Before climbing... clean the soles of your shoes to maximize friction. To prevent deformation in storage... it is good to stuff them with newspaper and lace them or close the Velcro straps. The rubber soles So that the rubber soles never lose their performance always keep the rubber clean. Use a semi-hard fine-wire brush to lightly scrub the soles in one direction to remove any surface glaze. Afterwards, clean with a cloth dampened with water or rubbing alcohol. If you carry them in your backpack... make sure they are not compressed. BOREAL recommends that you use a separate bag to prevent deformation. Don’t stand on top of your shoes... when not wearing them as this can deform them. Kid Climbing Footwear Sizes Women´s and Men´s Footwear Socks Sizes