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Maxi Climber Reviews & Comparisons – Is It Scam or Worth Buying?

Updated November 1, 2017 By

If you’re looking for an easy as well as a fast way to get into shape without having to visit the gym regularly, then you should go for the Maxi Climber. It is designed in such a way that you can perform short exercises in the comfort of your home.

Innovations International LLC created the Maxi with the idea of mimicking mountain climbing episodes where you can quickly burn calories from your arms to your thighs and legs. It is very efficient, moderately priced, and conveys benefits same to those of a Stairmaster or a step machine. Apart from burning calories, it increases your muscle tone as well as improves your cardiovascular health thus it will keep your heart health at all times.

Maxi Climber is an “all-in-one” modest workout that can help you burn calories in few minutes. With this vertical climber, you can burn more fat than when exercising on a bike or a treadmill for the equivalent time that you could be working out on a Maxi Climber. If you want a vertical climber that is easily operated and pretty practical, the Maxi Climber is what you need.

Maxi Climber Reviews.1

Maxi Climber Vertical Climber

The Maxi is the most sorted out vertical climber by many users that allows you to engage all major muscles groups by utilizing only your body weight. When fully extended, it measures 22 inches (W) by 36 inches (L) by 79 inches (H). It weighs around 34lbs and can support a user with a weight limit of 240 lbs. Several reports indicate that even heavier users than the limit can use this vertical climber, but it is not recommended.

It’s a vertical climber that imitates the movements of rock climbing to give you a full body workout from which you build stamina and endurance. Burn calories as well as tone your muscles all at the same time as you try to maximize your exercising time. It is easy to set and operate, and you can burn 500 calories in about one hour. You may consider adding weight resistance to get an aerobic exercise and muscles toning as you exercise.

The Maxi is lightweight and durable to give you an extended period of usage. It comes pre-assembled, and you need no additional tools or parts to put it into place. It is as simple as it sounds. Also, this vertical climber is more suitable for you if you have a small apartment or you don’t have much space in your home. Just store it in a corner or in a closet where it will be out of sight and save yourself some extra space in your home.

Lastly, it is very budget-friendly fitness equipment that you can try out if you want to exercise at the comfort of your home without having to visit the gym. It comes with a simple 7-step-meal plan, interval training CD labeled Rockin’ Out, and 1-year warranty.

[img_center img_code=”81qifVW3iYL” alt=”MaxiClimber – The original patented Vertical Climber” code=”B00K6ZURAW”]

Pros

  • Easy assembly
  • Short workouts
  • Moderately priced
  • High calorie burn
  • Total body workout
  • Comfort grip handles
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Durable
  • Quiet and therefore apartment-friendly
  • Very stable
  • Adjustable to 5 different heights
  • Folds for storage

Cons

  • Weight limit of 240 lbs
  • Head clearance needed
  • Based on your body weight
The Benefits of Using the Maxi Climber

MaxiClimber - The original patented Vertical Climber

  • Ergonomic design that comes with an isometric non-stick grip that provides workouts that are low impact, smooth, and comfortable.
  • Adjustable height with 5 different settings ensures that it can comfortably accommodate short or tall people.
  • Bio-X technology provides you with a motion (cross-crawl) that can engage your core and abs with every step you make.
  • Workout timer comes in handy by counting some calories burned as well as the number of steps performed. The timers automatically turn on every time you start working out and will eventually stop at the same time you do.
  • Foldable for storage ensures that you can keep it away when not in use because it folds easily. You can store it under your bed or in a standard closet.

Here is the comparison with other products. Check it out.

The Maxi Climber Comparisons to Other Products

The Maxi has proven to be the best selling Vertical Climber to have in your home with all the features and benefits it portrays. With that much said, I’ll be comparing it with other Vertical Climbers, and from that review, you’ll notice that Maxi Climber is the most user-friendly product to purchase.

1. Maxi Climber Vs Sunny Folding Climber

[img_center img_code=”61vcOGUpxtL” alt=”Sunny Folding Climbing Stepper” code=”B005T8ARKG”]

This Vertical Climber is for those who want to engage in a more robust workout as compared to the other Climbers. It’s somewhat a climber with an innovative exercise movement and hold people with a weight capacity at over 220 lbs and a sturdy construction. If you’re looking for a Vertical Climber that will give you a smooth workout experience, then the Sunny Folding is the ideal unit. It has 2 adjustable resistance cylinders.

