Anatomy of a Climbing Shoe

Parts of a Climbing Shoe

1. Heel loops – Use them to slip on climbing shoes with ease or clip them to a carabiner for easy carrying
2. Lining – Since you’re supposed to wear climbing shoes barefoot, a lining is added for comfort
3. Tongue tab – Found on slippers and velcro shoes, used for opening the shoe’s mouth for easy foot insertion
4. Tongue – Thin and sometimes padded for improved comfort
5. Closure system – Slipper, velcro, or laces, choose what you prefer. Some closure systems are good for specific styles of climbing
6. Upper – Almost all climbing shoe uppers are made of either unlined leather, lined leather, or synthetic leather, each with their own pros and cons
7. Toe rubber – Higher performance climbing shoes have rubber on top of the toe for toe scumming and hooking
8. Rand – Refers to the rubber covering the toe of a climbing shoe
9. Heel – Most climbing shoes make use of a slingshot heel (introduced by Five Ten in 1991)
10. Edge – The prominent end of a climbing shoe that allows you to stand on small edges
11. Last – What a climbing shoe is built around. Determines the shape and width of a shoe
12. Shape – Refers to the curvature of a climbing shoe. Flat-soled shoes offer more comfort, down-turned shoes offer more performance
13. Heel cup – Locks in the heel to prevent any movement or slipping
14. Heel rubber – The patch of rubber covering the heel that is crucial for heel hooking
15. Midsole – Many down-turned shoes lack a midsole in the arch to improve performance. Those with a midsole provide more comfort for standing on
16. Sole – Refers to the rubber underneath your forefoot, which is primarily what you climb on

Learn how to choose climbing shoes here