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cmn003
Jul 29, 2013, 3:13 PM
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Registered: Jun 9, 2013
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Hi everyone!
I'm relatively new to the climbing community (less than 1 yr)
My wife is brand new, and I'm looking to buy her a pair of shoes. I just found an amazing deal on some high end shoes (shamans) however they are obviously MENS shoes.
So my question is, how common is it for women to wear men's rock climbing shoes? Does this happen at all?
I'm asking from both a technical way, as in design and fit, but also a social way, like is it weird in your opinion? (Yes your opinion does matter to me :)
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csproul
Jul 29, 2013, 3:17 PM
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Registered: Jun 4, 2004
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cmn003 wrote: Hi everyone! I'm relatively new to the climbing community (less than 1 yr) My wife is brand new, and I'm looking to buy her a pair of shoes. I just found an amazing deal on some high end shoes (shamans) however they are obviously MENS shoes. So my question is, how common is it for women to wear men's rock climbing shoes? Does this happen at all? I'm asking from both a technical way, as in design and fit, but also a social way, like is it weird in your opinion? (Yes your opinion does matter to me :)
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lena_chita
Moderator
Jul 29, 2013, 3:49 PM
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Registered: Jun 27, 2006
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cmn003 wrote: Hi everyone! I'm relatively new to the climbing community (less than 1 yr) My wife is brand new, and I'm looking to buy her a pair of shoes. I just found an amazing deal on some high end shoes (shamans) however they are obviously MENS shoes. So my question is, how common is it for women to wear men's rock climbing shoes? Does this happen at all? I'm asking from both a technical way, as in design and fit, but also a social way, like is it weird in your opinion? (Yes your opinion does matter to me :)
Many climbing shoes do not come in "men's" and "women's" versions. In fact, I would say that the MAJORITY of them come in just one unisex version.
Bandits are one such unisex model. I am not sure what lead you to conclude that it is a men's shoe model.
Whether it would fit your wife, or not, I cannot say. And nobody here can. She has to try it. Buying her a first pair of shoes without her trying them on is a recipe for wasting money, no matter how great a deal is.
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Gdog42
Jul 29, 2013, 10:00 PM
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Registered: Apr 18, 2013
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I have a friend who is quite short and as a result has smaller feet than the average guy. For sport I've seen him wearing a women's shoe- La Sportiva Miura Women's to be specific.
They work for him and he's the best climber I've ever known in person.
So as long as it fits good, it's ok to go ahead and use a shoe intended for the opposite sex. Just try it on and see how it feels.
Happy climbing.
(This post was edited by Gdog42 on Jul 29, 2013, 10:02 PM)
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kiwiprincess
Jul 29, 2013, 10:01 PM
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Registered: Oct 26, 2007
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A women's shoe is generally narrower with a smaller heel box, and less volume through the arch.
Problem area's could be deeper heel Pushing into achilles
some men wear women's and women wear mens it just depends on Weather they are comfy or not.
I prefer womens in a specific brand but have had another brand that was terrible fit.
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granite_grrl
Jul 29, 2013, 10:53 PM
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Registered: Oct 25, 2002
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Buying her high end shoes that don't fit her will mean she will get no advantage from those shoes. In fact, a well fitting pair of low end shoes might even perform better.
That being said, the label of "mens" and "womens" is loose. I've seen plently of men who wear the lady's version of the Katanas, while I personally find most women specific shoes too narrow.
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ianwatson
Jul 31, 2013, 2:29 PM
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Registered: Aug 31, 2010
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Women’s feet don’t fit because they have 7 toes whereas we only have 5 find a anatomy book.
But really climbing shoes have more to do with proper fit if I found women’s shoes that fit better I would were them.
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JohnCook
Jul 31, 2013, 4:17 PM
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Registered: Dec 27, 2006
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That was Queen Elizabeth. (not this one, the one before)
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