How to Care for Your Climbing Shoes
You might have noticed that climbing shoes are expensive. And if you're climbing four times a week for two-hour sessions, you might have seen that they wear down quicker than you'd like. Six months? Four months? Maybe you blew through the right toe in just three months. Spending almost $200 on climbing shoes four times yearly doesn't feel good. And that's why you're here. The best way to care for your climbing shoes might be obvious. Keep them clean! But do you know how to keep them clean? Some tricks and tips will help you keep your climbing shoes as clean as possible, causing them to remain in good shape for longer.
How to Keep Them Clean
Before diving into how to clean your shoes, it's important to note the practices you can do to prevent them from ever getting dirty. First off, air them out after every single climbing session. Even if they don't feel too sweaty or even if you didn't climb in them for long, they will dry quicker, preventing bacteria growth since bacteria thrive in moist, dark environments. It will also work wonders for the smell. If you've ever had a friend complain about the stench of your shoes in your car or your climbing bag, infecting the rest of your climbing gear with the smell, too, it's a good time to start airing your shoes out regularly.
One thing to note about airing your shoes out is to avoid putting them in direct sunlight. UV rays are damaging and will begin to break down the glue holding your shoes together. That is the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish by airing them out!
Keeping your shoes clean can be more challenging if you climb outside often. But by wearing closed-toed approach shoes, you can keep your feet clean before putting your climbing shoes on. Once your climbing shoes are on, stand on a tarp up until you get on the wall, and do your best to avoid standing on dirt, sand, and mud. Once you're done climbing, switch out your climbing shoes to approach or crag shoes, and return your climbing shoes to your bag or a clean spot in the shade.
How to Clean Them Once They're Dirty
You can do your best to practice techniques to keep your shoes clean, but they eventually become dirty, especially if you climb outside a lot. Cleaning your shoes doesn't have to be complicated. Take a damp rag and rub the entirety of your shoes, including the rubber and the inside. Once you've removed any extra dirt or grim, let them air-dry until they are completely dry. It might take a while, so be patient. And don't forget to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Practice Good Footwork
So now you know tactics to keep your climbing shoes clean and how to clean them once you need to. But how do you manage to keep the rubber on your shoes for as long as possible? Practicing good footwork is the most significant change you can make to ensure the rubber on your climbing shoes lives long. Have you ever watched people at the climbing gym boulder seemingly effortlessly and not making a single sound with their hands or feet as they do so? Maybe you remember watching someone climbing oppositely, slapping their hands on every hold, kicking the wall with every move, and dragging their feet up to the next foothold. Climbing with sloppy feet and pulling them up the wall often is a quick way to blow out the rubber around your big toes. Practicing quiet feet and bringing awareness to how often you drag your feet up the wall will preserve the rubber on your shoes for a more extended period. An excellent way to start practicing good footwork is to ensure your footwork is perfect and silent during your warm-up. Once you are comfortable with your footwork techniques on easier climbs, start incorporating them into more challenging climbs. The rubber on your shoes (and your bank account) will thank you later!