What are the best climbing shoes to buy?

Hey, i have recently started hillwalking and decided this weekend i will be climbing Ben Nevis. I am however stuck as to what "rock boots" to buy. I see so many of them, and i am looking for a good comfortable pair at a decent price.





Could anyone give me a recommendation?





Thanks in advance

What are the best climbing shoes to buy?
Well if you've recently started hillwalking and just decided that you're going to climb ben nevis this weekend, it sounds like you're a walker, rather than a climber, is this the case?


"Rock boots" mean climbing shoes, i.e. tight fitting, with soles made of soft rubber and tops made of thin material, so not waterproof, not comfortable to walk in, just for climbing.





Ben Nevis at this time of year is pretty cold and probably snowy, so I don't know if you could even find a dry rock route on which to use climbing shoes.





So it definitely sounds like you're after walking boots. I assume you'll be doing a route where you won't be needing cramp-ons, because otherwise you'd probably be fairly experienced and hence know what to get.


So you'll probably need a pair of B1 boots (boots range from B3, which is proper ice climbing, to B2 which is ice/snow walking, B1 which is sturdy rock/path/earth walking, B0 which is light summer walking). It depends on your foot size/shape which manufacturer will be the best fit for you, but Raichle Scouts and Sierras are a good all-rounder. These are a canvas, gore-tex lined boot, so they'll be quick to break in and not as hot as a leather boot, but still very waterproof. Or Raichle do a leather boot called a Mountain Trail, and a Mountain Guide. If you've got wide/tall feet, look at Meindl boots. As the other person recommended, yes Scarpa do good boots, the Scarpa Ranger is leather (comes in gore-tex and not-gore-tex versions) and lasts for decades! These are all around £100, depending where you get them from. Salomon are good for narrow feet, I can't recommend any models though.


If you are doing a harder route up Ben Nevis, I guess you'll be with a more experienced person, but you'll definitely want to look at the leather boots for the warmth in the snow, and the possibility of attaching good crampons.





If you really are after climbing shoes (rock boots), and you're a beginner, then I can recommend Red Chili Spirits, which are a great beginner boot, or Red Chili Coronas for a tiny bit more advanced (though these seem to have faulty rubber that wears out very quickly on the toe). Scarpa Vantage is another good beginner rock boot. These are around £60-£70.
Reply:www.rockandrun.co.uk


im not sure if you want walking or climbing so





red chili are good our door climbing shoes. Scarpa do some good ones but a bit more pricey than red chili!! and 510 's are used a fair bit! come in many styles!! give it a go!!





"do some cheap walking boots. try Scarpa boots not sure if ive spelt it right!! but they are a good set. Leather boots are good! just make sure they are breathable and waterproof!! Scarpa!!"





Scatty
Reply:If you are doing technical climbing, you will want rock shoes like those from La Sportiva, Boreal, Red Chili, etc.





But if you are just doing technical hiking or Class 4 climbing without a rope you can usually do this with a really good pair of medium height / medium stiff hiking boots. My favorites are La Sportiva, Vasque, and Merrill.





The other option is the "approach shoe". Many of these are a hybrid of the walking boot and climbing shoe, often with sticky rubber soles with a comforable foot bed. Better climbers can even climb very difficult routes in these and then walk back out without ever changing shoes.





Good Luck
Reply:If you're doing Ben Nevis you probably won't need rock shoes. A decent pair of hiking boots are what I'd say you're after. Just try on a load of pairs 'till you find a pair that fits. Remember that you'll need to get them a little big in the toe for those descents. If you actually are after a pair of rock shoes, it depends on what you're looking for, you would probably be after a nice comfy pair for long ascents, so go for a pair of la sportivas or something, stay away from 5.10s and Scarpa and Mad Rock. Red chilli do some nice comfy shoes too.



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