How to Mend Common Climbing Injuries

The products the pros use to keep their hands and feet happy and healthy

Problem: Ripe-smelling shoes

Solution: Pro climber and BASE jumper Steph Davis uses Dry Pointe inserts ($12.50 for two) to suck moisture out of her shoes and fight off bacteria.

Gear Review

There’s nothing as good as crisp, fall climbing conditions–but let’s face it, we get about 20 days per year MAX of actual climbing when it’s perfect like that   The rest of the time we need to deal with conditions, and we still love it, whether it’s a sweaty climbing gym or a greasy day in Yosemite or Rifle. Sweaty feet are a huge problem, partly because shoes get sloppy (and gross) and don’t last as long and also partly because they are a contributor to the pervasive athlete’s foot/toenail fungus that so many of us climbers fall victim to. Anything that can solve this problem is a wonderful thing indeed, and that’s why I am an enormous fan of DryPointe Shoe Inserts!

Gear to take on your next road trip

Originally created to keep ballet pointe shoes dry and odour free, these inserts are also ideal for keeping climbing shoes from going rancid. A good addition to any road trip equipment list.

DryPointe Shoe Insert Gear Review

Let’s face it. Nobody likes the feeling of strapping on a pair of still-wet-from-yesterday climbing shoes. It’s just gross and the ensuing odor can make it rather unpleasant for your climbing partners as well.

As it turns out, letting your climbing shoes exist in a permanent state of sweaty dampness is not only gross, but can also reduce the performance and life of your climbing shoes.

101 Gifts for Rock Climbers 

It is no secret that climbing shoes are stinky beasts. There are tricks to minimizing shoe odor, but the reality is that trapped sweaty feet lead to a build up in dead skin and bacteria. You can help your friends to fight the battle with a pair of dry pointe shoe inserts. These soft silica-filled balls will soak up the moisture inside climbing shoes and reduce the chance for bacteria to thrive. Get your friends to slip dry pointes into their shoes at the end of every climbing session to combat the smells and stretch the lifespan of their shoes. DryPointes can be “recharged” whenever their moisture-sucking abilities are used up.