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How to Stretch Rock Climbing Shoes While Keeping Them Good

How To Stretch Rock Climbing Shoes
Written by Robert Miles
Last Update: August 18, 2021

Rock climbing is thrilling and pleasurable, but the real joy comes when you climb in a pair of shoes that snug fit with your feet and let you not worry about the edges, pockets and other barriers. This enjoyment becomes more of a painful experience when your climbing shoes do not fit properly. So, you need to seek methods to stretch rock climbing shoes. Trust me, this is very easy. Just follow the simple steps stated in this article.

Firstly, we would recommend you buy shoes that are the most suitable to your feet. Be more careful while choosing a synthetic climbing shoe because even if leather shoes stretch synthetic shoes do not. Also, if it is tight, do not worry, you can stretch the rubber rand, toe cap, and heel rand and we have attached here some measures you can take to stretch rock climbing shoes.

Tight shoes are suitable for climbing as it gives you the best grip and on the other hand loose shoes can cause blisters. But that does not mean your shoe has to be tighter than your actual size. Shoes that are incredibly tight can cause pain and damage to your feet.

So, let us observe the tips and tricks you can use to stretch rock climbing shoes.

How To Stretch Rock Climbing Shoes

Trying the shoes

Try your shoes and walk around putting your shoes on. It may let your shoe fit perfectly to your feet.

Trying the shoes

Trying Brief Climbing Efforts

You can try short climbing wearing your shoes to recognize its worth. If it does not help, then you have to move towards a more significant step.

Trying Brief Climbing Efforts

Showering

If all these actions do not work, then try something more advanced. A trick that can get you rid of tight shoes is taking a hot shower while wearing your uncomfortable shoes. This can stretch rock climbing shoes and adjust with the shape of your feet. After washing, you can stuff it with newspaper for drying and start using it for climbing.

Showering

Stuffing

If all these actions do not work, then try something more advanced. A trick that can get you rid of tight shoes is taking a hot shower while wearing your uncomfortable shoes. This can stretch rock climbing shoes and adjust with the shape of your feet. After washing, you can stuff it with newspaper for drying and start using it for climbing.

Stuffing

Using Ice Bag

Another trick you can use is by stuffing your shoe. You can stuff your shoe with any item you have near you, like socks, papers or towels, etc. After this, take a blow dryer and let the shoe turn warm for a minute. Bend it for enhancing its flexibility, wear it after removing all the stuffed items and you will be able to see the difference. It would not work at one attempt; you should continue doing it for 2-3 sessions.

Using Ice Bag

Heating

If your shoes require a small amount of stretching, you can stretch your shoes by putting ice bag and keeping your shoes in a freezer. Keep them overnight to get the best result. You might need to repeat this process until you get your preferred fit.

Heating

Lastly, you can use the microwave method by placing your rock climbing shoes in the microwave. But you should not follow this step if there are any metal parts on your shoe as extreme heat may melt those parts.

We believe these tips will help you solve the issue of having tight and troublesome shoes. We hope now you can stretch rock climbing shoes and enjoy a successful and comfortable climbing. Do not let a shoe cause barrier to your fun.

Happy climbing!

About the author

Robert Miles

An Avid Backpacker

Robert is a smart backpacker. It’s what I feel proud of hearing from those I know. Brainstorming some ideas, packing whatever comes to knowledge, jumping on a bus/plane, landing somewhere totally unknown, and completing a journey amid fear, restlessness, scarcity, and tiredness are what many backpackers do. But that’s not my type. I go on adventures several times a year but not without doing my homework because I want to enjoy my time out in the middle of somewhere rather than worrying about my whereabouts. I also wish all of my fellows, known and unknown, to know before they leap. Feeling excited? Check out my tips and guides!

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