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I need shoes I can climb in and hike in without taking the time to switch. any recommendations?
Apporach Shoes
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I know of no climbing specific shoes that are comfortable enough to walk any distance in, at least not if they were fitted properly. While most I know use one set of shoes for the approach, then another for climbing, some have gone to the Vibram Five Fingers as they will allow you to do some climbing. They have the Vibram sole that grips very well and they fit snugly. Some like that it gives them a better feel through the sole than their climbing shoes do, enabling their toes to better grip the rock. I've only done some small slabs, mainly smearing but they grip as well as my Scarpas. I'm not sure I'd want to do any crack climbing in them though. Also, they end up being pricey for this purpose, as I'm not sure you can get them re-soled as you can with climbing shoes.
If you were to go with the Five Fingers, you need to get used to them for walking, as your feet and calves will be sore for the first few times. Don't plan on walking more than a mile the first time, increasing it slowly each week. Resist the urge to go further too soon, or you may put yourself out of commission for weeks. I started with them around mid-January and am now up to 10 mile hikes. Also, watch YouTube videos on barefoot running to see the how to plant your foot properly, as you must do with any minimalist shoe. There are also some videos on climbing in them.
I had knee surgery in November and was forced to go to a minimalist shoe, but its worked out for the best. The only time my knees are sore now is when I wear my work boots, and the Five Fingers are the first shoe that I've actually looked forward to putting on.
If you were to go with the Five Fingers, you need to get used to them for walking, as your feet and calves will be sore for the first few times. Don't plan on walking more than a mile the first time, increasing it slowly each week. Resist the urge to go further too soon, or you may put yourself out of commission for weeks. I started with them around mid-January and am now up to 10 mile hikes. Also, watch YouTube videos on barefoot running to see the how to plant your foot properly, as you must do with any minimalist shoe. There are also some videos on climbing in them.
I had knee surgery in November and was forced to go to a minimalist shoe, but its worked out for the best. The only time my knees are sore now is when I wear my work boots, and the Five Fingers are the first shoe that I've actually looked forward to putting on.
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I used to wear vibram five fingers. They are great on dirt but when you start climbing a bit, it hurts. Sharper stones will hurt your feet. I bought a pair of minimalist shoes and they were amazing. Very light weight and flexible, but hard enough to handle the sharp stones.
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