Best Rock Climbing Shoes
Rock climbing is a thrilling and challenging sport that requires specialized gear, including rock climbing shoes.
Choosing the right pair of shoes can make a significant difference in your performance and comfort while climbing. With so many options on the market, finding the best rock climbing shoes can be overwhelming.
In this article, we will review some of the top-rated rock climbing shoes based on their fit, durability, sensitivity, and overall performance.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced climber, our guide will help you find the perfect pair of shoes for your next climbing adventure.
TLDR – The Best Climbing shoes of 2023
Best Climbing Shoe
A precise and versatile climbing shoe for steep performance.
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Best Climbing Shoe for Beginners
Comfortable and versatile shoe for all-around climbing.
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Best Aggressive Climbing Shoe
High-performance shoe for technical climbing and bouldering.
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Best Bouldering Shoe – Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Shoe
The Scarpa Instinct VS is our top pick for the best climbing shoe this year.
It’s geared for hard bouldering and sport climbing and has all the capability that most climbers need to climb into the 5.12+ / V8 range in a less aggressive package than many of its high-performance peers. It’s an amazing shoe that masters all angles.
The Scarpa Instinct VS is a versatile shoe that can handle a variety of climbing styles. It excels at edging and pockets, making it a great choice for technical routes. The shoe also has a comfortable fit, allowing climbers to wear it for longer periods without discomfort.
One of the standout features of the Scarpa Instinct VS is its Vibram XS Edge rubber sole. This high-quality rubber provides excellent grip and durability, allowing climbers to confidently stick to even the smallest footholds. The shoe also has a downturned shape and asymmetrical last, which helps to provide precision and power on overhanging routes.
Features
- Subtly blends the characteristics of the Slipper and Lace-Up versions to create a superb technical shoe
- Micro-Suede upper provides great flexibility and ensures that the shoes hold their shape longer than leather equivalents
- Classic all arounder for steep to overhanging sport routes and boulder problems
Overall, the Scarpa Instinct VS is an excellent choice for climbers looking for a high-performance shoe that can handle a wide range of climbing styles. Its combination of comfort, precision, and versatility make it our top pick for the best climbing shoe this year.
PROS
- Geared for hard bouldering and sport climbing
- Excels at edging and pockets
- Comfortable fit
CONS
- Lacks sensitivity
- Aggressive design can be uncomfortable for walking around
- Some sensitivity is sacrificed for rigid performance; smearing can be painful
- Expensive
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Best Intermediate Climbing Shoe – La Sportiva Tarantula Unisex
With its unisex design, leather upper, and sticky yet durable rubber sole, the La Sportiva Tarantula is a great Intermediate climbing shoe.
With its added comfort it will have you climbing for hours in the gym, or outdoors at a crag. While not the highest-performance shoe you can get this is a solid contender for a regular-use shoe.
While it doesn’t have perfect edge performance, its versatile design lets you use it for any type of climbing, and the great grip will allow you to move up the grades faster.
Features
- A neutral climbing shoe with a mild downturn
- Uses a velcro lacing system (a laced version called the “TarantuLace” is also available)
- Targeted at beginning climbers and climbers looking for all-day comfort
- Rigid sole and flat profile
- Last with a low asymmetry for better performance generally and also technical precision
- Comfortable, unlined leather upper provides all-day comfort
- Long-lasting sticky FriXion® rubber sticks to plastic and rock equally
- Highly adjustable closure system adapts to various foot types and shapes
With all the basic features and a design that will allow you to tackle any intermediate climb while having the quick securing of the velcro, we can’t fault these shoes. I would recommend it for any beginner, or intermediate climber, or as a general-use shoe for someone more advanced.
PROS
- Comfortable and durable
- Sticky rubber that provides a good grip on the rock
- The aggressive downturn in the toe box helps you get more power out of every step or move
- Relatively affordable
- Good for just about any style of climbing
CONS
- Below-average edging performance
- FriXion RS rubber didn’t feel as grippy as Vibram XS rubber found on La Sportiva’s more premium models
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Best Indoor Climbing Shoe – La Sportiva Solution
This is a killer climbing shoe from La Sportiva.
The La Sportiva Solution Rock Climbing Shoe is a high-performance shoe designed for bouldering and steep sport climbing. It features a downturned and asymmetric shape that provides excellent power and precision on small edges, pockets, and overhangs.
Features
- Clever velcro closure system
- Aggressive downturn shape
- Wrapped in sticky Vibram® XS Grip™ rubber
- Molded 3D heel cup
- Patented P3® Power Platform which retains the downturned shape of the shoe
The shoe has a unique Lock Harness System that wraps around the foot and connects to the laces for a snug and secure fit. The P3 (Permanent Power Platform) technology maintains the shape of the shoe over time and prevents it from stretching out.
The shoe also has a Fast Lacing System that allows for quick and easy adjustments. The upper is made of leather and Lorica synthetic material that conforms to the foot while resisting abrasion.
The rubber sole is made of Vibram XS Grip2 compound that offers great friction and sensitivity on all types of rock. The toe patch is large and sticky for effective toe hooking.
The La Sportiva Solution Rock Climbing Shoe is one of the most popular shoes among experienced climbers who seek a solution for challenging routes. It is comfortable, durable, and versatile.
However, it may not be suitable for beginners or those who prefer a more relaxed fit. It may also be too aggressive for some types of climbing such as cracks or slabs.
Overall, the La Sportiva Solution Rock Climbing Shoe is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to push their limits on hard boulders and steep sports climbs.
PROS
- Downturned and asymmetric shape for power and precision
- Lock Harness System for a snug and secure fit
- P3 technology for shape retention
- Fast Lacing System for easy adjustments
- Vibram XS Grip2 rubber for friction and sensitivity
- Large and sticky toe patch for toe hooking
CONS
- Not suitable for beginners or relaxed fit
- Too aggressive for some types of climbing such as cracks or slabs
- Expensive compared to some other models
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Best Cheap Climbing Shoe – Climb X Crush Lace
If you are looking for a cheap but still good quality climbing shoe, you can’t go past the Climb X Crush Lace. It is not a super special shoe but it will do the job if you are on a budget.
For added comfort, Cimb X has padded the ankle cuff. while this is not a usual thing to be found in a climbing shoe it does help for some comfort and is nice in an otherwise simply designed shoe.
Features
- Allows for a more custom and high-performance fit
- Accommodates a larger variety of foot shapes
- Padded ankle cuff
- Odorless hemp footbed
- Slight downturn
- Superior X-Factor rubber rand
- Externally built dual pull tabs
- Breathable mesh tongue
Overall, if you’re looking for a laced climbing shoe that offers customizability and high performance while accommodating various foot shapes at an affordable price point then Climb X Crush Lace Climbing Shoe might be worth considering.
PROS
- Cheap
- Comfortable fit and will mold to most foot shapes easily
CONS
- Rubber is quite hard on the soles
- The grip could be better
- Sizing can be an issue
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Summary
A good climbing shoe is an extremely important piece of climbing equipment. For beginners and experts, there is nothing more important. Bouldering is one of the simplest types of climbing in regard to the gear that you need. But there are still 2 things you need. Climbing shoes and some chalk.
“The single most important piece of equiptment for improving your climbing is climbing shoes.”
