Best bouldering shoes Features & Specs: 0. 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. 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. If you are looking for an inexpensive approach shoe for aid climbing, the La Sportiva Boulder X is a highly supportive and comfortable shoe that excels at standing in aiders and crushing miles on the trail. Below, you can find an overview of the list of best bouldering shoes by category: Scarpa Drago – Best for Bouldering; Scarpa Instinct VS – Great for Indoor Bouldering; La Sportiva Solution – Top All-Rounder; La Sportiva Skwama – Great for Edges; Evolv Shaman – Ultimate Grip; Five Ten Hiangle – Best Apr 16, 2025 · Fortunately, several shoes meet these basic criteria, so the choice comes down to finding the model that is the best fit for your foot and best suits your climbing goals. The shoe is also amazing at edging and climbing challenging vertical faces. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. Evolv has continued to work with top athletes to develop more prototypes, including V15 crusher Ashima Shiraishi. The ideal pair will offer the fit and performance that match your climbing style so you can tackle the wall more confidently. Best for: Precision and Versatility. Posted by Melissa Kochanowsky February 19, 2021 December 11, 2021. Comparison Table; 1. —the Tarantulace is a comfort-first shoe with an unlined leather upper, a mildly asymmetric shape, a stiff last, and a relatively roomy toe-box. Climbing. The Booster excels on steep, demanding bouldering projects while also holding an edge surprisingly well with an aggressive downturn and an asymmetric shape. Important Specs; Pros; Cons; 4. 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 Mar 19, 2024 · To help you zero in on your needs, I put together this guide. 10 Asym's. La Sportiva Theory Women's: Best Sport Climbing Shoe for Women. . 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Mar 9, 2023 · 7 Best gym bouldering shoes for Intermediate climbers. In a competitive market, it can be tricky to figure out which model of bouldering shoe is the right one to go for. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. Our Top Pick – Best Beginner Climbing Shoe; Best Beginner Climbing Shoe For The Money; Excellent Vegan + Budget Beginner Climbing Shoes; Best New Tech + Looks; Best Beginner Climbing Shoe On A Budget; Beginner Climbing Shoes Buying Guide. 5 mm XS Grip 2 sole with a hand-constructed 2 mm XS Grip Heel. The best climbing shoe overall Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. Top picks for beginners, intermediate, bouldering and under $100 plus COMPLETE buyer's guide! Jul 29, 2022 · 2. Feb 23, 2024 · Climbing shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment in your crag pack. Jul 25, 2024 · Below are our picks for the 13 best beginner climbing shoes of 2024, but if you’re ready to take the next step, check out our article on the best overall climbing shoes. 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 Jan 9, 2025 · Best Wide Climbing Shoes: Comparison Table. Important Specs; 2. Aside from their similar designs, they are the cheapest pair on this list and are a popular favorite. Best Climbing Harnesses. Important Specs; 7. Nov 11, 2023 · The Stiffest Climbing Shoes. 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 Nov 10, 2023 · With the exception of a few models, many of the bouldering shoes I share below are chosen with intermediate and advanced climbers in mind. Written by Austin Beck-Doss and Matt Bento Mar 10, 2025 9:59 a. S. Some of the leading climbing shoe brands — like Tenaya, La Sportiva, and SCARPA — are generally Sep 20, 2024 · The Souped Up was made with modern bouldering in mind. Important Specs; 3. La Sportiva Tarantula Boulder. La Sportiva Kubo. Nov 16, 2023 · This is the preferred style for indoor shoes because gym climbing is significantly more dynamic and three-dimensional than traditional outdoor rock climbing. It’s all about fit, comfort, and performance. It stretches the most Nov 11, 2023 · Moderate climbing shoes offer the best of both worlds; downturned enough for precise footwork on steep terrain, and flat enough for friction moves on slabby sport lines. Evolv Venga: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Kids. May 4, 2021 · The Scarpa Vapor V women’s climbing shoe is not just one of the best women’s gym climbing shoes but perhaps one of the best climbing shoes period. 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 Sep 25, 2021 · BEST ALL PURPOSE . We here at the Adventure Junkies will help you find the best women’s climbing shoes. Important Specs; 5. Dec 29, 2021 · Here are the best beginner climbing shoes: La Sportiva Finale; Mad Rock Drifter; Evolv Defy; La Sportiva Tarantulace; Black Diamond Momentum; Mad Rock Flash; Scarpa Origin; How to Choose the Best Beginner Climbing Shoes for Your Needs Upper Material. Even to this day, it is still regarded as one of the best-downturned climbing shoes ever made. Jun 1, 2023 · 3. The Solution represented a big leap forward in modern shoe design when it was first released in 2007. Sep 16, 2024 · La Sportiva Tarantulace. Scarpa Men's Helix Rock Climbing Shoes. Evolv Elektra: Best Beginner Climbing Shoe for Women. While the best bouldering shoes will cost closer to the $200 mark, as you have just seen, there are plenty of brands that still have some pretty solid budget shoe designs to choose