l am going climbing for the first time using actual climbing shoes. l have heard some mixed advice and was wondering what you all thought.

sock or no socks with climbing shoes?

Definitely NO socks! Climbing shoes work best when they hold tight to ur foot. A sock will add a slippery layer between the shoe & ur skin, allowing the shoe to move when it should be holding. Shoes should fit tight to ur bare feet. Your heel should be locked securely & ur toes should be touching the front of the shoe. Some climbers say that the shoes should be so tight that they hurt to wear. l suggest u buy shoes that r very snug & avoid the pain until ur level of climbing reaches a higher point. Having said all of this, l have worn socks inside my climbing shoes when climbing in sub zero temperatures.

You have to take into consideration a couple of things. If ur just getting into the sport then l would suggest wearing NO socks. The shoe should be VERY snug & when u climb the shoe will actually form to ur foot. A sock can hinder the forming of the shoe. l have to situations in witch l use socks when climbing one is when its very cold l will wear a pair of socks to keep warm, but the shoes that l use for cold days with socks r just for that nothing else. when l have a full day of hard scrambling with some mixed climbs in between l will use a slightly over sized pair of shoes with socks so that l can comfortable climb & hike when l need to.

so for everyday shoes that u climb l would very much recommend NOT using socks. & in the future when u buy shoes try them on without socks to get a better fit

It really depends on where u r climbing & how long u r going to be wearing the shoes.

If u r just doing some indoor climbing or some short sport routes, l would say ''no socks''. This is the best place to break in the shoes, & wearing no socks will help heat up the shoes so they really mold & fit ur feet.

Also, it depends on how hard the route is - very hard routes will be harder if u wear socks. An easier route wo not be much problem is u wear socks & may be more comfortable if it is very long.

If u r doing a full day multi-pitch climb outside, l would break in ur shoes (as above) first & then l would consider a VERY THIN sock. Most climbing shoes do not cover the ankle - abrasions, cold, sun burn, etc can be a problem that can be cured by a very thin sock. l actually use the same shoes, loosen the laces up a little & use a very thin ''liner'' sock & it works very nicely for long routes.

Good Luck