Climbing shoe
[2] Modern climbing shoes use carefully crafted multi-piece patterns to conform very closely to the wearer's feet.
More traditional climbing shoes tend to be stiff, but modern performance oriented models are often quite soft with a flexible midsole.
A benefit of this close fit is a higher sensitivity to the climb, allowing the wearer of the shoe to use smaller holds for their feet.
[4] Modern climbing shoes are typically subdivided into three different profiles based on their shape: neutral, moderate, and aggressive.
[10] Neutral shoes, similar to everyday sneakers, feature a flatter outer sole that allows the foot to rest flat during use.
This enables climbers to climb different types of routes, including slab, crack, slight overhangs, and multi-pitch.
According to REI, they are shaped asymmetrically to allow for climbers to place greater weight on their big toe in footwork techniques.
Shoes that are downturned aggressively and have a pointed toe allow the climber to utilize their feet on smaller foot holds.
Shoes with a more sensitive sole made of thinner rubber allow for the climber to have more flexibility in their feet and not use footholds.
An advance on this for dry rock, were boots with Vibram soles, with a pattern of rubber studs developed by Vitale Bramani in Italy in the 1930s.
[17] In postwar Britain, a new generation of climbers like Joe Brown began to climb harder routes wearing plimsolls (rubber-soled canvas sneakers),[18] sometimes with woollen socks over them to improve grip.
Fellow French climber Edmond Bourdonneau later introduced "EB" boots in 1950 after purchasing Pierre's company,[20] which had softer rubber soles and became very popular in the 1960 and 1970s.
In 1982 Boreal, the Spanish company located in Villena, produced the "Firé" style of shoe with a revolutionary sticky rubber sole.
[9] A study done on consumer practices suggests that users will either repair or purchase new objects when faced with worn materials that affect service.
[9] If a shoe that experiences wear is left unrepaired for too long, it may reach a point where it can no longer be mended and a new pair must be purchased.
The smaller fit has been shown to stunt bone growth in younger climbers and have lasting injuries and deformities.
[13] The findings from this prototype show that different shoe designs can help reduce the risk of injury while maintaining climbers’ ability level.
[23] Adults who frequent these gyms inhale more RDCs than the average person, and this raises potential health concerns about rubber additive levels in climbing shoes’ soles.