When compared to a Maxi Climber, the Sunny folding is a much better proposition, but it is a bit expensive. That should not stop you from purchasing it because when you do exercises with this unit, you’ll feel justified about its cost. It is easier to store and move around than other products because it is a folding model. According to reviews online, people argue that the Maxi is not that durable since it’s produced in a costly manner but it will give you much service than you could have imagined.

This Vertical Climber comes with a properly-lit display to provide users with a detailed readout during exercises. The display has a count as well as stopwatch with a timer, general scan, and calories. The only issue with this model that I could find was the fact that you cannot use it in a commercial setting. If you decide to use it for commercial use, you’ll void the warranty. I would recommend you use it as a home gym perceptive. That’s why the Maxi is more user-friendly than the Sunny Folding.

Maxi Climber

  • Weight limit of 240 lbs
  • Focuses on the whole body
  • For either home or commercial use
  • Sturdier than the Sunny Climber
Sunny Folding Climber

  • Weight Limit of 220 lbs
  • Focuses on lower body
  • Not for commercial use
  • Feels less than premium

2. Maxi Climber Vs Conquer Vertical Climber

[img_center img_code=”61EbulOYT5L” alt=”Conquer Vertical Climber Fitness Climbing Machine” code=”B00T6RTHFC”]

The Conquer and the Maxi almost look the same. If you’re not keen, you may find yourself having the alternative of what you wanted. You should pose a question of which is the better one and which model do I really want to get the best workout experience. It all depends on your personal choices and preferences.

To help on the comparison, most people argue that the Maxi Climber is slightly expensive than the Conquer Climber. But you should be aware that the Maxi comes with extra features such as the Isometric grip that adds to its comfortability during exercises. They have similarity in their design since they both provide high-intensity workouts with very little impacts on the body joints and they mimic rock climbing. Both units have a vertical design that comes with an adjustable height as well as an ergonomic design appropriate for all body types.

The two items in discussion are ideal for any workout where many argue that the Conquer is sturdier than the Maxi. As long you respect the weight limit you won’t have any problems with the Maxi Climber. That is why the Maxi is the most preferred vertical climber to purchase.

Maxi Climber

  • Weight limit of 240 lbs
  • Slightly expensive than the Conquer
  • Adjustable height
  • Digital display unit with several steps
  • I-year warranty
Conquer Climber

  • Weight limit of 275 lbs
  • Cheap than the Maxi Climber
  • Adjustable arms
  • Damages easily due to the nylon cord
  • 60-day warranty

3. Maxi Climber Vs Ancheer Vertical Climber

[img_center img_code=”61YmX2tfLLL” alt=”ANCHEER Vertical Climber 2 In 1 Climbing Machine Stepper” code=”B072Q1R5J2″]

It is a vertical climber that can be used at home or in your office as well as the gym. The built-in-exercise bike feature makes it unique and different from the Maxi Climber. Both units are easily assembled even with the added feature of a bike-like workout that comes with the Ancheer Climber.

It made with high quality alloy steel that ensures that the Ancheer is sturdy and lightweight. Not forgetting the LCD screen that will monitor all your progress as your mimic mountain climbing. The bike provides that you warm up your muscles before engaging in exercises. Its handles are covered with a thick sponge to add comfortability and a coated alloy steel that is health friendly as well as anti-rust paint. Even though the Maxi Climber is durable, you’re sure to use the Ancheer for years. The Climber or the exercise bike will give you service for many years because of the high-quality alloy steel that makes it. That’s right. You can enjoy high-intense complete body workouts for years.

The Maxi Climber is best for the whole body exercises in particular. However, if you’re looking for a vertical climber to help you in building leg muscles, the Ancheer has got you covered for an intense workout.

Maxi Climber

  • Weight limit of 240 lbs
  • Adjustable height
  • For body workouts
  • I-year warranty
Ancheer Climber

  • Weight limit of 330 lbs
  • Adjustable arms for different heights
  • Exercise bike for legs workout and warming up
  • No warranty

4. Maxi Climber Vs Merax Vertical Climber

[img_center img_code=”61cnliLYkXL” alt=”Vertical Climber Exercise Folding Climbing Machine by Merax” code=”B01I1KQKQS”]

The Merax Vertical Climber also mimics actions or steps of mountain climbing just like the Maxi Climber. Another Climber that will help you in losing weight and at the same time burn excess calories and improve cardiovascular system health.

