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I have never found a good answer to this one: How do you clean rock-climbing shoes, without ruining them?
Let me be more specific. I have a pair of modern leather-and-fancy-rubber climbing shoes made by a major brand. They fit exactly the way I want and the rubber is still sound. But they reek like I exercise in them (with no socks) six days a week. How do I make these expensive slippers smell less horrifying without ruining the rubber or the leather? |
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First, prevention is going to give you the best bang for your buck. Make sure your shoes dry properly between uses by hanging them out, and not keeping them in a bag/trunk/confined space. During your climbing session, it's a good idea to take your shoes off between climbs, or at least once in a while to let them dry out some. For odor control, I find that spray deodorizers can do a good job. I don't think I would use powders, but I'm curious what everyone else says. Once things get really bad, you can give shoes a wash (by hand) using warm water, a mild detergent, and a brush of some sort (an old toothbrush works fine). Wash the insides thoroughly using the brush and soap, it'll take a few rinses to get everything. Allow the shoes to dry completely, put them next to a fan/heater (but not too close). Stuff the shoes with newspaper, and change it often. Generally, I find some brands to be worse for odors than others. I've had good luck with La Sportiva, and a terrible time with Evolvs. This is most likely because of the material (leather vs. synthetic). |
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I use boot bananas to tame the stench! |
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Instead of cleaning them, fill them with cedar balls and hang them. That should eliminate the reek. |
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