start with a an aggressive sport shoe. To choose, here are the terms and specs you should consider. There are two main elements of climbing-shoe shape to consider: downturn and asymmetry.

There are three types of climbing shoes on the market — aggressive, moderate, and flat. As a general rule of thumb, the tighter and more downturned your climbing shoes, the better the performance.

Because they’re downturned, moderate rock climbing shoes are better at gripping than neutral shoes. Keep in mind, though, that moderate shoes are less comfortable than neutral shoes. Aggressive ...

When climbing, be it indoors at a gym or outside at the crag, shoes play a pivotal role whether you’re learning the basics or sending a new route. Not only do your shoes provide grip and support ...

Modern climbers have the opposite problem. Go to any outdoor recreation store and prepare to be overwhelmed by shelves of cutting-edge climbing shoes and marketing gibberish. That’s how I felt ...

When it comes to choosing climbing shoes, it’s not a decision you want to get wrong. A well-chosen shoe is your ally on the ...

The VS is a more aggressive climbing shoe with a tighter fit and, in my opinion, it’s one of the best all-round shoes on the market. Admittedly, this isn’t a comfortable shoe and doesn’t ...

Neutral/flat-lasted climbing shoes: These feature a flat profile and are much more comfortable than more aggressive climbing shoes on long-multi-pitch climbs. Their stiffer sole also makes them ...

This makes them a great choice for infrequent climbers who aren’t in climbing shoes long enough to break in a less comfortable, aggressive shoe (or develop an aggressive toe fungus). For ...