The Merax body is made of steel alloy that will give you service for years and a sleek metal finish that looks classy. Just like the Maxi, this climber can be used either at home or the office because you can quickly assemble it and after your workouts you can disassemble it for storage. An added advantage to the Merax is that it comes with an isometric non-stick grip that allows you to workout with the much-needed comfort without having to strain.

Maxi Climber

  • Weight limit of 240 lbs
  • Has a workout timer
  • Very stable
  • Has a workout CD
Merax Climber

  • Weight limit of 330 lbs
  • No digital feedback
  • Unstable during vigorous exercise
  • No workout CD

How to Use the Maxi Climber Properly?

Assembly the Maxi Climber and adjust the height – You need to fix the climber according to your height and make sure to check that the handles are also correctly aligned.

Climb on board – You can just step on the foot pads as if you’re climbing up the stairs and grab onto the handles and start exercising as if you’re mimicking rock climbing. Legs and hand motion should correspond to each other as you exercise.

Warm up – You can always start by warming up by either performing short strides or long strides to give you that momentum when you begin the exercises.

Workout Routine – You should try out the routine that works for you. You can start with short workouts and as you progress you can shift to high-intensity workouts.

Cool down – Give yourself some intervals after exercising. Always give yourself some few minutes to rest before you climb off.

Conclusion

If you want to shed weight and increase your muscle build up as you maintain your heart health, then you should go for the Maxi Vertical Climber. That will provide you with very efficient anaerobic as well as aerobic workouts that are easy and fun to perform.

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Climbing Skills – How to Approach Highball Boulder Problems

Updated October 7, 2017 By

Highball boulder problems are long, difficult lines that are high off the ground. These challenges can bring about great reward once they are overcome, but safety and practice are key. It is easy to look at a rock that begs to be climbed and just have it, but a bit of planning can help make your highball boulder problems a bit safer. What is most important here, and cannot be stressed enough, is that you need to prepare for such climbs. This is not an undertaking that you enjoy as a beginner or intermediate. The risks involved mean that you need to be experienced.

How-to-Approach-Highball-Boulder-Problems

Practice Falling

Part of that experience is knowing how to fall. You might have seen top rope climbers trying this in climbing gyms, where they practice falls. It is a great thing to do. However, the key difference between top rope practiced falls and these falls is that you have no rope so you need to practice not only falling, but rolling. In all honesty, taking a Jiu Jitsu class or other martial arts beginner class where they emphasize falling and rolling would be a great way to get some practice in. Check out this safety video before you head out to your rock.

Part of your approach to highball bouldering problems is knowing at what points you can fall, and knowing that you have the ability to fall safely without injury. You might need to practice a problem for an entire season before you get it right, but you can’t practice anything if you get seriously injured out of zeal.

The last thing you want is to be up on a rock with your muscles spasms and hands slipping, wishing you had practiced a controlled fall. Start doing controlled falls inside a gym, but remember that sprains can still happen inside. Fall at bigger distances the more you gain comfort and pay special attention to your center of gravity. Use a pad if practicing your falls outdoors and always pinpoint your landing spot visually while falling. The more you practice this, the more comfortable you will feel.

Make Sure You Can Get Down

Figure out the descent before you start making your way up. Some descents are rather technical and you don’t want to end up stuck. Bring pads if there is a jump involved to pad your landing. It is very important that you look for a way down before you start making your way up. You should be mentally prepared for the route you are going to take up and down. More importantly, you need to be mentally prepared for your point of no return, the “no fall” zone. Once you reach this point, you cannot just fall and try again later. You have to continue. Always check rock quality and look out for questionable holds too. Keep that chalk bag full.

Big moves and techniques can also be acquired to improve your skillset. No matter how experienced you already are, learning new things can help. Look over this video on techniques applicable for such bouldering problems.

Set Up Your Landing

Set up a crash pad strategically so that you have highball safety. The number of pads you have is contingent upon the terrain. If you have flat terrain, put the pads where the highest fall potential is. Remember that vertical walls will result in a straight down fall but steep overhands will result in an angled fall. Leave no gaps or raised surfaces in your pad set up. If you are on uneven terrain, then position the setup so that there is a landing zone covering rocks or roots. Cover as much ground as you can. For more information on highball bouldering and arranging your landing, watch this short video.

