Climbing shoe

Climbing shoes fit very closely to support the foot and allow the climber use small footholds effectively. Many climbers do not wear socks inside their climbing shoes to achieve a more precise fit and prevent their foot from slipping inside the shoe.

Most climbing shoes, particularly the more aggressive or technical styles, are uncomfortable when properly fitted; a common adage among climbers is, "If your feet don't hurt after climbing, then your shoes are too big." A primary reason for this is that aggressive climbing shoes force the climber's toes into a curled position, which puts the climber's weight on the tips of his toes rather than the pads, giving him much more strength and stability on small foot- and toeholds.

Source: scarpa.comAdded: 12 December 2009