There are many different kinds of climbing shoes, and the type that you get depends quite a bit on what you intend to do with it. Nothing is more important to a rock climber than getting appropriate climbing shoes, so it is imperative that care be exercised in selecting the proper one for the trip that you are taking. Experienced climbers own several pairs of climbing shoes, from some that are little different from a pair of hiking boots, to full on climbing spikes for the most arduous and vertical climb, and if you are even beginning to climb, you should consult an expert to make sure that you have at least one pair of proper footwear.

The basic, all purpose climbing shoe is basically not much different from a hiking boot. These climbing shoes have tough treads, and a slightly more firm sole, which can make them a little uncomfortable for long treks, but basically they are ideally suited for both strenuous uphill hiking and for most vertical climbing. Buying these kind of climbing shoes is largely a matter of compromises, and so care must be exercised in selecting them. The harder they are, the more support they will provide for strenuous hiking and for climbing, but the rougher they will be for long hikes and normal walking. This is why climbers tend to accumulate more and more shoes as they go.

Climbing spikes is a term that can be applied to crampons, which are spikes that are attached to boots for certain special kinds of climbing. They really are only needed for ice climbing in general, and so most climbers can totally forget about these climbing shoes and concentrate on more basic applications. You really don’t want anything sharp on your climbing shoes unless you really need it because of the obvious reason of risk of injury.

Then again, if you are not doing vertical scaling of rock faces, but only some pretty steep trails that might require the surmounting of an occasional boulder, you don’t need specialized climbing shoes at all. In truth, you will get along quite fine with plain old hiking boots on this kind of trail. Hiking shoes also come in lots of different varieties, but basically as long as they are comfortable, any well built pair will do for day hiking over reasonably safe trails. For extended trips, it becomes much more complicated.

Recently my son and a friend of his started doing some rock climbing.  This activity is making me very nervous.  My son assures me that they are using safety equipment as they climb.  It appears that one of the most important pieces of equipment is the climbing harness.  There are a number of different climbing techniques and skill levels, but regardless of what level you are at a climbing harness is an important piece of equipment.

The climbing harness that my son wears goes over his shoulders and between his legs and has a central ring by the stomach.  This type of harness is used for safety if you slip while climbing and is also used to repel down once you have reached the top of what ever you are climbing.  My son knows that I am worried about him every time that he goes climbing so he asked me to come to a climbing wall with him.  He wanted me to see that he has learned techniques and also practices safety.

We went to a climbing wall at a local sporting goods store.  The climbing wall is a manufactured wall that has hand and foot holds for climbing.  There are a number of types of climbing walls.  This one is to help you strengthen your arms and legs to help you maneuver up the side of a mountain.  I watched my son check the climbing harness that was provided for abrasions.  He then put on the harness and had his companion check that it was on properly.  He then checked the harness that his friend had put on.  Once the harness and gloves were on he was attached to a safety rope and began climbing up the wall.  On this wall there were hand and foot holds in the bottom area, but as they neared the top they had to screw in metal hooks that are used as steps.  This is done to practice holding yourself with one arm as you are screwing in the step.  This is the kind of hand and foot holds you have to create for yourself during certain climbs.  The entire process seemed like a great deal of effort to me.  Once they had reached the top they repelled down using the rope attached to the climbing harness.

My son came over to me and wanted me to put on the climbing harness and try one of the climbing walls for beginners.  I was reluctant to try, but after being encouraged and harassed by my son and his friend I decided to give it a try.  I put on the harness and began looking for hand and foot holds up the wall.  It is amazing the strength that is needed to pull your body up a vertical surface.  I slipped about half way up the wall and was very thankful that I had on the safety harness.  I did right myself and was able to get to the top of the wall.  Repelling down with the use of the harness and guide ropes was very scary to me.

I am glad that I went to the climbing wall with my son.  I will not be joining him in his new sport, but I am glad to know that he is using safety techniques.  I think that I will be purchasing a climbing harness for each of his birthdays to make sure that he has one that is in good shape.