be worn without sock and 1/2- 1 size smaller. It why we all walk funny!! (personal prefence plays a large part but you don't want them too big with spaces at the toes)
Talk to your local centre they may have a deal with the local shop. I got mine from Tiso - but I'm in Glasgow so imay not have helped at all!

[thedonal]

If you can make it to Chertsey, Snow & Rock are very helpful- I got some hiking gear from them last year- boots & jacket. They are very knowledgeable and have facilities to try the footwear (at least for hiking boots- a stepped and sloped surface so you use them on similar ground that you expect to be hiking on). They can be rather pricey too, but try for sales, you'll possibly get a good set of shoes for a good price.

[gettin2dizzy]

if your just starting out don't be tempted to get the fancy shoes with the 'hook' in the toe. You want ones with a thicker sole to support your foot. It takes a while to build up the strength in your feet.

[5v5 rider]

cheers for all the responses!! I've been trying to find a shop where I can actually try some on and came up with nothing so many thanks.. Snow and Rock and Cotswold Outdoor will be on my agenda for a visit on Saturday.

cheers guys

[5v5 rider]

if your just starting out don't be tempted to get the fancy shoes with the 'hook' in the toe. You want ones with a thicker sole to support your foot. It takes a while to build up the strength in your feet.


you seem like a knowledgeable fellow!! can you recommend any particular brand of shoe for a newbie - my feet are pretty strong but Im not going into why tho'..:-$

[Dave The Rave]

Talk to them and tell them what you need it for. Indoor or outdoor (sandstone, rock etc.) Mine used to be as tight as I could stand them. It actually hurts first few times you have them on, but they give in a bit. Someofthe places have a small climbing wall to try them on so if you can give it a go. I used to like Boreal (Vectors or Lasers in my days) or 5.10. Lasers offered amazing grip. Choose wisely. :smt023

[stewie]

Check out outdoorsmagic.com they have a load of reviews etc... that might be a help :p

[Mr Toad]

It just occured to me that if they made bike tyres out of the same rubber as my old climbing boots, then they wouldn't last very long, but I'd be able to go round corners leant over to about 85 degrees :riding: :D

[CoolGirl]

Try the Urban Rock shop at the Westway climbing centre - a specialist climbing shop. I got my lovely Red Chilis from the branch within the Castle Climbing Centre - far more specialist advice, will let you try stuff and order things in quickly if you need them. They fit perfectly and I had a good chat with the guy in the shop as they were my first pair and I don't know what to look for. Went back there for my harness.

I tried both Snow & Rock and Ellis Brigham before I bought mine - both were useless, disinterested and had limited stock.

[CoolGirl]

here you go...

http://www.urbanrock.com/

[Blue_SV650S]

I second Snow and Rock. :thumbsup:

As someone else says, they will ask you what you want them for and will sort you the correct pair accordingly ... the people that work at my local one all seem to be climbers themselves, so know their stuff and won't just fob you off with the most expensive pair ;)

One thing I will say is that after you have done a bit of indoor, you owe it to yourself to try outdoor ... I never do indoor any more, only outdoor :) Depends what floats your boat I suppose, but like I said, you ought to give it a bash at some point!! 8)

[thedonal]

I've been meaning to start climbing. Did a big phase of hiking last year but after Snowdon, the Surrey Hills were a bit of an anticlimax. Got loads of lovely pics though. Must get going again soon- when I can have a Sunday off the bike...er...Oh. Summer's coming!!!

Thinking of doing the beginners bit at Craggy Island and also considering the weekend intro to climbing at PYB- my Company are giving us a personal developement budget this year and that'd be an ideal place to start (and start to deal with heights...!).

[Blue_SV650S]

I've been meaning to start climbing. Did a big phase of hiking last year but after Snowdon, the Surrey Hills were a bit of an anticlimax. Got loads of lovely pics though. Must get going again soon- when I can have a Sunday off the bike...er...Oh. Summer's coming!!!

