Adventure Sports

Rock climbing can be one of the most rewarding sports out there. The sense of personal fulfillment when you get to the summit of a particularly difficult climb is indescribable. Overcoming this mental and physical challenge is an amazing experience.

However, this should never be done at the expense of safety. Rock climbing may be rewarding, but it is also one of the most dangerous sports in existence with an enormous numbers of injuries and fatalities each year.

This is not intended to scare you off. It is just important to be aware of the dangers involved.

So how do you avoid these dangers? In part, having good quality safety equipment will help a great deal. And one of the most important features of your safety equipment is the pair of rock climbing shoes that you take with you on a climb.

Your choice of shoes could save your life or help you to avoid an injury.

Shoes for Rock climbing are specially designed footwear made specially for rock climbing. These shoes are usually not very thick so that the climber has maximum control over the movement of their feet. Also, these shoes fit very tightly around the climber’s feet, because you do not want your shoes falling off when you are a hundred metres from the ground. This may lead to them being slightly uncomfortable, but the point is that they create enough friction to stay firmly on your feet and to allow maximum foot control.

Rock climbing shoes are usually covered in a vulcanized layer of rubber. This increases the friction between the rock wall and the shoe and hence increases the climber’s grip, leading to a safer, and hopefully incident free, climb.

There are a wide range of rock climbing shoes to choose from. Some brands might include La Sportiva, Evolv, Patagonia, Five-Ten, Vasque, Kayland and Millet Everest.

The price will vary according to the brand and the type of shoe you are buying. For example, the La Sportiva Exum Pro Approach for Men will cost around $US100. However, for the La Sportiva Nepal EVO GTX Mountaineering Boot for Men you might pay closer to $US500. Alternatively, the Lowa Expedition 8000 GTX Boot for Men will cost around $US1500.

Shop around and find the right rock climbing shoes to suit your needs. Remember, when it comes to your own personal safety, you should always get equipment you can trust.

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