The Armour Archive

Mad Rock Shark Climbing Shoes.
$30, Used Once. Size 12.

“Whether you're headed to the climbing gym or your favorite local bouldering spot, Mad Rock Shark climbing shoes are designed by climbers, for climbers to provide the best performance, comfort and reliability.â€

Try boldering.com

If you like the slipper style, La Sportiva Cobras are awesome. I wear em 3 or 4 sizes down. If you like something stiffer, the Miuras are great.

Dya mean to look at that site for placing this ad or for getting replacement's?

Cause I'm looking at getting something like these as replacement.

-Ivan

To sell. It is a message board like this.

How long have you been climbing? What kind of climbing are you doing? What level?

That looks like a pretty basic shoe that is good for a beginner or long trad routes, but not really good for a boulderer or sport climber.

Good rock climbing shoes are TIGHT. Very tight. That is what gives your foot the support to stand on a dime edge, while still having a soft sole. Beginner shoes have a harder sole that support you, but you don't feel the rock as much.

Good luck.

I'm a beginning climber, and my roommate's a guy who's really into trad climbing.

After looking at what I was doing on the bouldering wall in our garage and what I was doing at the local rock gym (the ad will be going up there too) he recommended those, or something similar, given my foot geometry. Mad Rocks don't seem to fit me so well though others have found they work well. Since this is a common thing for a beginning climber to experience I'm not to worried.

Any interest in them?

-Ivan

No interest. I wear a size 8.5 normal show and a size 5.5 or 6 climbing shoe. I haven't climbed in years after my injury.

I'm sure the Cliffs will be fine for your needs. I would recommend getting them smaller than you think, though. You will want them smaller as you get better, and you'll have to replace your quicker. So if you wear a size 12 normal shoe, I'd recommend a size 11 climbing shoe. 1 size down with a non-aggressive last will be better than the 12. Ask your roommate his opinion.

If you (or he) wants to know my credentials for my opinions (other than being a random guy on the internet), I mostly was a boulderer and I've redpointed V7 and onsighted V5. I did a little sport (some 5.12s and could flash most 5.11s). I only did trad on one trip to the Gunks.

..

Jestyr wrote:If you (or he) wants to know my credentials for my opinions (other than being a random guy on the internet), I mostly was a boulderer and I've redpointed V7 and onsighted V5. I did a little sport (some 5.12s and could flash most 5.11s). I only did trad on one trip to the Gunks.

Hey what do you think of these two shoes:

Scarpa Thunder

Scarpa Freestyle

I have a 25% off order coupon from S.T.P. and can have them shipped free if I order from the store in town.

BTW I wear a euro 44-45 or US 11.5-13, so I know the easy answer be to buy both and send back the one that doesn't fit but that's cheesy.

-Ivan

They both should be pretty similar to the Cliff. Neither has an aggressive last, so they should be pretty comfy.

As far as size, get the smallest that "make sense". So if you wear an 11.5-13, and most of them are 12 or 13, get the 11.5. Climbing shoes need to be small. You don't want any gapping or movement. Even the most comfortable climbing shoe isn't comfortable. You do get used to it. Sort of like getting hit in the SCA, eventually you build up the tolerance. When I was climbing 5-6 days a week, I had enormous callouses on the top of my foot knuckles because of how tight my shoes were. It just happens.

Much like armour, it can take a while before you find climbing shoes that you really love. I probably went through four different pairs before I wound up with the Cobras and Miuras. It is just a very personal thing. A lot of people flipped out when FiveTen changed the design of the Anasazi. Enough so that FiveTen re-issued the old one as a different model.

Come on REI's having their Garage Sale tomorrow and I found a sweet pair of La Sportiva's I want.

Help a man out here!

-Ivan