Keeping your climbing shoes from stinking

No one likes stinky climbing shoes (or any other kind, I'm sure). I've tried putting drier sheets (the fabric-softener, scented kind) in my climbing shoes after climbing, though what works even better are cedar shoe trees. Cedar not only absorbs sweat, it also kills the bacteria that creates the odor. And they leave your shoes smelling, well, like cedar. Plus, they're natural (no chemicals), and once paid for (Amazon, about $20/pair), last a lifetime. It'd be interesting to hear what others have found effective.

Has anyone tried freezing their shoes for a couple days? I haven't, but I know people do this with jeans that they don't wash for months at a time (I have once or twice).

gavinsmith wrote:Has anyone tried freezing their shoes for a couple days? I haven't, but I know people do this with jeans that they don't wash for months at a time (I have once or twice).

Tried it. Doesn't work.

Freezing doesn't kill stinky bacteria, it only makes them dormant. You need a strong disinfectant and also you need to remove dead skin that they feed on. So...wear socks or use Lysol and Tinactin with anti-fungal ingredients.

1. Do not buy Evolv Defy.
2. Use disinfecting spray after every gym session.
3. Wash your shoes before they start to stink.

Kitty litter

How about spraying antiperspirant on your feet so they don't sweat? I use it in the winter so I don't get cold sweat soaked socks. I don't know if if it will work for stinky feet it.
I would think it should help though

wear socks. Breaks the first rule of climbing, but your shoes will never smell. If you get the super low profile black ones you can almost pretend like people won't notice, but they will. Either don't care or onsight their sick proj in your socked feet to show them whats what.

After like 6 months, I take mine in the shower and wash them out and scrub them with an old toothbrush.

1) it starts with your feet: wash them. No, seriously: you will lose this war every time if you don't clean your damn feet regularly.

2) leather shoes seem to stink less.

3) from the VERY beginning, use a foot powder to keep your feet dry. Apply it every time you climb, like chalk for your feet.

After following these three steps, I haven't had stinky shoes in 20 years, since my very first pair of execrable 5.10 Summits.

If your shoes get so bad you can smell 'em from 6 feet away, you've lost the war. They'll always stink: anything you do just puts things temporarily at bay. Get a new pair of shoes, and be hygenic from the beginning.

used to have issues......never put away sweaty or wet.i dangle em outside the pack and they usually dry out quickly. socks help for sure!.....washing your feet daily helps!

use a disinfectant spray, like Lysol spray, after climbing. Same thing gyms do with theirs, kills the bacteria. I like the clean linen scent.

gavinsmith wrote:Has anyone tried freezing their shoes for a couple days? I haven't, but I know people do this with jeans that they don't wash for months at a time (I have once or twice).

I do it, but it's just a temp fix. Works, but temporarily.

The big thing is keep them from GETTING stinky. I never leave them in my truck and ALWAYS keep them stored outside the pack. I used to leave them in my crag / gym pack and they got stinky. Now the only time they go in the pack is if I'm doing some long approach. Keep them in the garage.

Not storing them in a bag was huge.

I've been using the silicone beads that you find in beef jerky packs. I'm pretty sure they're for absorbing moisture and they've been working great for me.

Boot Bananas

I use and they work wonders.

I love the smell of my foot stank.

Car upholstery febreeze. The car one specifically.