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Stinky Climbing Shoes What to do?

wivanoff · · Northeast, USA · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 674
Chad Jarvis wrote:Use Stinky SHOO! By climbers, for climbers. www.stinkyshoo.com No sprays, no powder, no residue Fragrance-free Uses non-toxic activated charcoal from coconut husks and zeolite, a natural ammonia absorber Keeps shoes odor-free for about a year 100% made in USA
C'mon Chad, what's your relationship with StinkyShoo? You've only made three posts here and all were to promote the stuff.
Cory Harelson · · Boise, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,410
chris21 wrote:You must have a pair of Evolvs they pick up stank like no other
So true! Nice shoes, but man do they soak up the stink after a few hot days climbing!

A friend of mine had such stinky shoes that his girlfriend once made him tie them to the roof rack so that they wouldn't stink up the inside of the car on a road trip.
D Graham · · Washington, DC · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 972

I've never been worried about the smell but I don't like it when my feet slide around in the gunk build up in my shoe. I just tried the hydrogen peroxide and an old tooth brush trick with my moccasyms and it looked like it worked pretty well.

christopher adams · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

The very best thing i've done is put them in the dishwasher on the pots and pans cycle with regular machine dishwasher soap poured directly into the shoes. Dishwashing machine liquid is enzymatic and will remove all the dead skin and bacteria from the shoes. They look and smell brand new coming out and I haven't had issues with fit with synthetic shoes (maybe a little tighter the first wear).

Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433
christopher adams wrote:The very best thing i've done is put them in the dishwasher
Cleaning you climbing shoes
You filthy animal...

I just cleaned every shoe I own and did a epsom salts and baking powder foot bath thing, washed climbing shoes, now drying in dryer sheets. Probably look into a antibacterial spray. Something had to be done. The stink overwhelmed you for 2 of the rooms in my apt. And I air dry outside the pack every time... wasn't enough
wing thing · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 115

I just wipe the inside of the shoes down with some Chlorox (or Costco Kirkland brand) disinfecting wipes at the end of the day. It works well for even Evolv's. Spraying Fabreeze or leaving dryer cleaner sheets in your shoes only masks the smell but doesn't kill the bacteria or fungus breeding in your shoes.

Peep · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0
Chad Jarvis wrote:Use Stinky SHOO! By climbers, for climbers. www.stinkyshoo.com No sprays, no powder, no residue Fragrance-free Uses non-toxic activated charcoal from coconut husks and zeolite, a natural ammonia absorber Keeps shoes odor-free for about a year 100% made in USA
Where can you buy stinky shoo? I bought some a couple of years ago and they worked great, now I'd like to get some more but I can't locate them online anymore.
knowbuddy Buddy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 225

kitty litter

cdec · · SLC, UT · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 654

To keep em from getting funky in the 1st place wear socks and shoes to and while at the crag. Flips or Chacos after the climbing is done.

Keeps them way cleaner and the stank at bay fat longer than when you keep stuffing your dirty feet in them time and time again during a day at the crag.

When they do get the funk I start with a the sink with a scrub brush, soap and warm water. Repeat until until the process stops making mud. Then it's into the washer.

Good as new.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

(Not sure if this was put up.. Too lazy to read pages of ____)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmy9R_WtPbg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewalletpop%2Ecom%2Fblog%2F2009%2F08%2F24%2Fas%2Dseen%2Don%2Dtv%2Dis%2Daspray%2Dfor%2Dreal%2F%3Ficid%3Dmain%7Cmain%7Cdl3%7Clink4%7Chttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%2Ewalletpop%2Ecom%252Fblog%252F2009%252F08%252F24%252Fas%2Dseen%2Don%2Dtv%2Dis%2Daspray%2Dfor%2Dreal%252F&feature=player_embedded

jonathan.lipkin · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 70

Works for me:

amazon.com/Thursday-Plantat…

Though I don't buy through amazon anymore

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

Washing machine. I put my evolve in once a month and they smell and feel brand new.

jaredj · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 165

Zombie thread alert:

An experienced climber who works at my local gym asserted to me that throwing synthetic shoes in the washing machine can dramatically soften up the soles of some shoes. I have Anasazi VCSs, and his assertion was that the soles seemed soft to him when flexing by hand (we didn't have another new or unwashed pair of Anasazis nearby for a side-by-side comparison).

Anyone know if this is true? I didn't notice a dramatic softening of the shoe after washing them one time, but maybe my footwork is so bad that I just didn't notice.

Travis Kaney · · Green Bay, WI · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 420
knowbuddy wrote:kitty litter
+1 I think i remember reading on the Rubber Room's website that this is what they do with stinky shoes before resoling them.
Scott360 · · Las Vegas · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 520

Cedar shoe trees. I've been using these in my climbing shoes for a year now and no odor. Google it ; cedar works, and naturally, at that.

natureforkids · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0

Our son's Evolv climbing shoes are THE worst smelling shoes on the planet. We did a lot of research and found out what works to clean them. I made a video to help out whoever else was dealing with the STINK. youtu.be/a9Zxdh6VGL0

Walter Galli · · Las vegas · Joined Sep 2015 · Points: 2,247

I just put clothes detergent in a bucket of water and let them inside for 2 days, then rinse them off good with just water it works,but I will avoid the washing machine.

Rolf Rybak · · Penticton BC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 564

DO NOT PUT YOUR CLIMBING SHOES IN WATER OR A WASHING MACHINE!

Many climbing shoes use a cardboard stiffener, water will destroy the stiffener. Unless you positively know what the midsoles are made of, avoid immersing them in water.

The biggest problem with stinky climbing shoes is dirty feet. I see too many folks taking their climbing shoes off and walking around bare foot, the dirt and sweat gets transferred into the climbing shoes when they put them on again,creating a breeding medium for bacteria in the shoe.

Also take your shoes off between climbs and let the sweat evaporate, they aren't meant to be a comfy slipper to worn around the base of climbs.

Some synthetic shoes just don't allow your feet to breath, then I use Dr Scholls Odour Destroyer powder.

Q-man · · Calumet, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 230

Carry a seal a meal machine with an power adapter for the car.

Christopher Jackson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 0

Ok so there is a much better comprehensive cure to this problem. LAVELIN IS the answer to the stink shoe. It's amazing. It works as far as I can tell by promoting the growth of lacto bacteria which outcompete the stink making ones. Honestly only thing I have found that works. Available on Amazon under 10 quid and a tub will last a year. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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