[Kendra]

I always stick to ones with an ankle strap. I usually buy them a half size or so smaller than what I wear, just so they fit snugly. If not, the extra motion (especially around your toes from the height of the heel) will cause friction and rub your toes, leaving nasty blisters. Also, I like the ones where the pad of the shoe is soft. I believe the ones I have now are pig suede… but I’m not sure.

While you are buying shoes, you might consider picking up a cheap pair of knee-high boots. While I would be careful relying on the boots too much, they make learning some tricks a lot easier due to the extra friction and stickiness on the pole. I learned how to do the knee hold wearing boots first, and once I got the motion and balance down, it was easy to do it in regular shoes. The worm (upside down, climbing backward up the pole, not sure what everyone calls it) was a lot easier in boots, and they helped me to build strength so I could climb better in regular shoes. Plus, they look awesome =)