Best climbing shoe brands Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. So, if you are a new rock climber looking for the best cheap rock climbing shoes, this brand is an excellent fit for your tight budget. At a glance. Best Overall Climbing Shoe Brands. 5 days ago · We've got options from our men's climbing shoes review and our women's climbing shoes review, from all the top brands. Feb 11, 2025 · Earning our highest praise for climbing ability, we find the La Sportiva TX Guide to be the best shoe for smearing, edging, and crack climbing due to its precise, narrow fit and stiff midsole. For example, the top left chart shows what Black Diamond users think about other shoe brands. The fact that they're decent all-rounders with that balance between grip/sensitivity and edging support is an added bonus :) DESIGNED FOR: All types of climbing. Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. Easily the best edging shoe of the bunch, it also combines width options, formidable toe and heel hooking and impressively sticky rubber to make it the top choice in specific climbing areas. You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Many new climbers are drawn to the Tarantulace — and for good reason. 6. Fitting your climbing shoes for comfort is like buying a car because you like the driver’s seat. All of that background to say If you had to recommend 1 shoe, you used every climbing session (2-4 times a week for me) for indoor bouldering what would it be? Feb 6, 2025 · Best Overall Approach Shoe 1. Five Ten, also known as Adidas Five Ten after being acquired by Adidas in 2011, is a German company that produces high-quality footwear for outdoor sports. Mar 7, 2025 · When brands talk about a climbing shoe’s shape (aka last), they’re typically referring to its asymmetry and downturn, says Matt Ginley, North American sales manager at Scarpa. The Tenaya Iati is a versatile climbing shoe that provides an ideal balance of comfort, precision, and performance. Nov 22, 2022 · While brands large and small have developed shoes with tacky rubbers and soft, durable fabrics, the best climbing shoes should ultimately cater to your needs and feel like an extension of your 5 days ago · We’ve also updated pricing and info on shoes that we tested last season but still highly recommend. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Scarpa Drago. Jul 25, 2024 · Best Budget Climbing Shoe for Beginners 2. La Sportiva Tarantulace ($89) Upper: Following Adidas’ acquisition of longtime climbing shoe brand Five Ten in 2011 Jan 8, 2021 · 21 of the LATEST new and updated best climbing shoes Jan 2021. With slightly more rubber than the Flagship Pro, this model is even more smeary thanks to its RH split midsole and RS toe patch. 10 Asym's. Bufo – Is headquartered in, and makes rock climbing shoes in the Czech Republic. The company prides itself on constant innovation and producing high-performance climbing shoes. Shoes have certainly been one of the biggest contributors to the advancement of climbing grades. CaVa – no longer makes shoes. Over the past decade, our team has tested over 45 of the best climbing shoes for women. These shoes don Sep 28, 2024 · The best climbing shoes like Scarpa, La Sportiva, and Five Ten are renowned for their superior quality, offering rock climbing shoes designed to tackle both indoor and outdoor terrains with ease while maintaining a standout performance level, while mainstream names like Nike and Adidas make sure you are looking your best. Apr 5, 2025 · Grip Fest is a community based climbing shoe festival that puts all the best climbing shoe brands under one roof for one day only! We invite members and non-members alike to explore and test out climbing shoes and other amazing products in the industry. Specific shoes for climbing emerged from the field of mountaineering, as adventurers decided they wanted to push the grade on rock as well as ice and snow. Although some climbers swear by a specific closure type, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Looking for some good climbing shoe brands and what the best shoes to buy from those brands are/ I normally wear 10 1/2 and 11s in shoe size Share Jan 22, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoe for Beginners: Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes; Best Climbing Shoe Under $100: La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoes; Best Climbing Shoe for All-Day Comfort: evolv Kronos / evolv Kira; Best for Trad Climbing: La Sportiva TC Pro Climbing Shoes; Best Climbing Shoe for Overhung Bouldering: Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Nov 17, 2023 · Here, we’ve compiled ten of our favorite bouldering shoes—and a list of ten things to think about when buying climbing shoes. With the climbing gear market expected to reach $2. Price: £140 Best for: New-school competition climbing If you’re looking for a sensitive shoe that can put in some serious work on steep terrain and macro volumes, the ultra-soft Scarpa Drago might be the right fit for you. