Stinky Shoes

Shoe odor seems to be an especially offensive problem in climbing shoes, with various suggested remedies. A UV shoe sanitizer is advertised as eliminating shoe odors in addition to attacking athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. See: ourdoctorstore.com - after accessing the site you’ll need to search for SteriShoe or Item # 30167. The concept seems promising. The price is a bit steep (about the cost of a pair of climbing shoes) but it may pay off over time.

Comments? Has anyone tried it?

Wash those stanky-ass feet. That's where I'd start.

Next time you wash your clothes throw in you shoes. It will make your clothes stink and you will get used to the smell faster. Problem solved!! :)

Yes, I second the comment keep your feet clean. I didn't think about how dirty my feet were on climbing trips (usually from wearing flip flops at like RRG crags with dust everywhere) until one of my friends told me he always washes his feet and keeps them clean.

Keep your feet clean and your shoes will probably stink less and have less sweat/dirt mixture building up inside of them.

I don't necessarily wash my feet extra. Just when I take a shower which is pretty much on a daily basis I've seen people washing their feet in the sink in a climbing gym a lot which is I forget to do. Maybe just rinsing your feet may help. No synthetic shoes and keep the shoe in fresh air. The no stink spray stuff from Boulder should help too.

Wash those feet obviously but I also run my shoes through the wash (without clothes) and let them air dry. Once you get the funk out, start using gold bond/dr. scholls foot powder before and after your climbing sessions which will reduce moisture and prevent odor from building up.

In my experience its totally a synthetic (stink) vs leather (no stink) issue. But that's just for me .

I'd be hesitant to blast shoes with more radiation than they already get. But then, the microbial community that seems to be thriving there might be doing more damage.

During one long shoes-off belay, I noticed that the local ant tribe had shared the location of my shoes, and they loved what they found. Not sure if I'm as trusting of ants as a grouper is of a wrasse, so I took them home, soaked in some warm water and took a brush to the foot-smegma that had built up. Worked quite well.

To paraphrase George Carlin, "I've heard of stinky feet Crisco, but yours could knock a buzzard off a shit-wagon." I've found a wonder-drug for them though. Slather that on and wait a bit, it feels soooo goood, and it works for a good month. Very effective microbial control.

Wear shoes not flip-flops or Chacos to the crag and between laps. It's a bit of a pain is the ass to switch to shoes but I have noticed a huge difference in how my shoes "age".
Save the flip flops for after your done climbing. Keeps your feet and shoes clean and way less stinky I think.

i use silver linings shoe liners for my regular shoes. maybe they'll work in climbing shoes too? they def take the smell away, but they only go in the front of the shoes and not across the entire shoes.

Mirazyme. There is no equal. $15. natural enzymes do the work and smells great.

Developed to take the funk out of scubasuits. Guy once told me a small critter jumped into his pack while in the backcountry. not realizing it was there he threw his gear in and left. after a week his car wreaked. found the critter in his pack. tried everything but nothing worked. his budy that scuba dives told him about mirazyme and his gear smelled like wild flowers after.

Bought a pack used from a guy cheap. came in smelling sour (no wonder the pack was so damn cheap but otherwise in great condition). washed it 20 times and nada. picked up some mirazyme and knocked it out after one treatment. use it on everything now.

coincidentally my moms dog wrastled a skunk and lost. they took the dog to vet and it came back smelling like mirazyme. I had to know so yeah - the vet uses it too

win