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Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/8100
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

<p>I recently went bouldering for the first time and liked it a lot. One thing I wondered about are the climbing shoes. The mostly form your feet to a very firm, compact package. So the following question came up in my mind:</p>

<p>Why don´t climbers embrace the power of their toes? Why can´t I find anybody climbing barefoot or in (toe-)socks or shoes like Vibrams fivefingers?<br>
Would it be worth a try or can I be sure it doesn´t work as well as climbing shoes?</p>

<p>_  </p>

<p>Of course, you would need to train your feet to get the strength you need. But considering the amount of training climbers put into their hands and fingers for things like "one-finger-holes" I think this is probably no good reason for not trying it with your feet...</p>

<p>I am primarily interested in indoor bouldering, but aspects for other types of climbing are welcome as well. I am aware that most gyms probably don´t want you to climb barefoot for hygienic reasons... </p>

<p>Some background:<br>
<a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/167">Here</a> whatsitsname describes for him climbing barefoot and in vibrams didn´t work well.<br>
<a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/5287/3143">This</a> question is about the use of vibrams five-finger shoes.<br>
<a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/5268/3143">This</a> closed question is about a specific five-finger model for climbing...</p>