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. The shoe is also amazing at edging and climbing challenging vertical faces. Pretty much the only shoe that fit semi-comfortably, due to my wide, flat Hobbit-esque feet. We know which brands offer the best selection of wide-fit models and the shoes that might be your best chance at finding that fairy-tale fit. In this shoe, we can confidently push on small edges, smear on scary slabs, and jam into cracks without fear of popping off the rock. The best climbing shoe overall Nov 30, 2022 · The La Sportiva Theory is a purpose-made climbing shoe for hard indoor bouldering and competition climbing. Nov 6, 2023 · A comprehensive guide to the top climbing shoe brands from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the U. Perhaps the greatest testament to the TC Pro’s ability is the fact that Tommy Caldwell, the shoe’s designer and namesake, climbed the Dawn Wall in it earlier this year. How did I come to this shortlist, I hear you ask? This list was created using a few different methods to ensure the best shoes were Adidas 5. The all-terrain Contagrip rubber outsole confidently took on snow, loose, hardpack, and muddy terrain with . Upper: Leather What we like: Hardwearing leather upper and well-rounded performance; we appreciate La Sportiva’s recent sustainability upgrades. S. Best Outdoor All-Rounder: Scarpa Arpia V ($169) Best Sport/Mixed Shoe: Unparallel Qubit ($186) Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Drago XT ($229) Best for Beginners: Butora Rubicon ($150) Best Shoe for Steep Routes: La Sportiva Mandala ($209) Best Training Shoe: Scarpa Veloce L ($175) Best Pure Slipper: La Sportiva Mar 10, 2025 · The La Sportiva Tarantulace ($89) has been one of the top-selling climbing shoes on the market for decades. Feb 23, 2024 · Combining the precision and tight-fitting capability of a high-performance rock-climbing shoe with the desired flexibility and comfort of a middle-of-the-road climbing shoe, the Tenaya Ra LV is a low-volume version of the brand’s popular Ra shoe, designed for tactile climbers who like to feel the rock surfaces beneath their feet. Nov 14, 2024 · We tested and reviewed the best women's climbing shoes of 2025, including picks from La Sportiva, SCARPA, and more. The brand’s shoes are renowned for their sticky and versatile stealth rubber that gives the wearer increased grip on various surfaces. The best overall climbing shoe should be versatile and comfortable, yet capable of edging, smearing, heel hooking, and toeing into cracks. Founded in Spain in 1997, Tenaya has gained a reputation for producing shoes that are precise, sensitive, and comfortable, making them a popular choice among climbers around the world. Find out more about how we test and compare products. This stiff and supportive lace-up shoe was designed with some asymmetry and La Sportiva’s P3 tensioning system that directs power over the toes for edging. Most beginner climbing shoes use durable rubber and a relatively thick sole. Shoe Model Weight Type Vegan Best for Best Offer; Scarpa Veloce. Best for: Precision and Versatility. The ideal pair will offer the fit and performance that match your climbing style so you can tackle the wall more confidently. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, the right pair of climbing shoes is essential. When a company designs a new suite of shoes, they send pairs to us and our testers, and we climb in them, compare notes, write a review, and then, later, do a roundup of the latest and greatest releases of the year. While there are many different brands of climbing shoes out there, when it comes to quality, one generally stands above the rest – La Sportiva. Every brand uses different rubber, and most brands use different rubber for different shoes. See full list on outdoorgearlab. Dec 17, 2024 · Our Team's Climbing Shoe Picks. Top picks for beginners, intermediate, bouldering and under $100 plus COMPLETE buyer's guide! How we choose: The best climbing shoes highlighted here were selected based on 530 reviews of 119 products. Best All-Around: Butora Mousai ($135) Best for Alpine Climbing: Arc’teryx Vertex Alpine ($220) Best Value: Astral Loyak ($99) Best for Cragging: Arc’teryx Kragg ($160) Most Durable: La Sportiva TX4 Evo ($169) Sep 20, 2024 · The Souped Up was made with modern bouldering in mind. The charts above shows the perceptions of climbing shoe brands, separated by users of each brand (sorry, I know it's hard to read! I had to open in another window). If you are looking for specific shoes, say, the best for bouldering or crack climbing, look to our reviews for that kind of detailed comparison. 