The best beginner climbing shoes

• Rock climbing is a great sport with a relatively low barrier to entry that doesn't require spending hundreds of dollars to get started.
• Most rock climbing gyms make customers abide by extra safety precautions and won't rent shoes, making now the right time to invest in your own pair.
• Comfort is the most important factor when buying your first pair of climbing shoes — make sure you pick out the correct fit before purchasing and pay extra attention to return policies.
• Our top pick, the Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoe, is designed for all-day comfort, costs less than $100, and features an easy-to-use Velcro system for easy in and out.

Climbing shoes are one of the first pieces of gear you should invest in if you're diving into the sport of rock climbing. If you're used to renting from a gym, buying a pair of shoes pays for itself in as little as a couple of months — not to mention the fact they're more sanitary than any rental.

It's worth pointing out that most gyms aren't even renting equipment right now due to COVID-19, so opting for a pair of your own pair isn't just a smart investment, it might be your own course of action if you want to climb.

Since you'll go through countless climbing shoes in your journey with the sport, your first pair should be both comfortable and affordable. My first pair of climbing shoes were found in an REI garage sale bin for less than $20 — it didn't matter how much they cost, what mattered is that they fit me properly. I wore those shoes for several years afterward.

Climbing shoes are meant to fit like a sock with a minimal gap around the heel and ankle, so it's highly important to find a last that fits right. Climbing shoes will fit tighter than a normal pair of street shoes, so you'll most likely need a size smaller than you're used to buying.

I highly recommend trying on a pair of climbing shoes before buying and also making sure you're buying from a retailer that allows returns in the event it doesn't fit right after a few uses. I buy from REI whenever possible because of its generous return policy that allows you to return something for up to one year for any reason, no questions asked (aside from general wear and tear).

Generally, beginners should look for flatter shoes that allow for more room in the toe box and won't cramp your foot like more aggressively downturned shoes. This means you can wear them for longer periods of time and can get used to the feeling of your feet in a climbing shoe.

You'll also see most climbing shoes marketed to men or women but the biggest difference between the two is volume. If you have a higher volume foot, I'd recommend looking at men's shoes and vice versa for women's. Sometimes you'll even see shoes labeled as high volume and low volume.

As you progress in your technique, you might want a more aggressive shoe that allows you to stand on small footholds more accurately and get more power as you stand up. I strongly suggest not buying a shoe that's more advanced than you are, though — you want to be comfortable above all else when you're beginning. A new sport won't be much fun if you're in pain all the time.

• Best beginner climbing shoes overall: Scarpa Origin Climbing Shoe
• Best climbing shoes for bouldering: Butora Gomi Climbing Shoe
• Best climbing shoes for sport climbing: Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoe
• Best climbing shoes for an indoor gym: Scarpa Veloce Climbing Shoe