Do you Wear Climbing Shoes into the Gym Bathrooms ...

Joe Lindberg wrote:

I this doesn't bother me as much because hand are significantly dirtier than feet.  It's just that feet have a certain "dirty" stigma, which is partly true.

Ya, it’s more just knowing how funky some of those feet are in the climbing shoes that gets me. 

Jake Jones wrote:

No stars.

It would be a perfect name for a route near the Uberfall bathroom in The Gunks.

I don't think the study compares the fecal veneer on climbing holds to other common occurrences---the world is pretty much covered in shit, and unless climbing holds are far more densely contaminated than other surfaces, they're just part of the bacterial background noise we live with every day.  For example, 20% of women's handbags tested, according to a CBS News report (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/handbags-may-contain-more-germs-than-average-toilet-flush/), had fecal contamination levels comparable to toilet flush handles.

I observe the rules in my climbing gym.  But since skin and hands are the primary ways bacteria are transferred, it isn't clear that we should be all that worried about what's sticking to the sticky rubber, and even so the question remains  whether climbing holds are really any different than all the other surfaces we touch. 

No, but it can't be worse than climbing the Nose!

;)

Germs have no problem moving from the bottom of your feet, to the climbing mat, then to the bottom of people’s climbing shoes.  All this happens no matter what you wear to the bathroom.

I understand the science and I'm not arguing the idea that its more unhygienic than any other transfer of germs, but it just seems to cross the line of poor etiquette. It was my pet-peeve, I may be opening the forum too much, but are there other unwritten laws that ppl annoy you with? 

ie: The guy who ties into a popular route and then spends literally 5 minutes being chatty with his friends before he even touches the wall. 

the gym equivalent of 'THAT GUY' - mine is the bathroom climbing shoes guy ...

Exactly how many people have gotten sick as a result of someone else wearing climbing shoes to the bathroom and then climbing afterwards? I'm going to go with zero. Worry about things that actually require worrying about. Of all the sketchy things I've seen in gyms, this doesent even make the top 1,000 list.

That which does not kill you makes you stronger.

That said after a session at the gym, I wash my hands really really well. Further, I have a gym bag and everything in it is gym only.

the schmuck wrote:

What kind of a gumby goober walks around in their climbing shoes? Let alone to the bathroom? Look, if you want to cover the soles of your shoes with urine and poo, fine. But, keep in mind that walking around in them reduces their life span. Bring a pair of flip flops for Pete's sakes. 

100% of the time the first thing to go on a pair of my climbing shoes is the toe. I don't think that walking around has a noticeable effect of how fast they wear out.

You know what is really gross? The display of your smartphone. You are fingering it all the time, then you store it in a nice warm place (trouser pockets) where bacteria are multiplying like crazy.

Climbing chalk kills 99.9% of all bacteria including fecals and ecolis......same as Lysol....... ;)

I try really hard not to stand in any wet patches when wearing my climbing shoes in the bathroom. I figure piss will decrease the coefficient of friction.

My annoyance is people dropping their harness on the bathroom floor. Have some damned respect for life saving equipment!

In the scheme of things, the blood on the walls and holds worry me more.

Lets think about this for a min. People walk around in the gym with normal shoes that they have walked around in the bathroom with. So it really makes no difference if they have been in the bathroom with climbing shoes on.

1. I walk into the bathroom with normal shoes on
2. I walk back to the wall where I am climbing with the shoes that have been in the bathroom
3. I put climbing shoes back on at the wall where everyone who has been in the bathroom is walking around
4. I get all the shit that was in the bathroom on the normal shoes onto the climbing shoes
5. I climb on the wall

It makes little difference which shoes you go into the bathroom with...

Ska Ggs wrote:

Besides the obvious unsafe activities, anyone else have pet-peeves about those unwritten rules of etiquette?

Mine is watching climbers run in and out of the restroom in climbing shoes. Is it just me or does anyone else find that rude? You end up using your hand on a hold after someones shoe exits the toilet. I know its annoying but toss on those other shoes first, right?

My friend was taking a whore's bath washing his disgusting feet in the gym sink once, after wearing his rank shoes into the restroom no less. He is basically a wild animal and his audience that occupied the restroom were not happy with his actions. 

Jerry432 wrote:

My friend was taking a whore's bath washing his disgusting feet in the gym sink once, after wearing his rank shoes into the restroom no less. He is basically a wild animal and his audience that occupied the restroom were not happy with his actions. 

Reminds me of the guy in the dorm first year of college who would wash his dick in the sink after every girl who spent time in his room. 

Oldie but a goody

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/106926017/barefoot-climbing-is-it-gross

If people would just do everything barefoot we'd all be healthier

Look, the issue is not a huge deal, but...

1. Climbing shoes are uncomfortable, while flip flops/sandals are comfortable. 

2. It takes literally seconds to take climbing shoes on and off. 

3. Walking around in climbing shoes stresses the upper, and can promote delamination. 

4. Gym management would prefer that you not wear climbing shoes to the bathroom, and quite a few folks are grossed out by the practice. 

So what is the rationale for insisting on the wearing of said shoes to the latrine? Please explain. 

There's no good reason not to comply with gym policy.  

I don't mind acceding to the concerns of germophobes in this case, but wouldn't want my actions determined by their fears in general.

Now about those handbags...

the schmuck wrote:

So what is the rationale for insisting on the wearing of said shoes to the latrine? Please explain. 

I think you've hit on the reason without quite saying it. People will insist on doing things they're asked not to, because they can (it's my right!). Even more so if they disagree with the reasoning why you shouldn't, such as possible hygiene effects (that's stupid, so I'm going to do it anyways).

If you ask someone nicely, some will, and some will argue you why the reasons you're asking nicely are wrong.