text: Very good beginner shoe for the &#34;sacrafice it all&#34; personality type. If you dont care about pain, etc.<br /><br />Normally wear an 11.5 USA and got the size 43. Incredibly painful for the first 3 weeks. Stretched out a full 1/2 size if not more. Still uncomfortable to belay in or climb more than 180 vertical feet at a time. Great climbing shoe. As my first climbing shoe I am very happy how rigid it is. Makes edging very easy on 5.11+ holds and greater. Shoe still slips on heavily chalked holds, but most shoes do.<br /><br />Bought a $3 brass brush from home depot. The brush + a moist paper towel on the rubber soles keeps my shoes grippy after a long chalked climb.<br /><br />These arent downturned enough for aggressive lead climbs on overhangs. But honestly at the time I wasnt ready for it.<br /><br />Really thought I overpaid for these at the local rock gym. Paid $140 after Tenessee's wonderful 10% sales tax. Turns out I didn't over pay much if at all.