r/climbingshoes

i’ve started bouldering a few years ago and at some point felt like it would be the time to get new, better climbing shoes (mine are some very basic beginner ocúns). but all of them were extremely uncomfortable, until i got scarpa drago lv in size 36,5 as a gift (i normally wear 36), and while just trying them, they felt better than anything i’ve tried before. but when i tried to actually climb in them, it was just so painful. and i know you have to break them in, but this feels impossible, like i can’t even do a few steps in them or do a single boulder without a strong pain. is it normal?? i wonder if the size is wrong, but usually people have even smaller climbing shoes than normal shoes and mine are bigger? should i try to break them in at home before i go climbing? i know that when you have professional shoes, they are not as comfortable as the beginners’, but how much is too much??

I am looking to get a second pair of shoes since I wore through my la sportiva tarantulas should I just get another pair of tarantulas or is there a different pair I should get?

I've really been struggling finding shoes that fit my feet well and hoping someone has a good suggestion.

I have Egyptian feet, wide toes, and a (very?) shallow heel. The wide toes shallow heel combo has been the most difficult to work with.

Ive been using Scarpa Vapor V in a size 43 for a bit, they fit mostly well but there's a bit of dead space in the heel and they will occasionally slip. They're the lowest volume heel I've been able to find that fits the rest of my foot.

I tried the Tenaya Ra in a US 10 and I thought they fit really well but they crammed my pinky toes too much. The heel fit really well, and the big toe was nicely flush against the front.

I mostly do gym TR and lead climbing so I don't want a super soft boulder shoe. I want a moderate downturned shoe like the Tenaya Ra that.

Does anyone have any suggestions? My biggest problem has been a small enough heel. I've read trying the women's or LV versions can help but many of the shoes Ive looked at don't have the women's/LV version in a large enough size for me.