Non-stinky alternative to 5.10 Arrowhead

I've been using the 5.10 arrowhead as my gym shoe (3 pairs now) and love the fit and performance. They are tight, but zero hot spots and a solid heel...I could not ask for a better fitting shoe. Unfortunately, the wife has laid down the law and they are no longer acceptable: simply too stinky. Sadly, she's right.

Can anyone recommend a less odoriferous (leather) alternative with similar fit and performance? I wear 41 (8) arrowheads.

Thanks!

P.S. Yes, I've tried washing them, making sure they get well aired after wearing, cycling through pairs, etc...and the reality is simply that cowdura and my feet is a nasty combination.

ALL climbing shoes stink no way around it. Any shoe that you put a bare foot into while stink. Put some dryer sheets in your shoes, it helps a bit. Or stick em in a gallon zip lock while you have em at home so no one has to smell em.

a good pair of climbing shoes is hard to find. i would think about replacing the wife. much easier.

I've noticed a *huge* personal difference between synthetic and leather shoes as far as funk development. Enough so, that I'd much rather forgo the cowdera if I can find a comparable real leather shoe. My wife's concurring is just the icing on the cake...I don't like having foul feet and shoes either. Obviously, your mileage may vary.

Anyone who likes arrowheads have suggestions for other (leather) aggressive shoes which fit their feet well?

aliebling wrote:I've noticed a *huge* personal difference between synthetic and leather shoes as far as funk development. Enough so, that I'd much rather forgo the cowdera if I can find a comparable real leather shoe. My wife's concurring is just the icing on the cake...I don't like having foul feet and shoes either. Obviously, your mileage may vary. Anyone who likes arrowheads have suggestions for other (leather) aggressive shoes which fit their feet well?

I've not owned a pair of arrowheads but have climbed some in a demo'd pair, and generally 5.10 anasazi's fit me quite well in the heel/foot shape. I like the Shamans a lot, they dont seem to stink too much and fit my foot well, also the blackwings are good shoes and mine didnt get nearly as stinky, I think the synthetic upper on them breathes much better than the cowdura on the arrowheads. If you aim to try the shamans I'd go shoe size, maybe a half size down. They fit pretty true to size.

Dude just put Odor Eaters powder in the shoe before and after every session. It'll be fine.

Rob Gordon wrote:Dude just put Odor Eaters powder in the shoe before and after every session. It'll be fine.

I always feel like powders in shoes get slimy and weird. A thorough scrubbing out and drying in the sun has always done wonders for mine, but I dont think my foot stink is as horrendous as some. Thinking about buying a pair of defys (the original stink mosters) to test my theory.

Sportiva tends to have more leather shoes that won't stink as much. You could try the Miura VS for a pretty agressive shoe good edging shoe.

Jim

Miura VS are awesome shoes(mine are 4 years old and don't smell too bad I don't use them in a gym at all though), Sportiva sizes run quite a bit bigger than 5.10 in my experience(my Miura VS size 42(9) are bigger than my 5.10 Blackwings size 44(10.5). so I would recommend trying them on to find your size. Miura VS also stretch quite a bit when they break-in.

Actually Zeasorb is better than odor eaters. It's an anti fungal. I recommend it. Also if you just need gym shoes, I would use Anasazis and save the arrowheads for outside or foot specific problems. Arrowheads really are a great shoe.

lysol and air after every use

;)

If you really like the Arrowheads and want to continue wearing them, try one of these products maybe:

stinkyshoo.com/

drypointe.com/

The catch is you need to start using one of these moisture absorbing inserts when the shoe is new to prevent bacteria setting in from your foot sweat, which is what is causing the odor.

I love the way arrowheads fit. For me a good alternative is Scarpa Vapor V. They are also a slightly wide, gently downturned, hard-ish rubber edging shoe.

I too have owned many stinky 5.10 shoes. Beware spraying, sprinkling powder or washing the shoes as it will lead to slippery insides or stretched out shoes eventually. Dryer sheets have helped but putting the shoes in the freezer to kill the bacteria has always been the most effective option.

I have a pair of 5.10 team shoes, pure synthetic, pure stink. My Moccasins don't stink at all, ever. I bought a set of those drypointe shock inserts that I leave in my teams while I'm not using them. It keeps the stink away for sure. I'd highly recommended them.

For what its worth, i loved every pair of five tens I've ever owned (its been a lot) had but a solid alternative is the Scarpa Feroce.

Ive had mine and while and they dont stink half as bad. I think the fit is similar and the performance exceeds expectations, they're a little bulkier but the construction of Scarpa is exceptional.

Very comfortable and comparable, less stank imo.

Chris Vinson wrote:For what its worth, i loved every pair of five tens I've ever owned (its been a lot) had but a solid alternative is the Scarpa Feroce. Ive had mine and while and they dont stink half as bad. I think the fit is similar and the performance exceeds expectations, they're a little bulkier but the construction of Scarpa is exceptional. Very comfortable and comparable, less stank imo.

Feroces are what I went with when I decided I didn't want arrowheads - I love them as well. I don't feel like they're super similar to Arrowhead's, performance-wise (I felt like the arrowheads are a more dedicated edger whereas the feroces are more all-rounders as the rubber is stickier, has a softer edge, and they have incredible toe and heel hooking). The fit is similar though, though Feroces have the dimple in the gap between your toes and foot, so I've heard that people who don't have toe-fingers don't fit them quite as well.

For what it's worth, I have crazy stinky feet and my Feroces only smell when I shove my nose in them.

Jon Frisby wrote:I love the way arrowheads fit. For me a good alternative is Scarpa Vapor V. They are also a slightly wide, gently downturned, hard-ish rubber edging shoe.

One of my partner has the vapor v and is quite taken with them as well. How does the sizing compare to the arrowhead?

aliebling wrote: One of my partner has the vapor v and is quite taken with them as well. How does the sizing compare to the arrowhead?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think a 42 in Vapors is equivalent to a 9.5 in Arrowheads. Though don't take my word for it - one of those sizes might be off by a half

That's also when they're new. I would assume that the Vapor will stretch a little more being suede