What was the first pair of climbing shoes you ever owned?

EBs. 1978 or so

Then Fires, then Asolos (the best shoe ever), then Sportivas, then ....

Patty wrote:These were my first pair of climbing shoes (boreal Diablo). I still have them too, but now they are a little dusty since I got my mythos. : > )

I had the Diablos, lost 'em, but wish I had them now, I think they'd be great for some cracks. I remember them being pretty comfy.

la sportiva cobras

La Sportiva Enduros-- big enough to wear with wool socks.

My second pair were the Boreal Vectors--black w/purple laces. I had a few pairs. I loved those shoes.

La Sportiva Enduros... horrible board lasted high tops in red with yellow laces. Probably a great offwidth shoe.

Tevis Blom wrote:La Sportiva Enduros... horrible board lasted high tops in red with yellow laces. Probably a great offwidth shoe.

You thought they were horrible? Sure they couldn't smear at all, but they lasted forever and jammed really well. Maybe I just have a soft spot in my heart for those clunkers.

Thought I'd bump this old thread...I'm trying to figure out what my first pair of climbing shoes were. I got them on a trip to Eldorado with my brother and cousin sometime in the mid? 80's. They were black and yellow (or gold maybe) and had two set of laces, a black lace and a yellow lace. One of the laces went around the heel and they were high tops. I think they had some climber's name as the model...maybe Kauk or somebody like that? Probably one of the first models soon after Fires?

Anyone have any idea what these were?

They worked

RR's 1971. Used them at the Gunks, did lots of great climbing in them.

+1 for Boreal Diablos...I still wear mine for gym climbing and they are holding strong.

AJS wrote:.ahem...more experienced climbers who are posting here what have been the biggest, best changes to shoes over time. -Adam

Adam, 4 years latter I didn't see a reply to your question. Not that I am super experienced but I started climbing around the time, mid 80's, when shoes became anatomically correct.

I rented and borrowed a couple of pairs of the older asymmetrically toed shoes, the first pair I bought were anatomically correct Fire Cats.

csproul wrote:Thought I'd bump this old thread...I'm trying to figure out what my first pair of climbing shoes were. I got them on a trip to Eldorado with my brother and cousin sometime in the mid? 80's. They were black and yellow (or gold maybe) and had two set of laces, a black lace and a yellow lace. One of the laces went around the heel and they were high tops. I think they had some climber's name as the model...maybe Kauk or somebody like that? Probably one of the first models soon after Fires? Anyone have any idea what these were?

I think you have some models confused with each other. The only 2 lace shoe I can remember was the Merrell flashdance's, go look at page one.

Mike Lane wrote: I think you have some models confused with each other. The only 2 lace shoe I can remember was the Merrell flashdance's, go look at page one.

Indeed, they looked a lot like the Merrels but they were black and yellow.

BTW, in your post with the 4 pairs of shoes, I also ended up with a pair of the 2nd pair (L->R) of the pink and blue high-tops. What were those?

Hanweg Friction boots circa 1971. Then PAs, EBs, Brand X EBs...then finally Fires...

I'm not sure what they were called, but they were basically the 5.10 Coyotes or whatever entry level lace up predated them.

PAs... Pierre Allan, I think. Uppers were red leather and black canvas. Early 1970s.

Then in no particular order: EBs, RRs, Royal Robins Blue suede boots, Canyons, La Sportiva Mariachers, Boreal Aces (red), Mythos, Boreal Jokers. Probably some others I don't remember...

csproul wrote: Indeed, they looked a lot like the Merrels but they were black and yellow. BTW, in your post with the 4 pairs of shoes, I also ended up with a pair of the 2nd pair (L->R) of the pink and blue high-tops. What were those?

They were made by a company called Dolomite. Can't remember that model, they also made a low-top model I think called Edlinger's that Edlinger wore on the Snowbird Comp in '88.
I do vaguely remember another 2-lace shoe, I think it was a fad that lasted like 3 months.

Olaf Mitchell wrote:

Are those Kronhoffers?

Blue Kaukulators!
Could do everything well and comfortably. Have not found that in any other shoe since.

Chouinard Canyons.