What kind of shoes can you rock climb wit? they need to be rock climbing shoes, can they be tight swim shoes?

It is not about the tight fit.it is about the edge and/or grip of the sole. Swim shoes may look like climbing shoes, but the sole is totally different. Climbing shoes have a hard sole with a lot of traction. Some have a sole better designed for smearing & some have really hard edges & toes made for getting into cracks.

You can climb in just about any shoe. Sneakers r a good substitute if u can not get rock shoes. l used sneakers for years & if u climb in a gym they're not bad. Vans worked really well for me in gyms.

If u shop around u can get a decent pair of rock shoes cheaper than u can get a new pair of running shoes.

It depends on how serious you are about taking on tough climbs, 5.10 and up. They're almost impossible without good rock shoes. From 5.11 on up, almost all the footholds depend on the rubber sole is excellent grip on rock, and you just can not get that with ordinary sports footwear. It'd be like asking if Indy 500 cars can get by with truck tires.

The bottom, edges & toes of climbing shoes r soled with ''sticky'' rubber. It is not sticky to the touch, but behaves different on the rock under pressure. Kinda like high friction rubber, soft so it grips, but hard enough so that it does not shred
Climbing shoes r as a rule tight fitting, very tight in the case of slippers, a bit less tight in the case of a board lasted all day multi pitch shoe. (board lasted means a stiff sole for better edging support for longer strenuous climbs)
climbing shoes force u toes to a slightly curved point, for better control. the more u climb, the more u will rely on ur legs & core for strength. good climbing shoes help utilise the contact point of this aspect.
l have used 5.10 shoes for a long time, but there r more makers.

that said, u can climb in lots of things. l have seen world class climbers climb very difficult routes in their running shoes! A good stiff soled boot is not bad for lots of climbing, just too stiff for smearing etc.
l would be very wary though of swimming/water shoes. They tend not to be constructed very roubustly & might fly off or destruct at a bad time.

I've been climbing for more than 12 years, but I've never heard of climbing in swimshoes.
Just get regular climbing shoes. l like SCARPA, but lots of people use FIVEten or BOREAL, LA SPORTIVA.there are so many. The climbing shoes should be tight, but too tight. You have to count on it that the shoes will stretch a little. Depens if they are leather shoes or synthetic, a good shop keeper should tell you.

one of the best climbers l knew always climbed barefoot. He reckoned feet had evolved for climbing, so why cover them up. He was, of course, a nutcase, but is still climbing l hope.