Talk to Your Spotters

Make sure you have spotters too. Sure, when you are up on the rock you are personally responsible for yourself, but it doesn’t hurt to have some spotters on the ground to help guide you not just up, but back down. Spotters can help you to fall appropriately. They can set themselves up at points that offer the best viewing advantages, and from there they can help you on your way up or down, whether climbing or falling. This is important, not just for mental reassurance but for physical safety. Do not disregard the importance of having spotters on your side.

The Climb: Mental and Physical Demands

How to Approach Highball Boulder Problems.1

During the climb, you will need to achieve a higher state of mind, a different mental flow than you do with other climbs. Bouldering requires focus and concentration always, but it requires more of it with highball bouldering, and a longer amount of it. With highball boulder problems, you need to commit with confidence. This takes practice. You have to fight to the end of your mental and physical strength. Fear can either paralyze you or stimulate you. Use your fear to stimulate yourself through cruxes. Practice techniques to calm yourself midway through. If, for example, you start to feel shaky, then start to picture molasses flowing through your body, slowing down any trembling.

Loosen up too. You want to keep tension in your muscles to hold onto the wall without over-gripping. Over-gripping will drain energy you need for later. During your rests, shake and stretch your arms, and get some more chalk on your hands. Relax your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on a flawless execution for every move. It is best for you to put the extra effort into grabbing your holds perfectly. If you do not execute correctly, adjust as little as possible so as to retain valuable energy for later. If you lose focus, re-center. You want to keep your mental composure the entire way up, and deep breathing can help to keep your mind engaged while you make it through the crux.

Working Your Way Up

As you begin to tackle a highball bouldering problem, there are two schools of thought as to what you do next. After your prep work has been done and you have practiced falling more times than you can count, you can do one of two things.

1. First, you can familiarize yourself with the route ahead of time by completing the line top roping before you try it bouldering. Knowing the moves ahead of time can really help you to enjoy the climb and give yourself the confidence you need. One of the things you can do is top roping. This is a great way to scope out the good or bad holds, the fall zones, and the cruxes. You can also check out the summit and look for bolts. Established highballs should have bolts. Take advantage of these better bouldering tips too.

How to Approach Highball Boulder Problems.2

2. Second, you can go at it without any background knowledge to challenge yourself even more. You can choose to do it from the ground up, as they say. This means you have no knowledge of the moves until you reach them. This is a rather old-school method, one that is truer to the ethics of bouldering, but the rock isn’t going to care which one you use. If you use this method it will save you having to set up the rope ahead of time, but of course it comes with more risk. Route finding can be a serious challenge when you are more than 20 feet off the ground, and you might not be that comfortable with your abilities.

How to Approach Highball Boulder Problems.3

So, this choice is up to you. You can choose whichever is better for you based on your given skillset at the time. While bouldering is typically done sans ropes, an upper top rope belay or safety rope might be something you use the first time, and then ditch as you become more advanced.

Conclusion

Overall, you need to remember that highball bouldering is dangerous no matter your skillset. Your choice to climb that high off the deck sans ropes is not a choice you should make lightly. Do not feel pressured to climb a line with which you are uncomfortable in any way.

Often fellow climbers make the mistake of pressuring others into a climb because, while well intentioned, they think the person is afraid and with a bit of peer pressure that fear will go away. You might be afraid because you know that your skillset is not up to snuff, or you might just need a bit of motivation from your friends. Figure out which one it is and do not let someone else pressure you into taking this risk is you are not ready.

Take into consideration all of the risks and how you can reduce them. Highballing is a rewarding personal endeavor, but do not take it until you are ready. Achieving the meditative tranquil mindset required for such focus can be an addictive process. But remember that just because you have done it once, or done it one hundred times, does not mean you can’t get hurt. It does not mean there are no risks. And it certainly does not mean you will be able to easily tackle your next project.

Find that perfect balance between safety and pushing your limits, and always know that you can try again later.

Best Women’s Climbing Shoes 2019 – A Guide for Women

Updated October 2, 2017 By

Best Women’s Climbing Shoes

What brand, or better yet pair of shoes, are the best climbing shoes for women? Well, the selection of women’s climbing shoes is ever growing and year after year there are many newer selections available. The reason there are so many options, and no easily defined “best” overall is because rock faces vary around the world. There are volcanic boulders throughout California, granite cracks in Tuolumne, limestone in Greece, red rocks in Germany, not to mention the plastic indoor parks. So with so many types of rock, edges, pockets, and cracks, it is easy to see how different shoes might perform better under different circumstances.

