Barefoot Shoes for Climbers

Browse Minimalist-Style Approach and Recovery Shoes

Most outdoor climbing shoes are purposefully designed to be hard, pointy, and squeeze your toes. As soon as the climbing ends, your feet are begging for freedom. Your choice of footwear while you’re not climbing is important, and many climbers opt for barefoot shoes.

Barefoot-style footwear provides climbers with a wider, foot-shaped toe box, your toes can spread, relax, and move naturally. A flexible thin sole allows your feet will get used to safely feeling the terrain you’re on.

Browse Xero Shoes for climbing approach shoes to build up strength in your feet and ankles to wear before you climb. We also have recovery shoes that allow your toes to splay and relax after a hike.

Here are some of the shoes Alberto is talking about:

Climbing shoes are a must for serious climbers.

But what’s the best shoe to wear for approach? Or for when you finally get your feet out of those tight climbing shoes (and, maybe, want to take a dip in a canyon stream to cool off)?

Amateur climber, Tim Paskowski gave me a call to tell me what he’s been wearing and why he loves them:

Discover the rest of our line of naturally comfy, lightweight shoes, boots, and sandals here.

Foot and ankle strength are important for climbers. Dr. Sarah Ridge’s research demonstrated how simply walking in minimalist footwear can build foot and ankle strength as much as doing an actual exercise program designed to strengthen your feet (note: Xero Shoes weren’t used in the study since at the time of the study we only had sandals in our product line).

So when you’re not on a rock or in a climbing gym, you’ll love the comfort and benefits from natural movement that Xero Shoes can give you.