I Hate Climbing With Extra Shoes for the Descent

Does anyone else hate having to bring running or approach shoes on multipitch climbs for the walk off? I used to do walkoffs barefoot but last time I got huge blisters and I don’t want to go through that again. I hate the weight, they take up room on my harness or having to lead with a pack. 

What do y’all do? Go barefoot, put shoes in a pack, have Crocs? 

I don’t mind leading with a small pack, easy to carry a bladder with water, light weight shoes, some snacks, and a headlamp.

I use the BD Bullet 16. 

Easy little trick that has been a big satisfier for me in multi-pitch over the years is to take a short peice of webbing with fast-Tex buckle and use it to cinch your shoes together (laces to laces).  This keeps them small, tight and together (and keeps socks from falling out).  If you combine this step with a light pair of shoes like evolv Cruzers, then its kind of like having an extra cam on your harness - no big deal.

Cheers

Me too.. I carry a 16L pack and in it I put shoes, water, snacks, celebratory joint, lighter, tape and Wind shirt.

Make your follower carry them

Sam Miller wrote: Make your follower carry them

Goes without saying...1 pack with both shoes, food and water.  If they don’t fit inside, clip them to the outside.  Switch at belays.

Daniel Melnyk wrote: Does anyone else hate having to bring running or approach shoes on multipitch climbs for the walk off? I used to do walkoffs barefoot but last time I got huge blisters and I don’t want to go through that again. I hate the weight, they take up room on my harness or having to lead with a pack.

What do y’all do? Go barefoot, put shoes in a pack, have Crocs? 

Harden up and carry lightweight running or approach shoes.

Ted Pinson wrote:

Goes without saying...1 pack with both shoes, food and water.  If they don’t fit inside, clip them to the outside.  Switch at belays.

Yuck. That ends up being a big beast of a pack that sucks to try to climb with, especially on anything remotely steep.

Not if you do what Marc said.  I’ve usually gotten by with a Flash.  Plus you’re on toprope.

If you only climb routes that have rappels for the descent, then you don't have to carry shoes!

Seriously, you have limited choices:

1. Carry your shoes. In a pack or on your harness. Your choice.
2. Have follower carry them (don't do this)
3. Walk off in your climbing shoes (don't do this, either.)
4. Climb the route in approach shoes.

Well, looks like there's only one practical choice.

Another option would be to just climb in approach shoes.

On steep/clean/difficult terrain, hauling a bag with a thin tag line is another option.

Depends on the climb. I go down barefoot alot of times but than I also climb barefoot alot of times as well so I may not have normal feet. Most 600ft+ climbs we generally climb with at least 1 pack for water etc. If it is a 6 hour + climb generally both of us have packs for stuff.

I did make the mistake onetime of carrying a ton of water, leftover pizza, second rope for rappelling down and bunch of other crap while leading all 15 pitches of a 1500ft climb while my partner who seconded the entire thing only had a camel pack on... I really didn't think that one through because my partner should have carried the rope up since he didn't lead any of it hah.

Another here for light weight trail running shoes on harness. Rest of the goodies go in one pack the follower carries.

​Just listen to Sonnie Trotter​

I've had good experiences just wearing my soft stretched mythos with socks on the route and descent. This worked well for the Solar Slab walk off. 

The solution is simple, just only do multi-pitch climbs that you can do in your approach shoes.

Yeah... if you're doing multi-pitch trad, have the follower carry the 'mini-pig".   Walk off shoes, water, snack, etc.  Leading trad is a full on, serious game already. No need to add to that with a camelback or whatever.  All my partners have done it this way... switch leads and switch the bag and hang it at the belays.  That way you can have a snack and a drink, while you're partner is gathering the gear and re-racking.   Very effective 

Rule 5:

https://youtu.be/Kn5Auz1KkBw

I’m not seeing the big deal about carrying a bag either.   Unless I am super sketched and climbing something above my grade-carrying a lightweight bag isn’t going to make or break me leading.    To me it’s like adventure ice climbing or multi pitch ice climbing-very easy to end up carrying a 25 liter pack (each person) when you end up carrying a huge puffy plus belay mitts and a hydroflask (so water doesn’t freeze) when climbing in below zero temps.

Definitely partner dependent. My lighter partners tend to prefer leading without a pack. I’m guessing Daniel would too. :)