Rockshoes come in all shapes and sizes and to the non climber it may seem as though they are all much of a muchness, but in fact they are mostly very specialised in what use they are intended for. Some are designed purely for climbing at the highest level of technical difficulty and would be most uncomfortable if worn all day on a long multi-pitch trad route, whilst others are intended to be comfortable all day footwear that would be perfect for just such a climb but would not be much good on a Font 7a boulder problem.
To make it (slightly) easier to narrow down your search for rockshoes we have classified them according to type:
Top End: Tight fitting thin soled flexible shoes for those operating at the highest grades on crag or boulder. With these shoes comfort is generally second to performance!
Mid Grade: Stiffer rockshoes aimed at the vast majority of climbers operating from the lowest grades to the mid E grades. These shoes are designed to be comfortable and give good support but still perform well.
All Day Comfort: Rockshoes designed primarily for comfort on long multipitch routes. With these shoes, performance comes second to comfort, but they can still perform remarkably well.
Novice: Shoes suitable for those just starting out at the climbing wall or crag.
Sizing: Sizes given are UK or Continental, not USA.
Fit: Buyers Beware! Sizing on rockshoes varies a great deal. This is true, not only between different companies but also between different models from the same manufacturer. As most rockshoes are still hand-made, even the same sizes in the same model can vary! When you take into account too the varying amount of stretch one can expect, buying rockshoes unseen over the internet is not recommended. Therefore this service is intended for those who have already worked out what size and model they require but for one reason or another cannot get to a shop to make their purchase.
Returns: Please note that we cannot under any circumstances at all accept returns of any rockshoes that have been "used" - not even a little bit! This includes a "just a few minutes on the wall to see what they feel like". Please try your boots on in your own home when you receive them. If you are unhappy with the fit we will refund or replace them provided that they are returned with their packaging and in (in our opinion) "as new" condition. Please see our section on Returns.