Thinking of doing the beginners bit at Craggy Island and also considering the weekend intro to climbing at PYB- my Company are giving us a personal developement budget this year and that'd be an ideal place to start (and start to deal with heights...!).

For indoor, yeah Craggy in Guildford is pretty good, you can hire all teh equipment too, so its not like you need to buy all the gear first to have a crack 8) The walls are tall enough to need ropes; they make you do a quick training thing with the ropes before they let you at it, but its free to do and only takes about 10-15 mins which is cool. :)

Only problem is you do need at least one mate to go rope climbing ... that's where I have always struggled!! ;) :D

[thedonal]

LOL! I've got people around I can pay to be friends for the day....!

[CoolGirl]

For indoor, yeah Craggy in Guildford is pretty good, you can hire all teh equipment too, so its not like you need to buy all the gear first to have a crack 8) The walls are tall enough to need ropes; they make you do a quick training thing with the ropes before they let you at it, but its free to do and only takes about 10-15 mins which is cool. :)

Only problem is you do need at least one mate to go rope climbing ... that's where I have always struggled!! ;) :D

Erm, this doesn't sound like a good idea to me unless you're not going to be belaying and are just shown how to tie in and get on the wall. It really is a dangerous pastime.

If you're going to get a real feel for it, I'd recommend either a taster session or a beginners crash course (about 5 hours, but well paced and about fifty quid). A bit like taking your CBT before you're allowed out to play on the road properly.

I say this because I had a nasty accident about 2 weeks ago, where I could have dropped my climber and killed him. All down to an inexperienced person, who had been signed in by their mate, buggering about unsupervised right behind me. It could have been avoided if they'd undertaken basic safety awareness and known not to get under my feet whilst I was belaying. I ended up with a bashed up hand (still limited use), but if I hadn't had my wits about me it could have been a lot worse. Fortunately the climber came to no harm (in fact, I lay fair claim to having saved his life:eek: ). The person concerned had a stiff talking to from the centre staff, as did the chap who signed them in. Probably got themselves a ban for it.

[Mr Toad]

Only problem is you do need at least one mate to go rope climbing ... that's where I have always struggled!! ;) :D

Not true, you can always self belay with a top rope ;)

I vaguely remember using a device called a Petzl Stop, which we also used for abseiling. One day in the alps when the temp dropped and it got a bit icy, we quickly renamed this thing "The Petzl for f**ks sake Stop" :smt103

[Quiff Wichard]

pm fizzwheel or e.d - they are a couple..

e.d used to work in retail selling htis very stuff- she is knowledgeable.

[gettin2dizzy]

green scarpas with velcro are excellent starting/mid range boots. You want them to be tight and uncomfortable - without cuttting off all the blood supply! secret i learnt is to not take them off between climbs - it means your feet swell, so that 2 minutes relief only makes it worse. You'll soon find out how different sizes your feet are! good luck :)

[Blue_SV650S]

...
To be fair belaying is very simple concept and action, you don’t need 5hrs to be trained how to do it!! :lol: You can even get self locking belay devices so it is impossible to ‘drop’ someone even if the belayer fell asleep ;) … we had one of these, but they are a bit of a pain when the person is leading … but ideal for a new belayer as it is fool proof and what I would get a new climbing mate to use first off untill they got the into the swing of things …

As my life is technically in their hands, I’d never let someone who didn’t have a noggin belay for me … it’s a bit like going pillion …

As for the incident you are describing, I am not quite sure what you are saying happened there, but sounds like someone bashed into you when you were belaying?? AND the climber fell at this precise time and you did well to save them!?!? If so, idiots and bad luck! But that isn’t lack of training, that is just stupidity … unfortunately “like German tourists … the stupid are everywhere!!” :D

[5v5 rider]

Well I finally made my mind up and went for some La Sportiva's Cliff 5's. They are an ideal newbie to mid range shoe so hopefully I'll get some good use of 'em. As of yet I still havent managed to get out to a wall but all in good time....the money has been spent so I'll defo be using them....tight as fook me!!8)