We have several used gear shops locally, which also sell climbing shoes. I'm looking to start climbing and I am considering buying used shoes to save cost. Is it ever safe to buy used shoes, and if so, what would indicate that a pair is no longer "safe"?
Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL
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asked Sep 12, 2012 at 15:01
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4 Answers
Safe? Yes. As in your life usually doesn't depend on them. Safe, as in a safe buy? Also yes.
When looking at used climbing shoes it really helps if you take someone along who knows what to look for and/or knows the shoes themselves. If you know what they look like new then you know what they should look like.
Specifically, check the seams and make sure they aren't coming apart. Especially the seam around the thickest part of rubber on the soles. If it looks like it starting to pull away at all stay away.
Check the rubber on the bottom. If it has deep gouges or long cuts in it, then the previous owner probably didn't take care of them and might have even hiked in them.
Often times you can find shoes in nearly new condition this way. Plenty of people make the mistake of buying everything and finding out they don't like rock-climbing, or picking shoes like they would any other shoes and have to bring them back because they don't fit right.
I would highly recommend you try to find somewhere to rent the shoes and try them out first. Or go to an indoor gym and try them.
For the fit, they should be sock tight (which is why I don't wear socks with them). Your first time wearing them, your feet should be in pain after climbing in them for an hour or two.
For your first pair I recommend a mostly flat sole, for "all-around" use. They usually do alright in any situation and they are often times cheapest (not always). As you get more experience you will learn what you need.
answered Sep 12, 2012 at 16:10
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2I've been told and duly repeated the 'your feet should be in pain' line in the past, until someone at a climbing wall challenged me on it, and on reflection he was right: it's much more important for a beginner to enjoy climbing and want to do more of it than to be able to stand on a tiny ledge with one toe. As long as the shoes are a snug fit and your feet don't slide around in them, they'll be fine to begin with. You should be learning how to smear anyway ;) Commented Jul 28, 2014 at 14:50
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1@nekomatic I agree to an extent. Just wearing your first pair shouldn't hurt, but climbing for a couple of hours, should cause your feet to hurt as much as your hands. To me the bigger issue is your feet's ability to not slide around in the shoe once your foot starts sweating. If it starts moving around because you chose a shoe big enough so that it won't hurt after a couple of hours, then blisters and hotspots become a danger, and they become less useful for smearing, toe holds or any climbing really. Commented Aug 4, 2014 at 14:42
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A lot of the shoes I've been seeing on craigslist etc. are of the "bought it years ago and used it once" type. Do climbing shoes wear out from age alone? I know that vehicle tires do, and they are also made of rubber, right?– stanniusCommented Jan 8, 2018 at 21:01
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2@stannius the bought-and-used-once shoes are often great bargains because there is way more supply than demand. Plus you get to look old-school even if you've just started.– stibCommented Jan 13, 2018 at 22:01
You shouldn't buy used safety equipment (ropes, harnesses, carabiners, etc) because you don't know if the previous owner handled them properly (maybe they splashed bleach on the rope?). But shoes aren't really considered "safety related" - if the shoes did fail in a climb, it would be no different than having your foot pop off because of bad footwork. Which happens frequently, and is something you should assume might happen - that's why you have a rope and harness that you trust.
Your life will not be at risk from used shoes. No.
But you will run a serious risk of getting athlete's foot. This happened to me and it took six months to get rid of. Beware.
answered Sep 13, 2012 at 16:49
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2athlete's foot from a pair of climbing shoes bought from a brick and mortar store? Wow that sucks. The couple of stores I have been to that sells them used does a pretty good job of cleaning them up. Commented Sep 13, 2012 at 18:22
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@MaskedPlant Yeah, that was unpleasant. I suppose I can't say for certain that this is really common or likely to be a problem. But as it was such a serious issue for me I thought I would mention it. Commented Sep 13, 2012 at 20:18
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2+1, it's a point worth mentioning - though of course this isn't specific to climbing shoes, it could happen with any footwear. Of course, though the risk is much lower it could also happen with new footwear (if you happen to purchase a pair that's been tried on with someone with such an infection!)– berry120Commented Sep 14, 2012 at 12:39
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1+1 to this; I believe I got a fungal nail infection from wearing rental shoes. Commented Sep 16, 2012 at 13:39
All of the answers above are great but I would like to add about the rubber wear. If you do commit to buying used climbing shoes, take note of the rubber wear. If the toes are worn unevenly or you can see the that toes or sides are dragged on climbing walls a lot, then that is a sign that they have been used by a new climber, or one with poor footwork, so I would recommend avoiding them. Uneven wear can cut the lifetime of a shoe dramatically, so in that sense it may be worth it to buy a new shoe if you are going to use it regularly, as you will get more use out of it.
