What are climbing shoes made of?

Climbing shoes are available in different materials.

The upper part of the shoe itself is typically made of leather or synthetic leather. Typically, the upper side will be perforated for better ventilation for the feet. The underside / rubber part can make a big difference. It's the part of the shoe that gets worn the fastest. A soft rubber has better grip (friction) on the holds, whereas a hard rubber slides off more easily but it will also last longer. If you choose a thin sole, you  have a lot of contact and feel with even very small holds. As a beginner there is especially a lot of foot technique to learn and in the beginning your feet will slip off the footholds a number of times and wear extra hard on the climbing shoes. That's why we recommend you choose a thick and hard rubber sole when buying your first climbing shoes. You can find all our climbing shoes HERE.