Foot care for climbers

Climbers put their feet through a lot: cramped shoes, constant pressure, sweat, and friction. But while everyone talks about split tips and calluses on their hands, feet are often ignored, until it’s too late.

Proper foot care isn’t just about comfort. It helps prevent infections, painful cracks, and skin breakdown that could cut your session short.

Common foot problems in climbers

We’ve put together a quick overview of the different types of foot problems climbers face and what causes them.

Problem	Cause	Cause
Dry, cracked heels	Tight shoes, dehydration, lack of regular skin care	Bleeding, infection
Blisters	Friction from ill-fitting or new shoes	Open wounds
Fungal infections	Damp shoes, poor hygiene	Long-term skin damage
Smelly shoes	Sweat and bacteria in enclosed space	Odour, fungal growth
Nail trauma	Pressure from downturned shoes	Bruising, loss of nails

Preventing problems before they start

Wash & dry properly after climbing

• Always wash your feet thoroughly with mild soap
• Dry between your toes completely
• Don’t walk barefoot in communal showers or gyms

Let your shoes breathe

• Never leave your climbing shoes in a closed bag
• Use SmellWell inserts or air them out overnight
• Rotate pairs if possible

Check your feet weekly

• Look for cracking, peeling, swelling, or discolouration
• Address small issues early to avoid downtime

Repairing and soothing damaged feet

Looking after your feet can be as easy as using the right moisturiser and removing dead and dry skin.

KletterRetter foot cream

• Rich, deeply moisturising formula with Urea to treat dry skin
• Contains active ingredients to soothe and repair cracked or stressed skin
• Ideal for feet exposed to sweat and friction

When to use it:

• At night, after showering, before bed
• After long outdoor days in aggressive shoes
• On visible cracks, dry spots, or hardened skin areas

How to use:

• Massage into heels, toes, and between toes (if dry)
• Let absorb fully before putting on socks
• Use 2–3× per week or daily for recovery phases

KletterRetter foot file

• A quick and easy way to remove dry and dead skin
• The goal is to have smooth skin on the soles of your feet

7.4 Nail and skin hygiene tips

Healthy nails can help you avoid pain and fungal issues on your feet

• Keep toenails short and smooth with nail clippers to avoid pressure and bruising
• Never file cracked toenails—let them grow and trim gently
• If a nail lifts or is bruised, disinfect and let it regrow naturally
• Don’t pick at dry skin or peeling areas—use KletterRetter foot cream and file gently if needed

When to see a professional

Sometimes you need to consult a professional to get your skin in the right shape. If you experience any of the following issues, it might be time to make an appointment!

• Repeated fungal infections (white, flaky, or itchy skin)
• Ingrown nails or infected cuts
• Dark nail discoloration that doesn’t grow out
• Deep heel cracks that bleed or don’t heal

Foot care routine

We’ve put together an easy to follow foot care routine to keep your feet in good shape:

Routine	Tool / product
Visual check	None
Trim nails	Nail clippers (every 2-3 weeks)
Moisturise and soften skin	KletterRetter foot cream (1-2 a week)
Dry and deodorise shoes	SmellWell inserts (after every session)
Disinfect minor cuts	Disinfectant
Treat blisters	Blister plasters