Kids rock shoes

[David_Parker]

Does anyone know where to get rock shoes for a 6 year old? Or... any suggestions on what would be a good substitute. I don't want to spend too much because kids outgrow them so fast. Right now he's climbing barefoot which is ok sometimes, but not really ideal. Thanks, Dave

[jon]

Marmot in Bellevue always has small shoes in their sale area.

[DPS]

David,

I have had good luck at Second Bounce. Also, my daughter who is now 13 has been wearing rock shoes since she was five. Some of her old shoes I traded in, some I still have. I would be happy to give you a pair. The pair she wore when she was six are Boreal Ninjas, in need of a resole. Let me know if you are interested and I can mail them to you or we can hook up.

[Lambone]

Vertical World in Seattle has tiny La Sportiva slippers. They are like mini Nijas, and go from size 1 up. Can't remember how much they cost off the top of my head. Give VW or Marmot a call. See Ya!

[Griff]

I've heard of people using resole kits on regular kid's tennis shoes.

[Retrosaurus]

David,

I just resoled a pair of my four-year-old's outgrown canvas tennie runners. They climb great, are more comfortable than climbing shoes and are loads cheaper. I soled them with 5.10 aqua-dot. It's thinner and so doesn't compromise the feel as much and still gives the kid a little traction for running around in the dirt. You need to get a belt sander and sand the soles until all the old tread is gone too, to keep the sole from ending up too thick and to get maximun adhesion for the new sole. You should be able to get him outfitted for about $15. We just did a three pitch climb at Peshastin and they worked really great.

[Cpt.Caveman]

I dont have any kids but you can resole tennies with C4 or other climbing rubber. I have had a pair of Garmont Sticky Weekends with climbing rubber for a couple of years. I use them for gym climbing and easier stuff to keep the wear and tear off my regular rock shoes. Works great! I also get stronger trying to sport climb in them on TR. Plus on some crack climbs they are way more superior than rock shoes.

-Cpt

[scott]

kid rock's shoes?!?

[haireball]

unless the kid climbs A LOT, consider renting shoes. when kids are growing fast, I've found this can be even cheaper than re-soling their old tennies. if the kid is climbing once a week or more, the resole route is definitely the way to go. The supply of rubber & glue in a single kit will probably last you to the teen years...

[David_Parker]

The resole of old tennies sounds good if I can't find cheap ones. Now, where do I buy soles and glue? I'm quite sure I can manage the belt sander thing!

Dave

[Retrosaurus]

Anywhere that resoles ought to sell you the rubber, and the cement is just neoprene based contact cement. You can use Barge's Cement or any other brand.

[David_Parker]

Hey Retro, does your 4 year old belay you when you lead? Or does he lead?

Seriously though, maybe I'll start a new thread about climbing with kids. Other than top roping, it can be tricky. For my first real rock climb with my kid, I tied him in on top rope about 3-4 ft. in front of me while my wife belayed. That way I was close by for moral support and technical help. My hands easily reached his feet. I also did a rapell with him dangling from a runner from my harness. He loved it.

I'd be curious to know some other climbing with kid techniques that work.