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My shoes turn rock solid if I don’t wear them consistently

Original Post
Reed O'Neal · · Seattle, WA · Joined May 2021 · Points: 0

Hi folks,

I have a problem that has plagued me since I started climbing 5 years ago and I haven’t found much content about the topic on the World Wide Web. The problem is this: When I don’t wear my climbing shoes for about a week or more, they become rock solid and extremely hard (sometimes impossible) and painful to put on. I don’t think it’s a sizing issue because it even happens to my “comfy” shoes that I use for multi pitches and feel too loose on small edges and heel hooks and stuff.

My theory is that it is a result of how much my feet sweat (which is a lot). It seems like the shoes become caked in sweat over time.

I have resorted to getting my shoes wet under the sink the night before if I know I’m climbing the next day and I haven’t used my shoes in a while, as this leaves them malleable enough to put on the next day. However, this doesn’t seem good for the leather shoes and their lifespan either.

I feel that the lifespan of my shoes has suffered greatly from this issue and I’m spending more money than I would like to be on shoes. Resoling has never seemed worth it to me because the upper of my shoe is so fricked up by the time I have issues with the rubber. Additionally, they stink like hell, but I honestly don’t even care about that, I just wanna be able to put my shoes on so I can go rock climbing with my friends and have a fun time and smile and maybe get stronger so I can crush my enemies!!!

So, I’m seeking advice from anyone who has had this issue, or from anyone who has anything to say about shoe care in general. Help?

WHAM . · · Utah · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 1

Have you tried using antiperspirant on your feet? That would at least help you determine if its sweat or something else

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

You could wash your shoes then start wearing sock liners to see if that helps. I've never heard of this issue, but if the sweat is causing it, it might help to have your socks absorb the moisture rather than your shoes. And I've heard of people using antiperspirant on their feet, too.

Eli W · · Oregon · Joined Aug 2021 · Points: 0

Warm them if you haven’t used them recently. The microwavable bean bag hot pads work really well for this. Also works great for breaking in new shoes faster.

Climb On · · Everywhere · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 0

Not what you asked, but if you fix your footwork the rand won't be trashed by the time you need a resole.  Then it'll absolutely be worth resoling. 

Ryan D · · MA · Joined Apr 2022 · Points: 0

Brainstorming here. Where do you live and how do you store your climbing shoes? If nobody can give you a real answer here I'd ask the manufacturer or on a leathercraft/shoemaker forum. 

John Clark · · Sierras · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 1,398

Dry leather is hard.

Lena chita · · OH · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,667

I definitely notice that my shoe’s become stiffer when it’s cold, or if they got really wet, like in the rain, and then dried out.

But it is usually something that goes away within seconds of putting them on. All leather gets stuff if it becomes wet, and then dries out  

I think there are two different issues for you: 


1. your feet sweat maybe more than average, so antiperspirants might help.

2. Dry your shoes thoroughly after wearing them, using one of those electric shoe dryer inserts. Then warm your shoes and massage the leather with your hands, before putting them on.


2 try lined shoes. 

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65

1. How are you storing your shoes after climbing, meaning both immediately and longer term? Are you stuffing them in your pack and leaving them there for the next time?

2. Try shoes with a synthetic upper.

drewp · · Vegas · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 1,766

beat your shoes up a bit before you put them on. Bend them all around with your hands, maybe stomp on them once or twice, warm them up in your jacket etc. Then just have to suffer through the warm up pitch. For the comfy shoes you can do the first lap of the day with socks on. Also, synthetic shoes seem to have this problem less.

Jared Angle · · Arlington, VA · Joined Nov 2019 · Points: 5
FrankPS wrote:

You could wash your shoes then start wearing sock liners to see if that helps. I've never heard of this issue, but if the sweat is causing it, it might help to have your socks absorb the moisture rather than your shoes. And I've heard of people using antiperspirant on their feet, too.

Agreed, would try antiperspirant. Salt in sweat can cause leather to harden and shrink. A while back I was shoveling and salting the driveway wearing a pair of untreated leather gloves, and the glove that was handling the salt (while wet) shrank two sizes and curled up like a fist.

giraud b · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2022 · Points: 0
FrankPS wrote:

I've never heard of this issue, but if the sweat is causing it, 

I have and it's me who experienced it in my younger sport climbing years.

Sweat was the cause.

I never bothered to fix this problem, just kept climbing in them.

Shoes were the moccs "Boreal Ninja."

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 669

Don't wear unlined leather shoes. The couple of pairs I've owned have also become rock hard and nearly unusable. Re-warming/moistening by breathing into them would make them just bearable to put them on.

I'm also an egregious sweater. I'll bring ~3 pairs of shoes to the crag and rotate through them since they sweat out after 2 pitches or so. If I don't want to climb in wet shoes the next day they need to go by a fan or I just use a 3 other pairs.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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