O started climbing in sprtiva enduros brd. lasted shoes but found that they didn't have enough flexability for smaller cracks. I couldn't climb a .10 finger crack in them, so I bought mythos. and yes there is pain when climbing. and when you foot strenght will help... I don't think there is ONE shoe that does all things, so I am working on having an arsinale of shes... that said on a climb where I don't know what I am going to get or there is a variety in crack sizes, I want my mythos even if my feet do hurt at the end if the day.