Sitting on a stool of limestone at the bottom end of the bank, the sun to my face and the wind to my back, I watched a bird of prey glide in the sky above, scanning the bank for rodents or rabbits, four pigeons climbed and dived further to my right, cooing unrhythmically as they danced in the playful breeze. Here I had an extended moment of reflection on the climbs I’d done, the climbs I wanted to do, and the climbs I’m not sure I’m ready for, as our expedition nears its end.
While race-car inspired sport climbing shoes remain the most-desirable items on the climbing shoe market, anyone who's tried to climb an eight-pitch route in a pair of tight and sensitive high-performance shoes can attest to the associated foot pain. Most big routes are relatively low-angle, at least compared to the sport climbing cutting edge, and this requires a different style of shoe both for lasting performance and for comfort.