Would you buy this product? Walk Offs - protect your rock shoes
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Hey Everyone, |
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Probably wouldn't buy them, but I'd have to see them to be sure. "Slipping into something more comfortable" for approach and descent is more important to me than protecting climbing shoes. I also don't think they'd be secure enough on climbing shoes to be anything other than a pain in the ass. |
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I feel like boulderers would buy them maybe. big maybe. definitely don't think they'll ever replace approach shoes for walk offs |
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I use an oversized pair of $10 slippers from walmart that I use when I'm working boulder problems. Keeps my feet warm and I can move the pads around easily if the problems are close... Works so far. |
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It's a creative idea. |
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My gut feeling is the market would be limited to multipitch trad. I could see this as a lightweight alternative to carrying an extra pair of shoes for a rappel. |
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Also they would NEVER EVER EVER EVER sell for more than $18 |
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I appreciate all the comments so far. Thanks for the tips and the feedback also Jaime. |
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It's a creative idea, but if a descent is too long or tough for barefoot, and I'm going to go to the trouble of clipping something to my harness and carrying it up a climb, it would be sandals or actual shoes. I just don't see the point in carrying a pair of something, and sitting down to put them on, and still having the discomfort of hiking in climbing shoes. |
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+1 to the lightweight rappel shoes. Would i buy one? Maybe, but for not for 30-60 bucks. Maybe at 10-15. |
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I wouldn't buy them. Main walkoff issue isn't wear on climbing shoes, it's discomfort in climbing shoes (paired with weight of approach shoes during the climb). Bought a pair of the Evolve Cruzer shoes this year... perfect for the application. Merrell barefoot shoes would be perfect too. Both quite pricey, but no more so than entry level climbing shoes. |
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There was something like that on the market 10 or 15 years ago, Boreal perhaps? |
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Enasser wrote:This product is not meant for aggressive climbers with curled toes. This product is meant for the average climber who HATES having the sole of their shoe destroyed by pebbles, twigs, and dirt when their walking between sport routes outside.Let's be honest here, this is a kind of luxury item w/ very few practical uses. As a luxury item, you don't want to market it as for the average climber (is that a nicer way than saying gumbie?) The average flat-soled climbing shoe is not expensive enough for this product. But you know what is? the TC Pro. It's the most expensive climbing shoe. It's used by Tommy Caldwell, Alex Honold, etc. It's not particularly durable. And best of it all, it's widely popular w/ the gumbies. So whatever you do, make sure to feature a pair of TC Pro in your advertisement: a $30-$60 investment (that doesn't insult your gumbie status) to protected a $180 pair of shoes you didn't need, all of a sudden doesn't sound so bad, does it? |
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average climber, tc-pro, gumbie... |
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reboot wrote: But you know what is? the TC Pro.The TC Pro may cost $180, but every rock shoe costs the exact same to resole (which is generally $30 w/o midsole). Walking around in a climbing shoe will not typically damage it beyond repair, it just means you have to resole it sooner. So no, I dont think this product is any more valuable for the TC Pro than it is for the Evolv Defy. |
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The plus side is that a whole new category of spray for sending climbs in your Walk Offs could be created. |
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A for effort, but no. If it's a long walk off then you probably took your approach shoes with you on the route because the walk off doesn't pass back by the base of the route. If it's a short walk off then you just do it in your climbing shoes. If you are a sport climber you don't wear your climbing shoes between routes and if you are a boulderer you are too cool for anything like The Walk Off. |
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would not buy this product regardless of cost. |
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Enasser wrote: We came up with a product that slips on top of climbing shoes so you can belay, walk around between climbs, and walk off multi pitches without having to take off your rock shoes... It would retail from $30-$60.That shoe has already been invented and retails at your target price, they're called Sanuks. I suspect you could get an oversized pair and slip them over your rock shoes, but why? And no, I could never justify to pay retail for Sanuks. For long and/or technical walk offs I'd want something sturdier. |
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The first thing I want to do is take my shoes off, not keep them on and put something over them to make my feet even hotter and more uncomfortable. Props for the idea but I just dont see it getting wings. |
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Same as above: At that price-point, they're less versatile, but similar in price to Sanuks, Evolv Cruzers, or people just prefer their approach shoes for comfort. |