Shoes need to be sensitive to your feet, fitting well enough that you can grip with your toes or hook with your heel, but also still be comfortable when your feet are swollen at the end of a long day bouldering. You want them to be easy to use, come on and off with ease especially when your hands are covered in chalk dust. That is why we have reviewed different shoes so you can figure out which women’s shoes are the best shoes for you!

Types of Climbing Shoes

Buying climbing shoes is an arduous process for anyone from beginner to novice. Unlike running shoes, you cannot just walk in and find your size, then be on your merry way. You have to try on each type of shoe, not just the sizes, but the brands, and then the different shoes from different boxes that are “the same size”.

Women’s climbing shoes are different than men’s. This seems obvious, but until recently women had to buy unisex or men’s shoes and it just wasn’t the same. Now, aside from color, women’s climbing shoes are built differently. They are often a bit narrower, especially in the heel. They tend to have higher arches, narrower toe boxes, and longer toe boxes. Most women’s shoes also have a lower instep. These differences can really enhance the fit especially for women who used to struggle with narrow feet inside bigger unisex shoes.

So which styles of shoes are out there?

Well, before you start picking out shoes, understand that the shoe you want is really based on how you will use it. Shoes come in different styles, and some shoes are more specialized than others. Many climbers think they need a quiver of shoes, one for each type of activity or style of climbing, and others want just one shoe for everything. Basically, there are four main types of climbing shoes:

1. Aggressive shoes for bouldering and sport climbing

Aggressive shoes for bouldering and sport climbing

These are high end shoes for bouldering and sport climbing, specifically designed to be worn in steep terrain. Of course, the terrain is not the only thing that is steep; their prices are higher too. They are aggressively turned down, meaning you look at the shoe and it is bent over at both ends before your foot even gets inside. These models are meant to be worn for a single pitch, then removed. They are not comfortable to wear long term. Given the curve of the shoe, your toes are pushed down to the front of the shoe. These are worn tight, meaning they need to feel too tight on your feet, so that you can enjoy higher sensitivity and really feel your way around through the shoe.

2. Traditional shoes for climbing and cracks

Traditional shoes for climbing and cracks

Shoes that you wear all day for climbing, or jam inside cracks have a flitter toe and their design is more symmetrical. However, they typically have a slight downturn which helps you to be more precise on your technical climbs. Shoes like this can be sized up (meaning you get a size bigger than a tight fit) so that you can wear them on all day routes (where your feet will typically swell by the end of it) or sized down (the opposite, where you get a size smaller) so that they offer a performance fit. These are the best options for a multi-pitch route.

3. All around shoes for more versatile climbing

All around shoes for more versatile climbing

Some shoes are designed to take on anything. These models are great for that person who wants just one pair of shoes for all of their climbing activities. Even if you do have more advanced shoes, you will probably want that one pair that you can grab on days you don’t really know what you might climb. These shoes have a slight turn down and offer a comfortable but sensitive fit. They can be sized up for better comfort or sized down for a tighter feel. There are loosely fitted models that you can wear for your all-day routes.

4. Beginner shoes

Beginner climbing shoes

When you are new, you want beginner shoes. Your footwork will probably be terrible, and you won’t really have developed the muscles or techniques needed to be balancing on a single toe on a ledge no wider than a fingernail. So, inexpensive beginner shoes are best here. You will wear them out as you learn more techniques and once you get the hang of it you can start to really find a more specialized shoe that brings out your best techniques. These have a flatter design and are more comfortable, with an inexpensive price tag to boot.

How to choose the best climbing shoes for women

How to choose the best climbing shoes for women

When it comes to choosing the best climbing shoes for women you want to base that on fit. Understand that out of these four types of shoes, the amount of downturn makes shoes more specialized for various types of climbing. Understand as well that the more a shoe is turned down the more volume you will have for your toes to bunch up in the front. If you purchase a shoe which is downturn a lot will have a lot of extra space above your toes but this can be uncomfortable when you climb. For a more aggressive shoe, you want a more comfortable fit. It should be painful but it should fit snugly so that there isn’t a lot of extra room.

