Do rock climbing shoes damage your feet?

Rock climbing shoes that are too tight can potentially cause damage to your feet, some of the most common being muscle pain and bunions.

Climbing shoes should be tight and snug, but not too tight. Climbing shoes should not cut off or reduce circulation to your feet, and should not cause lasting pain even when taking them off.

Wearing climbing shoes that are too tight can also be dangerous from a usage point of view. If you fall from a route or jump down, landing on your feet, due to the stiffness of your muscles, they may not be able to absorb that impact as well as they should, which could cause damage.

The key to reducing the possibility of damage and pain is to choose climbing shoes that actually fit you and the shape of your feet.