I've been training in Adidas Powerlifting (squats, deadlifts, bench press) for about 4 years, which I really enjoy. If you just want one shoe for all your climbs, this is probably your best bet (the 6-inch heel is adequate for squats, but not as high as most, so better for deadlifts). I really wanted to try flat shoes. for the deadlift, as is often recommended (not "required" but most people seem to prefer it) Chuck Taylor Converses are a typical bargain offering. But since they were the same price and carried several serious tractors, I realized I had nothing to lose. A) I like flat shoes when deadlifting. Obviously it's a pretty small difference and it could be 99.8% mental, but I feel a little more connected to gender. Paragraphs are a pretty useful cue for me. B) I like the grip of these soles. C) Yes, they run small. Maybe not as much as some say. I would definitely go 1/2 size up (or if you're more in-between sizes, just use the larger size you buy). I think maybe more important is how tight the shoe is. very narrow feet and they were very tight in the midfoot even after loosening the laces in that area.