Tightness is another aspect to the fit of your climbing shoes which is up for debate. There are basically two schools of thought. One school states that your shoes it should be very very tight to the point that they are painful. But the other school thinks that your shoes should be bigger and much more comfortable. If you have really tight shoes this is perfect for sport climbing when you need higher sensitivity on tiny little flip chips oranges because this can make all the difference between achieving your run and falling off. But remember you don’t want to size your shoes so that it is excruciating. If you are wearing your shoes for a long period of time, such as in all day bouldering outing, having that really tight fit can actually make you climb worse because you will be less likely to put any pressure on your toes because of the pain. So that is why some people want bigger shoes which are not so tight that they caused discomfort. The theory behind this is that your feet will swell the more you are out and being active so if they fit without socks comfortably with a little extra room that is fine for long-term climbing because as you make your way through the day your people swell and fill up that extra room without the shoes becoming excruciating.

Then there is the consideration of stretch. Once you figure out how tight you want your shoes, you need to figure out how much you want them to stretch. Pay attention to the materials used so that you can decide how much it might stretch. For example: some shoes have a leather design which means they will stretch more than those which are synthetic.

Reviews 2019: The 10 Best Climbing Shoes for Women

Best Climbing Shoes for Women Reviews

1. Ocun Ozone Lady

The design is great for beginners, with Velcro straps and a shoe tongue that is sewn in place. This keeps it from moving around as you slip your shoes on and off. A decent price too, they offer strong grip and precision. Whether you are wearing them outdoors or practicing indoors, they will give beginners a good feel for what it means to grip a boulder, ledge, or crack with your toes.

Ocun Ozone Lady

Pros:

  • They fit well, especially for beginners.
  • Velcro straps.

Cons:

  • They are somewhat expensive and can be harder to find depending on where you live.

2. La Sportiva Solution – Women’s

These are extremely comfortable if you want a downturned shoe. This is the shoe to buy if you want an aggressive fit. Better than comparable shoes. In terms of the ultimate in aggressive shoe, this is it. It has one of the most dramatic downturns but is still remarkably sensitive with a lot of comfort. The sole has a soft feel to it, not a stiff one. Yet, you will feel it mold to your foot and help your foot conform to the wall so that you get the best precision possible. With a soft tongue, you can enjoy a snug fit to help you take down your most challenging of projects. For steep or difficult climbing, this truly is a winner.

La Sportiva Solution Athletic Sneaker Climbing Shoe - Womens

Pros:

  • They are aggressive for sport climbing.
  • They are very sensitive and precise on any type of rock face.

Cons:

  • They are specialized, so they are only meant for aggressive sport climbing.
  • They are really expensive.

3. La Sportiva Tarantulace – Women’s

These shoes are perfect for beginners, the ideal shoe for a first time buyer. They are cheap, with leather upper and a flat shape. They can be used for most styles, and will remain comfortable. This is one of the best budget models for beginners out there. As a beginner, if you want an inexpensive and comfortable shoe, you want this one. Climbers who are new are often not ready for an aggressive shoe with its shape or feel. Moreover, new climbers who are inexperienced but wear an aggressive shoe will likely blow out the rubber with poor footwork. It is better to get a flatter shoe that is more comfortable, like this one. This might be one of the cheaper shoes out there, but it certainly isn’t one of the worst in performance. It is a great value for its cost and lets you really push on edges when you are climbing for the first time.

La Sportiva Women's TarantuLace Performance Rock Climbing Shoe

Pros:

  • These shoes are inexpensive.
  • They have leather for the top part.
  • They are a comfortable fit.

Cons:

  • They are not really specialized, so this is bad for experienced climbers but great for beginners.

4. La Sportiva Miura – Women’s

These shoes are solid and have Velcro. They have a more aggressive fit and a distinct down turn. They are great for sport climbing or specialized bouldering. These are truly among the best shoes you can buy. They stand out above the rest in terms of their versatility, their precision, and their performance. Women can use these for steep technical climbing by buying them tight. They can be purchased looser for all day routes as well. In either case, they become the perfect chameleon for all types of rocks including limestone and granite. This might just be the best shoe for your all around, go-to shoe.

La Sportiva Miura Shoe - Women's

Pros:

  • These have a padded heel.
  • You get a precise feel while wearing them.
  • They are great for edging.

Cons:

  • They are really expensive.
  • They are not the best for beginners because they are more aggressive and advanced.

5. La Sportiva Katana – Women’s

These are decent in fit, shape, and price. They are a bit downturned, but you can use them for slightly less aggressive climbing.

La Sportiva Katana Climbing Shoe - Women's

Pros:

  • These shoes mold to your feet really well.
  • They have a precise toe fit.
  • They are versatile, so you can wear them on different adventures.

Cons:

  • The heel cup is a bit baggy, so it might not be a good fit for everyone.

