Best shoes to convert

I am thinking about getting some raptor crampons to convert some shoes into dry tooling/ mixed shoes, so that on warmer days (Iowa winter right now) I can dry tool at the local chosspile without wearing full ice boots. I am wondering what the best shoes or boots (less expensive the better) to convert? I have a pair of tradmasters, but with no ankle support or stiffness, I don't think that they'll make the best choice.

Thanks, Brooks

coldthistle.blogspot.com/20…

if it were me I would look for a really stiff soled shoe.

Would 5.10 grandstones work?

If I am not mistaken (could be) The Grandstone has a "paper sole" which is pretty much the opposite of stiff soled. Perhaps something like an approach shoe would be better?

I've talked to guys like Duane Raleigh (of Rock & Ice) about this and Duane experimented with a lot of shoes before fruit boots become more popular and commercially available. I've seen him climbing with some of his creations so I think he's a pretty good source and he insisted that approach shoes wouldn't cut it. Too flexible. Instead, he said old biking shoes worked because they are stiff. I think you can go "paint" them with rubber (mixing Barge cement with rubber filings - Five Ten sells a Stealth kit) then to give them some ability to smear against rock. I've got an old pair of mountain bike shoes that I've been meaning to experiment with but haven't gotten around to it.

I made these from a 35 yr old pair of Vasque Ascenders. Solid leather, stiff sole, high top, can lace up tight for support. Doubt if there are many all leather hitop stiff soled climbing shoes available these days to work with, so some alternate sport shoe might be the answer. These still flex a bit too much for my liking, but work pretty good considering.

Stranger Than Iowa wrote:Thought I would ask rather than assume, your not drytooling at PR or any established crags right?

Nope, understandable concern though. I have a small face in my backyard where our creek has cut away a hill. Just something to practice drytoolng on. Also was thinking about some of the more chossy/ dirty outcroppings at palisades kepler SP that no one climbs on. If anyone can think of other places nearby though that would be great.

In Portugal i made from this.
https://www.google.com/search?q=botas+ciclismo&client=ms-android-motorola-rev2&prmd=isnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhsMGTze_gAhVQ1xoKHZh2A3MQ_AUoAXoECAwQAQ&biw=360&bih=512#imgrc=GpFwEQriOxJacM

You can convert a hokey boots .

Like a Rollerball boots