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collegekid
Aug 27, 2002, 4:01 AM
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At la jolla cove in san diego, there are some sandstone cliffs on the beach. I did some climbing there barefoot, thanks to the sand landings. I think it's more fun then climbing in shoes, cuz everything seems more difficult. Anyone else climb barefoot?
Just wondering, if you climbed barefoot consistently, could you become a better climber barefoot than with shoes? The ULTIMATE in sensitivity. Also, i think skin has better friction than rubber.
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needtolearnhowtoclimb
Aug 27, 2002, 4:26 AM
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I climbed barfoot once. The bottoms of my little feeties got pretty roughed up so i havent done it since.
Joshua "the savior"
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blindslap
Aug 27, 2002, 4:42 AM
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tears the hell out of your feet. unless you've got leather skin your gonna get pretty screwed up.
I don't think bare feet would be better than shoes because of super tiny edges and stuff. Your toes would rock with small pockets though. oh, it might be really painfull to foot jam in bare feet
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madturtle
Aug 27, 2002, 4:46 AM
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I did some barefoot bouldering once. We were in this huge limestone cave Everything was all pockety and overhanging. So you could grab the pockets with your toes better than you could with shoes. The landing was beach sand, unbelievable. I had a blast and would love to go back. Unfortunatly the cave is 40 miles down the grand canyon so the approach is a 1-2 week boat ride.
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the_elk
Aug 27, 2002, 4:47 AM
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I was out at Mt. Araps a couple of years ago and with two of my mates and got chatting to a guy over from Germany. He wanted to have a go at the climb we were on (he was travelling alone) and being the friendly lil' Aussies that we are we said sure. He borrowed one of our harnesses and didn't want to go back and get his shoes and proceeded to climb up a grade 17 (5.9) called Swinging, barefoot.
I was gobsmacked! I was in awe of this guy... I thought he was the most hardcore dude ever, because some of the holds on that climb hurt, they're quite sharp. But up he went.
Inspired by this I did a highball boulder problem later that year at Mt. Araps. barefoot, and quite enjoyed myself... it was the hoorid decent off the boulder that hurt... haven't done it since.
Cheers
Elk
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boretribe
Aug 27, 2002, 5:10 AM
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I've done some barefoot bouldering over at Stoney Point. It's the glass on the ground that worries me more than the stone. I guess it's just one more incentive not to fall.
I can't climb as hard barefoot as I do with shoes, but I love the feeling of the rock on my feet. Pump Traverse at Stoney is a nice barefoot problem.
Is not life a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves?
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galt
Aug 27, 2002, 5:38 AM
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I only wear Birkenstock sandals (I can get away with that in Florida), but that isn't cool if I see a neat problem and don't have my shoes. I often climb barefoot and really get into it. Sure it hurts, but it beats wearing my Birks. Once, just for kicks, I actually chalked up my toes. Didn't make a difference, but it's still cool to say I've chalked up my feet.
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apollodorus
Aug 27, 2002, 5:50 AM
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I think it was in the "Vertical World of Yosemite" (thanks, Galen Rowell, for that great book. Sorry to see you go so early from us . . . ), but I remember seeing a drawing of a guy doing the second ascent of Half Dome. The leader was barefoot, with the Big Toe hooked over one of Anderson's large metal spikes, as he tried to lasso a higher spike.
Barefoot on face and slab can be cool. Being able to feel the rock so well . . . In cracks, well, I wouldn't try it.
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metoliusmunchkin
Aug 28, 2002, 9:58 PM
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Beware The Barefooted Bambino!
Click on image.
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sharmagod
Aug 29, 2002, 1:28 AM
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Munchkin....(The Hardcore climber)....good stuff man.
Jason
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bighigaz
Oct 24, 2002, 1:50 AM
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So now we know who's toe-jam greased me off the wall last week!!!! Gross! Climbing barefoot is good for the soul. We need to build up our "indian feet!" Plus, that big toe sure can dig in to some nice pockets! Ouch!
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philbox
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Oct 24, 2002, 2:51 AM
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I sailed up a crack climb once in my bare feet. The climb is called Materialistic Prostitution, Oz grade 18. Surprised the heck out of the guys I was with when I got to the top. It`s a great feeling being so one with the rock.
...Phil...
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overlord
Oct 31, 2002, 1:52 PM
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i climbed barefoot for fun and i dont believe that you can be better barefoot than with shoes, because shoes support the foot, not to mention that robber has far better friction on rock than skin. and sweating doesnt affect it.
CLIMB ON
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murmeltier
Oct 31, 2002, 2:29 PM
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In Saxiona in Germany in the Elbsandsteingebirge (a sandstone climbing area) barefoot climbing has a long tradition !
Stephan
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lostangel
Oct 31, 2002, 3:41 PM
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I know someone who climbed barefoot at the Gunks and got a flapper on his big toe it blead like crazy too, that was probably one of my first impressions of him (that he was a nutball) and he is!
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lilred
Oct 31, 2002, 4:51 PM
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Go Milli go!!
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mtnsprts
Oct 31, 2002, 5:00 PM
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I have tried it in the gym before. I found that it works well and provides a better feel for the rock. However, it is a bit painful and in the end, I prefer shoes.
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high_times
Oct 31, 2002, 5:28 PM
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The only barefoot climbin I do is when I'm campusing.
Pretty hardcore dude...you must have caveman feet.
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fireclimber
Oct 31, 2002, 6:00 PM
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I have done it outside plenty of times, but that tends to grease the holds. I like to do the roof in my bouldering cave at home barefoot, actually prefer it. I did pull a calf muscle on the roof because my toes were stretching and pulling so much.
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wv5ten
Nov 11, 2002, 2:50 PM
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Ive worked a few problems barefoot and I think its fun and especially good if you spot what you think is a good problem and don't happen to have your shoes with you.
Thing is I've been playing soccer since I was 4, so my feet are pretty much indestructible (now that I said that I'm going to get a huge flapper soon and not be able to walk )
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hangover
Feb 6, 2003, 3:44 AM
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i love it in small doses b4 ur feet start to hurt too bad. the only problem is sweaty feet, i guess i just need chalk on them too.
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greengecko
Feb 6, 2003, 3:50 AM
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Barefoot climbing is fun and all you u said it hurts to climb barefoot, well didnt it hurt the first time u used a hand jam or climbed ur hands to the bone? enough calises can help
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ambler
Feb 6, 2003, 3:52 AM
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Barefootin' was popular among some top climbers (Henry Barber and Jim Dunn, among others) in the early 1980s. Not for bouldering, but on honest 5.9+ and harder trad leads, some of them serious.
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alpnclmbr1
Feb 6, 2003, 4:01 AM
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barefoot on sandstone is fun, skin stick good to it, kelly canyon is perfect, red rocks is good to
Skip guerin used to lead Cryogenic at independance pass barefoot 11c crack in the 80's
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tonygrieb
Feb 6, 2003, 5:01 AM
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I forgot my shoes once at Joshua Tree. . Now that Rock is rough on the toes. All the micro cuts were super itchy for days . On the otherhand this overhanging boulder problem at Corona Del Mar was quite fun barefoot.
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