Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

Make It Last is dedicated to getting the most out of your gear. This is our place to share knowledge acquired over years of abusing outdoor equipment, so you can learn from our experience and our mistakes. We want you to use your gear, patch it up until you can’t anymore, and enjoy it to the fullest. And when you finally need a new piece, we can help you with that too.

You’ve read the blog posts on climbing shoe care, and you can recite, by heart, the list of things you’re supposed to do to keep your climbing shoes in prime condition:

1. Wipe them out after each use with a damp cloth and let them air dry
2. Using rubbing alcohol to clean the soles and restore stickiness
3. Store them in a mesh bag inside of your climbing pack to avoid dirt and grime
4. Don’t leave them in your climbing bag for extended periods of time
5. Store them in a cool, dry place (i.e. not your car)
6. Let your shoes dry completely between burns

Taken at face value, this list seems to be solid advice to help you keep your shoes clean and sticky for seasons to come.

But in reality, we all know that no one treats their climbing shoes this way, not even the authors of those blog posts.

Here in the real world, your shoes are destined to live a life crammed into the bottom of your climbing pack, which conveniently lives in the trunk of your car.

Since you probably won’t carefully wipe down your shoes inside and out after every session, we thought it’d be worth noting a few steps that you might actually take to keep your favorite pair of shoes alive for a few more repoint burns. And, lucky for you, everything you’ll need is either easily available or already in your climbing kit.

What You’ll Need to Repair Your Climbing Shoes

1. Superglue
2. Nail Clippers or Cuticle Cutters
3. Razor Blade
4. Sanding Sponge
5. DryPointe Shoe Inserts

Problem #1: The Outsole Starts to Separate From the Upper

One of the most common issues you’ll run into is rubber pulling away from the leather or synthetic material on the upper part of your shoes. This is typically caused by too much exposure to prolonged heat, ie. sitting in the trunk of your car.

It most likely won’t lead to a catastrophic failure, but if you leave it alone, it will eventually start snagging, removing precious rubber from your favorite climbing shoes.

Rubber pulling away from the upper can reduce climbing shoe performance and worsen over time.

The Fix

Add as much superglue as necessary to adhere the rubber back to the leather. Typically you won’t need much, but the real key is to give the glue time to cure before you test out your newly repaired shoes.

For crack climbing shoes, you can even line them with superglue where the rubber meets leather preemptively to protect them.

Apply a small amount of superglue with a thin-tip applicator, press the rubber back into place for 30 - 60 seconds, and let cure for several hours.

Problem #2: Damage to the Outsole

Another common issue is abnormal wear and tear from particularly abrasive footholds. Granite crystals are often the culprit, but limestone knobs and sandstone chickenheads can also cause this issue. You’ll notice a small indent or aberrations on the bottom of your shoe, which aren’t abnormal.

Small indents and ridges can cause premature outsole damage.

The problem arises from the high points that these indents create. If you don’t remove them, they’ll start to snag, which will lead to the rubber peeling away, eventually chewing a hole in the bottom of your shoe.

If left untreated, these indents and ridges can lead to holes in the soles of your climbing shoes.

The Fix

Look at the bottom of your shoes periodically for any irregularities and remove them. You can use a sanding sponge, cuticle cutters, and/or a razor blade depending on your particular issue.

The goal is to remove as little rubber as possible to get a smooth, clean surface that will wear evenly.

Treating with a razor blade, sanding sponge, and/or nail clippers to remove a small amount of rubber can increase the lifespan of the shoe significantly in the long term. (Left: Before; Right: After)

Problem #3: Moisture Build-Up in Your Shoes

Like any other piece of gear that you sweat in, climbing shoes have a tendency to soak up any excess moisture.

This leads not only to the unfortunate side-effect of smelly shoes but also contributes to shoe stretch and an ensuing loss of performance over the long term, especially if you live in a humid climate.

The Fix

Removing your climbing shoes from your bag after long sessions certainly won’t hurt, but since they’ll actually be living in your climbing backpack, invest in a few DryPointe Shoe Inserts.

DryPointe Shoe inserts can significantly reduce moisture build-up when used in-between climbing sessions.

These handy inserts soak up excess moisture from your climbing shoes when you aren’t using them, reducing shoe stretch and odor, while also helping your shoes retain their shape in between sessions. Best of all, they’re inexpensive and work continuously for years on end.

When Should You Resole?

There comes a time when the rubber on your shoes is too blown out to climb in anymore. If the upper is still in good shape, consider having your shoes resoled rather than just buying a new pair. It’s less expensive and gets you more mileage out of those climbing shoes that you love so much.

Remember, to save yourself time and a few bucks, get them resoled before the rubber wears through completely to expose the rand. This will make your resole easier, more affordable, and keep your shoes in better shape overall.

This climbing shoe can still be resoled, but as the rand is now blown out, it will need new toe caps and will be more expensive.

You can find a local resoler near you with this list of authorized climbing shoe resole shops.

Replace Your Old Shoes

While shoe resoles are a great way to extend the life of your rock shoes, you won’t be able to resole your shoes indefinitely.

When a resole no longer works or you find you’re losing performance, come visit our climbing shoe page over at Campman. Whatever you need, we either have it or would be happy to get it for you.

About Campman

Campman is an outdoor retail store located in Salt Lake City, Utah, that specializes in gear and equipment for camping, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and everything in between. We understand that the difference between a bad memory and the adventure of a lifetime can come down to the gear you take with you when you head outdoors, and we want our customers to have the best experiences possible. When it comes to getting outside, we get it, and we’ll get you the gear you need to get there.

Questions? Feel free to contact us by phone at (801) 999-8117 or by email at sales@campman.com.