Methods to help you choose a good first pair of Climbing Shoes
When you are buying your first pair of rock climbing shoes you may find yourself with a wealth of choice and no way of deciding what shoe is the best. The thing about climbing shoes is that they are all made for different shaped feet. My first pair of shoes I bought on price alone and the shoes killed my feet! I would be limping around after 10 minutes of wear and had a hard time just getting them off.
When I decided to buy a second pair I made the choice to be more flexible on the price of the shoes as I realized paying more was worth not crippling my feet! A good pair of rock shoes need to be as tight as you can stand them so that you get the most grip while climbing in them.
The trick that worked for me was to find a tight but comfortable possible pairs to try. I tried them on before climbing and then again afterwards. By trying them on a second time after a few hours climbing my feet were slightly swollen because of the effort in climbing. I was able to narrow down my options this way and after a few different climbing sessions trying on different makes and models I was able to settle on a really good pair.
The climbing shoes I settled on were the Red Chillies spirit velcro impact zone. These shoes do seem to be popular as I see them on the feet of other climbers often. The price of these shoes is actually very reasonable and well worth every penny. I like them so much I have 2 pairs of them now, one to be repaired with fresh rubber where it is wearing thin and a pair to use while I wait for the first to be repaired. I would recommend them but I know a few people who have found other shapes and brands better for them.
Once you have successfully found a pair that suit your needs the subsequent pairs you buy will be much easier. My second pair of red chillies were purchased online in a big sale meaning I knew I was ordering the right pair without having to go through the process of trying on numerous shoes before and after a climbing session. I love my shoes but my advice would be to try on different pairs when you go climbing, before and after until you have found the right pair for you. This way you will know what is most important in the shoes you choose in the future.
On a last note I would like to remind you that while climbing shoes will make climbing easier you can wear rubber soled street shoes to climb in while you decide that you like climbing and want to invest in the right pair for you.
Happy Climbing!