How tight should climbing shoes be?

Snug with no dead space, toes flat to slightly curled for beginners. They should feel tight but not painful, and break in within a few sessions.

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What size climbing shoes do I need?

Climbing shoes are sized for performance, not comfort. Beginners fit close to street size; aggressive climbers downsize for a tight, sensitive fit. We list a beginner-friendly recommendation.

Size finder — enter your foot length (cm)

Enter your foot length to see your recommended size.

Climbing shoes size chart

Your foot length	Recommended size
foot 22.5 cm (US men 4.5)	EU 36 to 37 (beginner fit)
foot 23.5 cm (US men 5.5)	EU 37 to 38
foot 24.5 cm (US men 6.5)	EU 38 to 39
foot 25.5 cm (US men 7.5)	EU 39 to 40
foot 26.5 cm (US men 8.5)	EU 40 to 41
foot 27.0 cm (US men 9.5)	EU 41 to 42
foot 28.0 cm (US men 10.5)	EU 42 to 43
foot 29.0 cm (US men 11.5)	EU 44 to 45
foot 29.5 cm (US men 12)	EU 45 to 46
foot 21.5 cm (US men 3.5)	EU 35 to 36
foot 30.5 cm (US men 13)	EU 47 and up

How to measure

Measure your bare foot length in cm.
Beginner: fit snug with toes flat or barely curled.
Aggressive bouldering: downsize 1 to 2 EU sizes for a tight fit.

What changes your size

First pair / all-day comfort	Fit close to street size with toes flat.
Steep bouldering	Downsize for a curled, powerful toe.
Unlined leather shoes	They stretch up to a full size — start tighter.

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FAQ

How tight should climbing shoes be?: Snug with no dead space, toes flat to slightly curled for beginners. They should feel tight but not painful, and break in within a few sessions.