How much do TC Pro's stretch as they break in?

tl;dr version:
I think I've read all the TC Pro threads, but don't see this specific piece - what has your experience been with how the fit of these shoes changes as they break in?

Verbose version:
I'm looking for an all day fit. Wear 8.5 or 9 street shoes, Mythos in 40 for a comfortable fit w toes just a bit bent. I'm used to the Mythos stretching immense amounts into a glove like fit - have gone through multiple pairs and enjoyed them. Want a bit more support and to expand my quiver. My feet may be a bit wide for the TC Pros.

I've got two pair at home I'm trying on, and plan to return one - the 42s feel snug and comfortable volume-wise, with some extra space in front of my big toe and second toe. I feel like I could wear them all day as is, but the foot is definitely not at one with the shoe as my mythos are.

The 41.5 feel way more snug out of the box. Outer toes a bit crammed, big toe flat w a bit of room to wiggle. Too snug for all day as is, and wouldn't really want to stuff them in a crack as is. Feels like if the slingshot rand were not as aggressive these would do well.

Thanks for any thoughts.

The stretch is a little weird with TC Pros. In my experience, they do stretch about as much as the average leather shoe (maybe a touch less than the mythos), but take far longer to get there.

mike again wrote:any thoughts.

Climb

I size my TC Pro's until there painful in the store, then go up one size. There good for 'all-day comfort'. (I say this but really I did that once and have bought the same size 3-4 times since...)

When I first bought them I went to Whitehorse and the rock was like 90deg. Probably one of the most painful climbing experiences. I thought I made a mistake sizing, but they loosened up.

Mine haven't stretched much but as a shoe they seem to run big

shoo wrote:The stretch is a little weird with TC Pros. In my experience, they do stretch about as much as the average leather shoe (maybe a touch less than the mythos), but take far longer to get there.

I could'nt have said it better.

My range is about a quarter to just below half size stretch...

I use mine primarily for cracks so it definitely contorts the shoe a little differently.

They change shape as they break in, so I think you'll find that pressure points change the same as other shoes, but in terms of total size change, in my experience, they don't change as much as most. I doubt you'll go from 'painful' to 'comfortable' more likely from painful to 'uncomfortable' or 'uncomfortable' to comfortable. Far less stertch than the mythos, in my experience, and still less than the Kaukulators.

Or maybe my feet just got more sensitive?

Regardless, based on my experience I'd say downsize 1/2 size less than you'd be inclined with other shoes, unless your other shoes were seriously beefy board lasted high tops.

They definitely do stretch, hard to quantify, but a comfy fit in the store will give way to a sloppy fit in 10 or 15 uses. Got to be pretty snug to yield a precise fit down the road. Or at least that was my experience...dropped a half size from pair 1 to pair 2, and it dramatically improved edging and smearing without hurting crack performance.

When I first tried mine on at the store they were pretty uncomfortable, but not in the toe box. Where a lot of the breaking in happened with mine was at the heel. Originally the high tops would dig into my Achilles, and I could only go for a few pitches before having to take them off. The shoes seem to have more formed to my feet and ankles, as opposed to stretching, and now I can wear them all day.

YMMV, but I would size them for the length you like at the store, and then let them form to your feet.

Tony B wrote:and still less than the Kaukulators.

Careful Tony, your age is showing :)

Like others said, they seem to change shape a bit, but I wouldn't really say that they stretch much. Maybe 1/4 size at most. Buy them the size that you want and they'll probably just stretch at the couple of tight spots that you might have. But, the sole is so stiff and these shoes are made for trad and cracks so buy them big and you'll be happy.

they stretch about a half size

Rich zz wrote: Wow I would never climb with you based on your spelling.

I didn't realize there was a correlation between literacy and climbing ability. I'll keep that in mind the next time I'm sizing TC Pros.

Rich zz wrote: Wow I would never climb with you based on your spelling.

bahahaha.

I've had mine for almost a year now, and only climb outside in them (so they never see the kind of sweat the gym provokes in my feet; but they really havent stretched all that much.

I got mine in the same size as my mythos (which stretched to sloppy-still great for easy slab/cracks), but the TC Pros havent even stretched a half size...

I wear a size 11 and got TC's in size 10.5. They stretched to perfect fit within a few pitches and I've been so happy I resoled one pair and then got another once that resole wore out. I would say they stretch about a half size in my experience.

WadeM wrote: Careful Tony, your age is showing :)

If this was the only way, I'd be happier.
BTW - I wsas climbing in Yosemite wearing a blue pair of Kaukulators last week!

I sized mine for performance, I'm the same street shoe as OP. 26.5, so 9 or 8.5 depending on brand. 42 in most approach shoes.

40.5 TC pro. Started with big toe just barely knuckled, ended with big toe flat and very snug. But I ended up wearing the tip of the rand thin, they had stretched out to the point where the rand was sticking out past the edge of the sole. With how stiff they are I don't think I gained anything edging by going down that far. I'd probably go with 41 for performance of 41.5 for moderate length multi pitch if I were buying another pair.

Friends who have sized them at street shoe to .5 below for alpine claim no stretch.

All that being said, I'm a lot happier with Katanas laces. I had crap feel through TC pros until I wore the sole quite thin, never really liked them. I have the katanas sized for a slight curl with no knuckling. Jam thin cracks MUCH better. Edge fairly similarly, but with a lot more feel. After 20 pitches they smear pretty well also. On top of that they work great for slightly overhanging sport too.

Rich zz wrote: just my personal rant that's not relevant to this discussion. there is a correlation. this person has gone through their whole life not bothering to fix an easy spelling mistake so that they can communicate better. it's the mentality of that person i don't want to climb with. i can see how this could translate into climbing where building specific things like anchors can mean life or death.

Your sentences should start with a capital letter. I know it's a minor detail, but it could affect your anchor-building. :)

Rich zz wrote: just my personal rant that's not relevant to this discussion. there is a correlation. this person has gone through their whole life not bothering to fix an easy spelling mistake so that they can communicate better. it's the mentality of that person i don't want to climb with. i can see how this could translate into climbing where building specific things like anchors can mean life or death.

It might actually be a grammar mistake...
"There are some that may think that when a word is spelled correctly but used incorrectly that it is a spelling mistake. However, that is not the case. Whenever a person intends to use a certain word but ends up using a different one through a spelling mishap, then that becomes a grammar mistake. Most of the time, the words are spelled correctly, however, they are used incorrectly or improperly."
-Said the Internets

in which case, im less likely to date, but climbing and grammar dont seem to correlate in my experience...

First pair I ever got was 45 and they were comfortable until they stretched to the point of feeling like flip flops. I sold those and downsized to 43.5, which also stretched but perform well if I'm doing anything that doesn't require precise edging. I can wear those all day, and even over a pair of lightweight wool socks if in the alpine.

So mine actually shrank...also, don't forget that it is a lace-up shoe - you can dial in the fit. I would focus on the toes...the rest will conform, one way or the other.