10. As the number one trad climbing shoe on the market, the TC Pro sets the standard for long-lasting precision. Bouldering vs Rock Climbing. Apr 20, 2024 · This is rock climbing. Learn about the history, features, and styles of each brand and see their best shoes. Check out my bouldering hub for more general information on the sport! List of the Best Bouldering Shoes. These include Black Diamond, Boreal, Butora, Evolv, Five Ten, La Sportiva, Mad Rock, Millet, Scarpa, and Tenaya. La Sportiva TX4 Evo ($169) Category: All-around/scrambling Weight: 1 lb. It'll happen some day, just hasn't yet. The Nov 9, 2024 · The best brands of climbing shoes To find your way around with climbing shoes, you first need to know the brands. Comparison Table; 1. Apr 25, 2025 · Who this is best for: The Salomon X Ultra 5 Gore-Tex combines the flexibility and lightweight performance of a running shoe with the durability and stability of a hiking boot, making it the favorite of our testing team for its versatility. A sibling of the best-selling Solution, the Comp series differs in that the heel cup is softer, extra rubber is added along the toe for heel hooks, and the midsole is more flexible. But this rock climbing shoe is not limited to its affordability. Jul 29, 2022 · Premium models of climbing shoes from the top brands are currently selling for up to $210, but beginners shouldn’t think that paying more will help them advance Nov 7, 2024 · The best climbing shoes 2025. CONS: Its arch can be a touch aggressive for some people. Scarpa Force V Women's: Best Beginner Shoes for Women. Lace-up. Apr 22, 2025 · The Best Climbing Shoes for Women. Tenaya Mastia are the only shoes I've found in a decade of climbing that are available in my size (EU48ish for street shoes) AND the exact right shape for my heel. Comfort is not king. Please turn off your ad blocker. Aug 2, 2021 · Here are the best bouldering shoes: La Sportiva Solution; Five Ten HiAngle; La Sportiva Skwama; Butora Acro; Evolv Shaman; Scarpa Instinct VS; La Sportiva Miura VS; Mad Rock Flash; La Sportiva Tarantulace; How to Choose the Best Bouldering Shoes for Your Needs. Generally speaking, the thicker the sole, the more durable and the less sensitive the shoe. Brand Perceptions by Brand Used. Our top picks are those that are readily-available in the United States and have received the highest overall ratings from reviewers. Best Climbing Harnesses. Some of the leading climbing shoe brands — like Tenaya, La Sportiva, and Jun 1, 2023 · Our Selection of the Best Indoor Climbing Shoes of 2023. 0 oz. 7 Billion by 2031 (and a large chunk coming from rock shoes), historical climbing brands are doubling down on their efforts to secure their position while new brands are emerging to challenge the status quo and offer new products. Mar 12, 2019 · A staple of the brand for the better part of a decade, the Miura is the pseudo-Swiss-Army knife of climbing shoes, making it a perfect partner for any climbing activity. They produce high-quality, performance-oriented climbing shoes. . Feb 28, 2022 · Hard steep climbing requires aggressive shoes with power and precision, and no other climbing shoe does both better than the La Sportiva Solution Comp. La Sportiva Miura VS Women's: Best Trad Climbing Shoe for Women. Rock Pillars – Merged with Ocun and all shoes are now made under the Ocun name Mar 12, 2025 · While most high-quality approach shoes are priced between $160 and $190, the La Sportiva Boulder X ($149) offers high performance and long-term durability at a slightly reduced price point. 5. Great prices and free UK shipping on orders over £60. Best Overall: Arc’teryx Acrux LT GTX Boot; Best for Glaciers: La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX; Best for Ice Climbing: Scarpa Phantom Tech; Best for Alpine Rock: La Sportiva Trango Tech Nov 10, 2023 · If you are brand new to climbing, then I suggest heading over to our beginner bouldering shoe guide instead. While brands do make climbing shoes for both genders, women don’t have to wear women’s climbing shoes and vice versa. Section divider Ten Things You Need to Know About Climbing Shoes 1. Shop for Climbing Shoes at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. Butora – We don’t actually know much about this brand, but they appear to be Korean and they have rock climbing shoes and a bouldering pad option. La Sportiva Theory Women's: Best Sport Climbing Shoe for Women. Montrail – stopped making rock climbing shoes around 2007/2008 but is toying with the idea of making climbing shoes again. com Mar 19, 2024 · Because, at the end of the day, the best climbing shoe is the one you like wearing. The Butora Narsha is a well-engineered shoe for slightly overhanging sport climbs where small edges define the route. Sep 30, 2024 · Looking for your first pair of rock climbing shoes? We tested 30 top-rated climbing shoes in the gym, crag, and bouldering to find the best rock climbing shoes for beginners