When you think of climbers and supermodels you may think the similarities end at fantastic legs, toned abdomens and low percentage body fat, but more than any of that we share foot pain.
Supermodels are famed for cramming their feet into shoes that often look more like garden furniture or kitchen accessories than actual footwear - resulting in toes more crushed than Tokyo commuters. Climbers to share this curse.
When you start climbing it is often suggested you take a shoe a few sizes bigger than your normal shoe, but this advice soon reverts as you desire to climb harder and steeper routes. The general rule is the more aggressive the shoe the smaller the size, but how small should one go?
I just bought a pair of La Sportiva Pythons, a shoe famed for giving way (eventually) so I went as small as I physically could. I ended up with a shoe four sizes below my usual size. My feet have yet to forgive me. The phrase "grin and bear it" comes to mind, yet smiling is the last thing on my mind when sitting down to put them on, let alone while wearing them.
Do I regret my purchase? Simply put no. They may hurt like hell, prevent me walking and crumple my toes, but the precision is brilliant. They are giving about as much as a miser in a recession, but hopefully it'll start soon.
So I suppose the lesson of this story is buy small and if they never give; persevere, save up for something else and try again!
Supermodels are famed for cramming their feet into shoes that often look more like garden furniture or kitchen accessories than actual footwear - resulting in toes more crushed than Tokyo commuters. Climbers to share this curse.
When you start climbing it is often suggested you take a shoe a few sizes bigger than your normal shoe, but this advice soon reverts as you desire to climb harder and steeper routes. The general rule is the more aggressive the shoe the smaller the size, but how small should one go?
I just bought a pair of La Sportiva Pythons, a shoe famed for giving way (eventually) so I went as small as I physically could. I ended up with a shoe four sizes below my usual size. My feet have yet to forgive me. The phrase "grin and bear it" comes to mind, yet smiling is the last thing on my mind when sitting down to put them on, let alone while wearing them.
Do I regret my purchase? Simply put no. They may hurt like hell, prevent me walking and crumple my toes, but the precision is brilliant. They are giving about as much as a miser in a recession, but hopefully it'll start soon.
So I suppose the lesson of this story is buy small and if they never give; persevere, save up for something else and try again!
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| New Pythons Vs. Normal Shoes |
