Ways to rid of climbing shoes odor

I tried a product called "defunkify active spray" on my running shoes (they smell worse than my climbing shoes), and while it killed the funk odor pretty well, it added its own sickly minty odor that is almost as bad. So mixed results there.

Brian L wrote:

When I tried this method, I let the baking soda sit my my shoe for a day or so, then I shook the excess baking soda out of the shoes before climbing. I never tried climbing with a noticeable quantity of baking soda in my shoe. That does sound terrible, yes.

Obviously I shook the excess baking soda out of my shoes, if you read my post, I even tried washing it out, but there was no way I could find to actually get it all out and as soon as your feet start sweating, the miniscule amount of baking soda left is just aweful. 

I use these blue inserts that were gifted to me from another climber that got them in the Czech Republic.  The look like the ones in the link below (except blue), and I think there is silica mixed in with the anti-odor stuff:

https://www.eastdane.com/shoe-fresh-inserts-woodlore/vp/v=1/1597101611.htm?folderID=23221&colorId=14557

Good luck!

Ken Noyce wrote:

Obviously I shook the excess baking soda out of my shoes, if you read my post, I even tried washing it out, but there was no way I could find to actually get it all out and as soon as your feet start sweating, the miniscule amount of baking soda left is just aweful. 

Clearly you needed to pour vinegar into your shoes. 

"Cedar wood shoe trees put an added advantage to the mix. This is due to the fact that cedar wood has some pretty convincing benefits when it comes to keeping your shoes free from sweat and odor causing bacteria.

PubMed reports indicate that Alaska cedar wood has outstanding antimicrobial activity that kills anaerobic bacteria and yeast. No wonder shoe trees made from cedar wood and cedar insoles are such popular anti-foot odor products."

Put in freezer in plastic bag with lemons or with out lemons just freeze them.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

Clearly you needed to pour vinegar into your shoes. 

Clearly, I knew I had gone wrong somewhere!

Washing shoes addresses the root of the problem, but I've had good success with tea tree oil and water mixed 1:1 in a spray bottle, applied generously as needed

Freezing never worked for my evolves. Same with washing, made them OK for a day or 2, but they got nasty AF real quick.

But I didnt have trouble with other brands. 

Drypointe inserts

I find that stuffing orange peels in them works really well.  Works for your pack too.  No chemicals and re purposing.

I lay them in front of a fan when I get home, opening up the laces and peeling back the tongue a bit.   A boot dryer would be easier.  Once stinky, good luck getting it out.

G Egbert wrote:

I filled a pair of old socks with aromatic cedar shavings and stored my shoes with the socks stuffed inside. Worked great on my nasty Evolvs!

Nice. I didn't even think of that. Way quicker then putting trees in every time. The cedar works wonders. I was truly shocked when I started using them.

I guess I've just never had any pair of shoes get that gnarly smelling. Thar's some stank feet out there, apparently.

THIS WORKED GREAT!  I used it for a week and my shoes has never smelled nasty since.  Thank you!

beck will wrote:

I’ve had good luck with this foot powder:

https://www.friendlyfoot.com/

I only use it occasionally, but it seems to keep the funk at bay.

those synthetics can give a real serious case of 

Purell your feet before you begin your climbing session.  I used to have huge problems with stinky shoes and this one thing has essentially eliminated it for me.

s.price wrote:

Common Sage and alcohol in a spray bottle. Make it with lots of Sage. Superb antibacterial properties. Of course dry your shoes. And keep your feet clean.

70% in a spray bottle after every session. Glad I am not alone in this theory. I'll have to get some sage though for pro status.