What beginners need to look for in climbing shoes, why comfort always comes first, and how chalk gives you more grip when your hands get sweaty.
Do you need expensive pro equipment for your first sessions? The honest answer: no. Two things are all it takes, and you can even rent them at almost any gym.
Welcome to the vertical world! Train Smart. Play Hard.
When you start bouldering, you'll quickly notice how wonderfully uncomplicated this sport is. Unlike rope climbing, you don't need a harness, carabiners, or a rope to start out. Your whole performance rests on two essential things: climbing shoes and chalk.
Materials science has made enormous progress with climbing shoes, adapting them to different rock types and wall angles. But don't let that intimidate you! While pros wear highly complex, extremely tight shoes, one golden rule applies to you as a beginner: comfort always comes first!
A shoe that hurts a lot instantly ruins your fun and stops you from building clean footwork. In this guide you'll learn what really matters when choosing climbing shoes, why socks are totally fine in the gym, and how to get maximum grip out of your chalk.
For your very first sessions you don't need expensive pro equipment – you can rent the basics on site:
A modern climbing shoe is primarily defined by three parameters: tension (camber), downturn, and asymmetry.
As a beginner, here's what matters: ignore these extremes! Your first shoe should have a relatively flat, stiffer sole without a strong downturn and without aggressive asymmetry. A comfortable beginner shoe makes standing on footholds enormously easier and won't ruin your fun. Also go for velcro closures – that way you can quickly slip the shoes off between attempts and give your feet a break.
Climbing shoes need to fit noticeably tighter than your sneakers. The shoe should fit snugly enough that your toes curl slightly at the front. The first toe joint may bend down a little, for precise standing on small footholds. But be aware: you shouldn't have to endure pain! Because lasts vary extremely between manufacturers, keep trying until you find a shoe that matches your foot shape.
By the way: whether you're allowed to wear socks in climbing shoes is a divisive topic. The answer: yes! Especially beginners often climb in rental shoes with socks for hygiene reasons. Thin socks also reduce friction and pressure on the foot and prevent bad odors.
As soon as you're holding onto holds, your hands sweat. This is where chalk comes in: the white powder pulls moisture from the skin, dries sweat, and provides significantly more friction so you don't slip.
Dip your hands briefly into the chalk bag before starting and tap off the excess powder.
Take care of your feet! Climbing shoes alter your natural foot mechanics through pressure. Definitely take them off during breaks between boulders. If you permanently lock your feet into shoes that are too tight, you risk chronic long-term issues like Haglund's deformity (a pathological change of the heel bone).
Consideration also applies to chalk: in busy gyms, excessive use can lead to heavy fine-dust exposure ("chalk lung"). Use chalk purposefully and sparingly to keep the air good for you and everyone else.
Pay attention to material and your toenails!
When you buy your first own pair, consider the material: climbing shoes made of real leather noticeably stretch from body heat and sweat and mold to your foot. Shoes made of synthetic materials, by contrast, hold their shape and size very stably. Pros later use broken-in leather shoes as comfortable training shoes.
And the simplest but most effective practical tip: keep your toenails extremely short before every session! Even the best-fitting climbing shoe becomes hell if an overly long nail presses against the rubber up front.
Definitely rent for your first few sessions – that way you find out whether bouldering is even for you. Only buy your own pair once you're climbing regularly and have a clear sense of how tight you actually like your fit.
Noticeably tighter than your sneakers, but without real pain. Your toes can curl slightly at the front, with the first toe joint gently bent. Don't take your cue from pros who size down four sizes – as a beginner you need comfort to learn clean footwork.
Quite the opposite – it's actually the more hygienic option. Thin socks also reduce friction and pressure on your foot and prevent unpleasant odors. Many climbers stick with socks even in their own shoes because it's simply more comfortable.
Block chalk in a chalk bag is the easiest way to start: dip briefly and tap off the excess powder. Liquid chalk dries even more thoroughly but needs time to set – for a spontaneous gym visit, block chalk is simply more practical.
Once the rubber at the toe is worn down enough that you no longer feel secure on small footholds, or when the seams and velcro are visibly loose. As a beginner, your pair wears out faster than an experienced climber's due to imprecise footwork – that's completely normal.