Behold, the climbing shoe: so rough and tattered from use; memories of blood, sweat, and tears fused deep into its worn rubber — rubber torn bit by bit by all those times it saved your ass … from a bad hand placement, or that time you tried to clip, pumped with fear. . . . The rubber was the lifeline. Sure, you can climb barefoot, and ropes and pads are important, too — but wouldn’t you rather skip the fall, and use rubber and friction to claim the send you deserve? So be proud of that shoe, its worn rubber, its memories. Because whether the shoe be old or new, it’s your secret weapon; one reason you can call yourself a proud climber.