6. Five Ten Anasazi LV

These shoes are an all around climbing shoe that has high performance, is comfortable, and very grippy. With a flatter profile, they are good for someone who wants Velcro straps and a nice fit.

Five Ten Women's Anasazi LV Climbing Shoe

Pros:

  • The rubber is very sticky.
  • They are comfortable.
  • You get great precision and sensitivity wearing them.

Cons:

  • These are made for narrow feet so many woman who has larger feet might not fit into them.

7. Evolv Shaman LV

This shoe has bulky toe areas but eventually they will grow on you (no pun intended). They are a nice aggressive shoe that is comfortable and perfect for sport climbing.

evolv Women's Shaman LV Climbing Shoe

Pros:

  • These are comfortable for downturned shoes.
  • They are perfect for aggressive climbing and cheap when you consider their specialized design.

Cons:

  • The unique shape with its striking downturn can take some getting used to.
  • These shoes retain bacteria more than others and that means they start to smell much worse after long use.

8. Evolv Elektra

These are great shoes if you are buying your first set of shoes, or you need to buy shoes on a budget. At a cost below $100, it can be a relief to see their price tag after hours of expensive shoe reviews. The rubber is more durable than other shoes because of their unique Variable Thickness Rand.

Evolv Elektra Climbing Shoe - Women's

Pros:

  • They are inexpensive
  • Comfortable
  • Variable thickness rand

Cons:

  • They seem to fit too flat.
  • They are low around the heel, which is bad when you are trying to heel hook something.

9. Five Ten Blackwing

These shoes are one of the more aggressive you will find. They do, however, have some issues with fit and won’t stay comfortable for long.

Five Ten Women's Blackwing Climbing Shoe

Pros:

  • These are sticky and good on most rock faces.
  • The shoes are aggressive and precise.

Cons:

  • Not for beginners, as they are aggressive design and expensive.
  • They are sized extra small, so be warned.
  • There is too much curve on one side.
  • The heel cup is loose.

10. Scarpa Techno X

Scarpa Women's Techno X Climbing Shoes & E-Tip Glove Bundle

This shoe is redesigned and has a nice flat shape with stiffness that makes it perfect for all day routes. The shoe feel good and has laces which run diagonally across the shoe so that they don’t get torn to bits inside cracks. You can wear them all day. For women who want to enjoy all day wear, this comfortable fit, stiffer midsole, and flatter shape lets you fit into cracks comfortably but still wear the shoe all day. Perfect for long term practice on any type of rock in any type of environment.

Pros:

  • Precise and stiff, they give you a great feel on the rock.
  • Even though there are laces, they are placed thoughtfully.
  • The shoes are durable.

Cons:

  • They run rather small.
  • They really only fit narrow feet.

Conclusion

Overall, there are many things to consider when you are buying shoes. It is entirely up to you to determine which parameters are most important for you. You can get all the advice from other climbers that you want, but in the end, it comes down to what you prefer, where you will be bouldering, and your budget. One of the best ways to find shoes that you like without investing a lot of money is to find a local bouldering gym indoors or outdoors. At these locations you can rent shoes. So you can start off by renting shoes, and asking to try different brands that they offer regularly. This will give you a literal feel for the shoes on different runs. This can help provide some hands on (or feet on) experience with each pair before you buy.

The Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Bouldering

Updated September 27, 2017 By

Are you interested in bouldering? Have you seen those crazy bouldering gyms springing up in random warehouses, full of brightly colored and oddly shaped mounds sticking out of the walls? Have you watched climbers make their way up a cliff while you hiked by?

Bouldering is a great sport, one you can do indoors or outdoors, and it helps to cultivate stronger bodies, especially the fingers, wrists, arms, and back.

First off, bouldering is not to be confused with top rope climbing or rock climbing. While both take place on a rock, bouldering does not involve any ropes or harnesses or carabiners. It just involves you (and maybe some chalk).

How-to-Outdoor-Bouldering

Practice

If you are brand new to bouldering, try to find an indoor gym (or better yet, one with an indoor/outdoor facility) so that you can practice.

*Note* Your hands will become very dry after bouldering, because the chalk dries them out. Use lotion to combat this. Also be aware that you will probably get blisters on the insides of your hands after about one hour. Most people do not last much longer than this their first time because it is a sport that takes all of your energy, and with blistered hands, you can’t really use your hands painlessly to keep climbing. Give it time, practice regularly, and the blisters will stop in their severity once you form calluses.