and mid-level climbers, with winners from La Sportiva, Five Ten, Black Diamond and Evolv Jun 8, 2024 · Evolv, a brand born out of the diverse California rock climbing scene in 2003, has quickly become a key player in the climbing footwear market. Gear Reviews Overview Page Feb 1, 2013 · Boreal – Is headquartered in, and makes rock climbing shoes in Spain. Comparison Table. Best All-Around Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Katana Lace; Best Budget/Beginner Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Tarantulace; Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Instinct VS; Best Shoe for Granite and Crack Climbing: La Sportiva TC Pro; Best High-Performance Gym Climbing Shoe: Scarpa Drago Apr 5, 2023 · The World’s Climbing Shoe Market. M. P. Important Specs; 4. Mar 26, 2015 · Asolo – no longer making rock climbing shoes. Because of this history, most of the biggest climbing shoe Dec 29, 2021 · The sticky rubber of the sole is every climbing shoe’s secret to success. Below you will find some of my favorite bouldering shoes right now. Nov 25, 2019 · Best Bouldering Shoe (Scott Griesser) Scarpa Furia S ($195) Specs: 7. Huge range of rock climbing and mountaineering gear, clothing and shoes from all the best brands. com. The more Mar 23, 2023 · Best Overall Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Katana Lace. Most Comfortable: Ocun Jett QC ; Best for Jumping Grades: Butora Acro ; Best Value: Black Diamond Method; Best for Bouldering: Scarpa Drago LV ; Best for Sport Climbing: La Sportiva Solution Comp; Best for Trad Climbing: Scarpa Vapor S; Best for Narrow Feet: Red Apr 24, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. PROS: Best edging shoe out there, great for all types of climbing. Tenaya Iati. As for rope climbing, my home gym is bouldering only, so I just don't have a lot of access, but I do indoor rope climb maybe once a year. Yes, we tested men Sep 17, 2021 · The climbing shoe that best incorporates all of the above is the La Sportiva TC Pro. People won’t know nor care if you’re wearing the men’s or women’s version of climbing shoes. Climbing shoes fall along various spectrums of downturn, stiffness, and comfort. Gym climbing on modern features and dynamic moves to far volumes and holds is where they perform best. Oct 10, 2024 · With this in mind, I set out to try the best mountaineering boots and sort out which ones rise above the field to keep you climbing higher. Feb 12, 2024 · There are three main types of climbing shoe closure systems: lace-up, velcro, and slipper. 9 oz/195 g: Performance: If you love reading this review of the best bouldering shoes, then you'll likely love reading some of our other climbing content: Best Climbing Shoes. Apr 16, 2025 · What to look for in sport climbing shoes; Ten things you need to know about climbing shoes; Our favorites; Honorable mentions; Most gear roundups cover new releases. 76 ounces; soft Pros: Sensitive; snug fit Cons: Minimal protection; expensive When it comes to bouldering, advanced climbers Apr 26, 2023 · Our Selection of the Best Climbing Shoes for Women in 2023. The new Nov 6, 2023 · That said, if you are on the hunt for the best climbing shoes for wide feet, you have landed in the right place. Lace-up climbing shoes provide the maximum amount of fit customizability. We've even got top picks for your the best kids climbing shoes. It is the right shoe to use in climbing walls for the first time. Below, you can find an overview of the list of best bouldering shoes by category: Scarpa Drago – Best for Bouldering Tenaya is one of the best climbing shoe brands out there. Important Specs; 2. Over the years you will develop an affinity with certain brands or shoes and stick with them forever. 12. Mar 2, 2023 · The Mad Rock Drifter is all about affordability. Nov 24, 2023 · La Sportiva is perhaps the best-known climbing shoe brand, particularly when it comes to aggressive shoes, and the Solutions have been their most popular shoes for nearly a decade now. See relevant content for outdoorrackbuilder. If you like to switch your climbing up from overhang to vert to slab, your shoe should be able to handle all three (and more). Mammut – stopped making rock climbing shoes around 2008. With a single velcro strap and slipper-like comfort, it’s incredibly sensitive but offers surprising edging ability thanks to La Sportiva’s P3 tensioned rand system and No-Edge sole technology. Best Chalk Bags. Important Specs; 3. Over the past decade, I have tried and tested dozens of wide climbing shoes. A. The Best Bouldering Shoes in 2023. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. With its moderate fit, this shoe excels across a range of climbing disciplines, from sport and trad climbing to bouldering. May 30, 2024 · La Sportiva TC Pro. C. msynu ahkrf lwmkrn mtbr qqcy dvlk rhgclu pkkqle vhzgs fpq pqwpo zuwrlf cmbmrpi ghmfni gktp