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Socks & rock shoes for when it's cold - how do you do it?

Original Post
jaredj · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 165

So I am thinking about having a set of shoes sized to wear socks with for when I wanna climb and it's cold enough out for me to think it's a good idea. Never done it before. For reference I'm a skinny guy whose extremeties tend to get colder than the average person's when cold out (especially when idle).

For folks who are doing this and feel like they are accomplishing what they want with the socks, how thick are you doing? Like a liner sock thicknenss? big enough for a regular mid-weight wool sock?

Seems like a shoe big enough for anything thicker than a liner would be sloppy as all hell if it were sized in a way to not be too tight (restricting blood flow and therefore defeating the purpose). I know some sloppiness is price of entry on this whole deal.

Curious what has worked for y'all.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

TC Pro shoe fits me with and without my
Smart wool black (long) liner socks..

Also I think the TC's have extra padding/liner
which helps keep feet warmer then some shoes..

That's my 2cents

Frank Stein · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

I generally try to avoid climbing when it is really cold (less than freezing), and as such do not wear socks. I did wear socks on the Diamond during a cold spell in September, when it was in the upper 20s. I wore Boreal Shadows (slipper) in size 6.5 (8.5 street size), and thin polypro sock liners. I was freezing, but my feet were okay. My experience was that sock liners such as the ones I wore do not restrict you from wearing your normal shoe.

knowbuddy Buddy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 225

I have a pair of Tc pros, Astorman, and high top Anasazi vcs that are all fit for socks. I'm a pussy when it comes to cold weather and they definitely help. I also climb in eastern Utah a lot so the extra padding doesn't hurt either. I usually wear a medium weight sock and really haven't found that I lose much if any technical ability. I don't like to wear thin ones. I'm all about the socks

DB Cee · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined May 2007 · Points: 146

1. Carry down booties with you to the crag.
2. Don't leave your climbing shoes sitting out when belaying...put them inside your coat to keep them warm.
3. Do something to warm your feet up prior to climbing - walk around, run for 5 minutes, jump rope...this will also simply get your core temp up prior to climbing.

4. If you are allowed build a small fire at the cliff...this helps a lot when it's cold. Standard fare around the SE to have a fire in the winter when climbing (at cliffs where it's OK obviously).

climbing in the cold is pretty easy if you're proactive!

knowbuddy Buddy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 225

Socks make a huge difference on cold multi pitches as well. Feels phenomenal taking off the shoes and having warm comfy feet on a ledge.

Hillbill · · Indianapolis · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 575

I hate wearing socks with climbing shoes no matter what the weather. Though I did try wearing socks one time in the dead of winter (maybe 20C) and it made the situation worse because it constricted blood flow. However, wearing socks in perfect weather makes it hard for me to feel my toes while stepping on really small edges. Even when wearing a thin sock it feels like I'm wearing construction boots trying to step on a micro-edge. My advice would be to keep your feet warm while you're not climbing/not wearing cilmbing shoes...

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

It is all about having the correct fit on the shoes.
In no way will socks make it worse, unless you have:
Shoes too small (short in length)
Laces too tight (Loosen up the toe box where you usually don't mess with yer laces…)

rocknice2 · · Montreal, QC · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 3,847

The only time socks come in handy are for multi pitch climbs. For cragging just keep the shoes inside your jacket.

You definitely need to size the does to accommodate the socks, otherwise you'll end up with super tight shoes that cut circulation.

Socks also help guard against the rubbing factor on the knuckles of the big you're and heel.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55

I wear socks on all Alpine routes - I don't climb hard enough in those conditions that I need the foot crushing sizing anyway. Fit that pair of shoes just for socks and you'll be fine. Most people wear their shoes too tight anyway - ten pitches of moderate climbing do not require super small shoes. If you're talking about bouldering or sport in the cold - just keep everything warm (your feet and your shoes) until time to start climbing - then put the big warm boots back on in between.

Steve Levin · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 952

Cut off the fore-foot of some old beat heavy wool socks and use as anklets for alpine rock. Wear comfortable rock shoes. As long as your climbing shoes are not too small or laced too tight you will be a rock star up there in the clouds.

Don't build fires at the base of sport cliffs. If you need flame, bring a propane burner. It is 2014.

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 436

This is wisdom.

Chris Rice wrote:I wear socks on all Alpine routes - I don't climb hard enough in those conditions that I need the foot crushing sizing anyway. Fit that pair of shoes just for socks and you'll be fine. Most people wear their shoes too tight anyway - ten pitches of moderate climbing do not require super small shoes. If you're talking about bouldering or sport in the cold - just keep everything warm (your feet and your shoes) until time to start climbing - then put the big warm boots back on in between.
My favorite alpine rock shoes are old Boreal Ballets.

If I were going to climb rock in seriously cold conditions, I'd get the insulated Boreal Fire Invernal:

silvertipmountaincenter.com…
nbrown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 7,718
Steve Levin wrote:Cut off the fore-foot of some old beat heavy wool socks and use as anklets for alpine rock.
Good advice. This is a great trick that someone showed me a few years back.
Superclimber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 1,310

If your looking for specific advice, I'd go with thin socks when you need them and keep the same shoe size if you can.

Here's what I've experienced first hand. I've been wearing TC Pros pretty much since they came out. They're sized to be reasonably comfortable for all day moderate climbing. It's usually between 6-8 hours before they start hurting. Anyway, I haven't had much of a problem with cold feet while climbing, even when the temp is hovering around freezing. Occasionally, if it's really cold I've used sock liners in my climbing shoes, they were very thin polyester liners. I really didn't like wearing them. My feet felt less secure, but I don't think they actually had any sort of real adverse effect. I suspect it was more of an imaginary adverse effect.

Michael Plesser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 165

This is what I do for bouldering when it's cold. Just get Some big wool socks and put 'em on over the shoes, then stick the toes in your gloves. This is obviously only if you're just resting between attempts. I always hike shoes in in my jacket if it's cold to loosen them up, as has been said already.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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