This video is well worth watching, as it explains different aspects of finger holds, runs, how to use your body, and how to climb using different holds. All of this is important because in nature, different types of rock will present different challenges for you, different holds. Rocks and cliff faces in Italy, for example, are more porous, easier to hold on to while the red rock you find in Germany and France is very slippery.

Find climbing boards so that you can feel out the holds with 5, 4 or even 2 fingers. Practice as much as you can with different holds, different projects (the term for a single route for which you are trying to find a solution).

Think of climbing as a geometric pattern. Your body needs to make its way up in the smoothest way, spreading yourself against the wall and hoisting yourself up with the perfect geometric solution. When you go outdoors, you won’t find color coordinated runs, holds that meet only your level of climbing, or any of the other things that you do at an indoor gym (unless you start climbing in an outdoor facility rather than somewhere in nature). That does not mean you cannot apply the same lessons you learn indoors, outdoors.

1. Before You Climb

How to Outdoor Bouldering.1

  • Get the right shoes.

How to Outdoor Bouldering.2

When you start out, the one thing you will need are climbing shoes. If you go to indoor/outdoor facilities they will usually rent these to you for a nominal fee. Different brands offer different levels of support, different degrees of bends for the arch. You will need to physically try them on before you buy. This is not something you can easily do on the internet. Here is a link that might help you out.

The biggest things to remember is that you want them tight. The shoes should be tight when you put them on, and only get tighter when you keep climbing. They are really meant to be a lean extension of your feet so tight shoes help your actual feet grasp the rock on which you are climbing. More importantly, you should not wear socks with the shoes. If you are renting or borrowing shoes, you might simply want to wear socks for the hygienic purposes though, some more advanced climbers are picky about this. Do what makes you comfortable with rentals. Once you own a pair of shoes, you might want to get some sort of spray to use after a climb because you will spend all day sweating in them while you climb.

  • Grab some chalk.

How to Outdoor Bouldering.3

Chalk is handy because it keeps your hands from slipping when they start to sweat. And you are going to need it the longer you are bouldering. Liquid chalk is a small bottle that you can easily carry with you and squeeze onto your hands. This liquid, as the name suggests, turns into a coating of chalk over your hands. The appeal here, compared to a traditional bag of chalk, is just that it won’t explode dust into the wind each time you get more chalk.

2. When You Climb

How to Outdoor Bouldering.4

  • Use your whole body.

A lot of newcomers are tentative, and they try to just monkey climb their way up a route using their arm strength. This will wear out your arms quickly, and you never know when you need to conjure up the last of your arm strength. So, just like lifting something heavy: use your legs. Bring your whole body into things. Make use of your legs to push you to the next hold rather than trying to pull your body upwards. Use your hands to brace yourself against the rock so that you have more leverage. These are all things you start to get the-literal-feel for the more you boulder.

The reason you want to use your legs, keep your body pressed against the wall as much as possible, is because this changes your center of gravity. Such a simple change (and yes, a difficult one to make a habit because we instinctively want to lean away from the wall to look up and around us) can alleviate the pressure in your arms and make it easier for all of your weight to be moved upward with your legs. Watch this video for more information and some visual examples of this change and how effective your body position can be.

  • Bring a mat.

If you are not at a facility where mats are provided, bring one. You don’t want to fall and hit the ground.

  • Take breaks.

Take breaks in between runs. It can seem appealing to get right back up and try a run after you have fallen, or successfully made it to the top, but your body needs a few minutes to recuperate.

  • Know the local rules.

There are famous bouldering sites all over the world, but different states and countries have different rules.

For example: In parts of America, you cannot use just any old chalk. You need a special chalk that will not erode the rocks. In parts of Europe, you cannot use chalk at all outdoors. Germany, for example, requires that if you go bouldering outdoors, you bring a mat to place at the base of the rocks in case you fall. Sure, there might not be officials around who stop you to check that you are lugging a mat around with you, but it is always better to be on the safe side.

Conclusion

There is a lot more to learn if you want to become a professional climber, but for those who just want to start out, you really just need some shoes and a positive attitude. If you fall, that’s what the mat is there for. Get back up and try it again!

Once you start, outdoor hikes can quickly turn into impromptu bouldering sessions as you start to eyeball the rock formations around you and visualize everything in nature as a project. In these cases, you probably won’t have your shoes or your chalk, but you can still have a run at the wall and see how far you get!