I have just begun climbing and these are the first shoe I have purchased. I originally set out to buy the Red Chilli Durango but after trying them on the didn't feel right, I tried a few other pairs on before trying these Defy. As soon as I put them on I knew I was on to a winner, I went for my regular shoe size and they fit perfectly, nice and snug but not crippling! I have quite wide feet which didn't prove to be an issue with this shoe unlike some of the others. I have only used them for a few hours so far and they seem to be a huge improvement over the hire shoes from my local wall, they grip well and my feet stay put inside the shoe with no slippage at the heel. They really make sense when on the wall! I would definitely recommend!