What was the first pair of climbing shoes you ever owned?

Mad Rock Phoenix. Probably a full size too large. Not a great shoe to begin with, combine that with the sizing and my untrained footwork and let's just say that I wasn't doing much technical stuff.

John Barritt wrote: Normally I'd say something about resurrecting a 4 year old thread......but this one should be timeless.

Boreal Fire's

Yep.

Royal Robbins RRs - you know, the blue suede ones.

Asolo Opera. 1989. Cheapest shoe within 225 miles of Las Cruces NM. $68.00 at the old Albuquerque Rock Gym. The John Duran was the sales guy.
So, so painful :-)

'87 or '88 blue suede Merrell boots with the pink triangle logo.

Five-Ten Diamonds in 2000. Got them from someone online who took pity on me. Were always way too big, but better than nothing.

First pair of good shoes: Scarpa Reflexes



And for that sporty fit, multiple pairs of Anasazi Velcros.....fit small enough to make a proper platform with my foot. Meaning very much uncomfortably small.

Evolv Defy...had to hang them outside of my car on the drive home because those things stunk so bad. Still don't know what it was about that shoe that made it abnormally pungent.

Boots not made for climbing. 

Tapawingo Markey wrote: Evolv Defy...had to hang them outside of my car on the drive home because those things stunk so bad. Still don't know what it was about that shoe that made it abnormally pungent.

Did the problem carryover to other shoes?   

Mike D wrote: Did the problem carryover to other shoes?   

So that's why everyone tells me to drive separately to the crag...

Boreal Ballets in 92, resolled them 4-5 times (myself) before replacing them with T-C Pros in the quiver.

Boreal Aces, the first model. Red w/blue stripe

In 1970, My 1st dedicated climbing shoes were green stripe Addis "sneakers", then Addis  "Night-Joggers", both had sticky tan "gum" rubber soles.                                                                When my feet grew I was given an old pair of Krohnhoffers, that I still have

I had a pair of heavy RR's  'Aid' boots

still have EBs

I liked climbing in these more

Spent a decade in various Scarpa boots and shoes

 before adding Boreal Fires, & La Sportiva purple Mariacher & Megas,
Green runouts fit so tight that toenails died.
 So back to 'Sportiva Futuras & Kendos - the 'hot' Black synthetic Taos ....
I could go on but that's enough

  42 mins ago ·Brad "Stonyman" Killough, ADMIN wrote:  Boreal Aces, the first model. Red w/blue stripe

uhm,? The 1st model? , you sound so sure Oh, & you are an "Admin"!?

you know what, I'm not going to try to correct "stonyman"

WAIT ! ?
 this was already posted,

Jaren Watson wrote:  4 days ago! - Boreal Ace, 1994.

& Stony, from me, put the bong  down, you're just wasting very good "product"

Brad "Stonyman" Killough wrote: Boreal Aces, the first model. Red w/blue stripe

That's the second generation model. The originals were black with the chartreuse accents.

Mine were 1970 or maybe late 60's Scarpa. On reflection must have been 1968, did my first 5.10 in big boots in 1967. Red suede leather that bled colour into your feet for ever and stretched so much I wore thin socks AND thick woolly socks with them. The rubber lasted forever, the last route I did in them was in 1981. Onsight 5.11a.
Bet you didn't know SCARPA was actually founded by one of the Guinness beer family.

5.10 Prisms, I attribute why I like outside edging so much to that.   

My parents bought me a pair of Moccasyms when I was 13 years old.  I just retired them last year at age 39.

Mad Rock flash, I still wish I had a pair it her than the orange feet they are great comfort shoes.

Hank Caylor wrote: The REI catalog(which was 3 pages 1983) only sold red or blue Asolos, I got the blue. But I learned in PA's. Fun topic.

Lol, I still have those blue ones!  ...just decor now.

Mad Rock Phoenix. Climbed in them forever until I upgraded to the old 5.10 Gambit laces. Still have them somewhere.... no idea why.

I started in Chuck Taylors, then upgraded to the Five Ten Summit in 1993.