from. We tested crack climbing performance on various crags across the country, including Idaho's City of Rocks, Utah's Indian Creek, and the hallowed walls of Yosemite Valley. The best overall climbing shoe should be versatile and comfortable, yet capable of edging, smearing, heel hooking, and toeing into cracks. Leather: Leather is the most traditional material for a climbing shoe. With slightly more rubber than the Flagship Pro, this model is even more smeary thanks to its RH split midsole and RS toe patch. The cheapest shoe on this list—and, consequently, one of the best-selling climbing shoes in the U. Dec 17, 2024 · Our Team's Climbing Shoe Picks. Downturned, soft, and stiff, but not to the extreme, the Five Ten Hiangle is a well-balanced all-around climbing shoe. Gym climbing on modern features and dynamic moves to far volumes and holds is where they perform best. Many beginner and intermediate climbers found the Drifter as a mid-performance shoe despite being relatively flat. m. Rock climbing shoes are one of the items in rock climbing that you cannot substitute for, and when you are beginning with rock climbing, a pair of cheap rock climbing shoes can be a good investment. If you are brand new to climbing, then I suggest heading over to our beginner bouldering shoe guide instead. La Sportiva Solution Comp: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Women. Feb 19, 2021 · Best Intermediate Rock Climbing Shoes For Bouldering & the Gym. 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. Nov 6, 2023 · In my opinion, the Vapour V represents the ultimate ‘quiver of one’ shoe and one of the best climbing shoes for beginners right now. La Sportiva Tarantula Jr: Best Kid's Climbing Shoes for Beginners. Scarpa Drago LV: Best Shoe for Mar 25, 2025 · #7 La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoes – Best Cheap Bouldering Shoes for Men #8 Scarpa Instinct VS Climbing Shoes – Best Women’s Climbing Shoes #9 Scarpa Origin Women’s Climbing Shoes – Best Cheap Climbing Shoes for Women #10 La Sportiva Skwama Vegan Men’s Climbing Shoes– Best Bouldering Shoes for Vegans Mar 7, 2025 · Best climbing shoes for beginners Editor Favorite. Mar 17, 2025 · Bouldering Shoes: Bouldering shoes are intended for climbers who prefer bouldering and require an aggressive and precise shoe for difficult boulder problems. Read full article : The 6 Best Climbing Shoes of 2025: Staff Picks The best bouldering shoes for beginners are a pair that fits well and gets you climbing. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. Editor's note: We updated this article on July 25, 2024 to move La Sportiva's Kubo up as our favorite beginner shoe for gym climbing, add Unparallel's slip-on Up Mocc, and Sep 20, 2021 · Women’s climbing shoes are designed to accommodate the anatomical differences in women’s feet, making them more comfortable for women to wear on the rock. The midsole is a thin plastic sheet, usually between 1-2mm, that is hidden beneath the footbed and outsole. 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). Jan 8, 2021 · 21 of the LATEST new and updated best climbing shoes Jan 2021. Important Specs; 4. ” A new heel cup provides a snugger fit to assist your super cool heel-hooking moves and the asymmetrical toe provides maximum edging on the tiniest of edges. 1. Specifications; Alternative Pick: Black Diamond Zone LV; 4. Best Chalk Bags. The Best Bouldering Shoes in 2023. REI. Fitting your climbing shoes for comfort is like buying a car because you like the driver’s seat. Find out more about how we test and compare products. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, the right pair of climbing shoes is essential. Nov 10, 2023 · Best For: Diverse bouldering and single-pitch sport. Key characteristics of indoor climbing shoes include; Apr 26, 2023 · Our Selection of the Best Climbing Shoes for Women in 2023. The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. Name Score Check Price; Top. Scarpa Force V Women's: Best Beginner Shoes for Women. Important Specs; 6. After testing dozens of bouldering shoes, the Scarpa Booster quickly emerged as my prized pair of go-to shoes when it mattered most. Feb 20, 2025 · In the world of climbing, finding the best shoes is like finding the perfect partner for your climbing adventures. Specifications; Alternative Pick: Five Ten Kirigami; 3. Softer shoes will conform to those big plastic holds and smear on the sandpaper-textured wall with ease. 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? I am having an incredibly hard time deciding, because whatever I pick is likely going to be the only shoe I use for the next 1-2 years. Mar 12, 2025 · The Best Climbing Shoes of 2025 Aside from the ice climbers, mountaineers, and Charles Albert, every climber needs a pair of reliable climbing shoes. Here’s how to choose the best climbing shoe for you. Feb 28, 2022 · Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Booster. The Tenaya Iati is a versatile climbing shoe that provides an ideal balance of comfort, precision, and performance. Feb 11, 2025 · These shoes climb nearly as well as the best shoes on the market, at a lower price. 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. Scarpa Mago; Scarpa Drago; La Sportiva Skwama; EB Black Opium The Mad Rock Drifter is a close 2nd place to the ClimbX Rave climbing shoes for the Best Beginner Indoor Climbing Shoes On A Budget. Bouldering vs Rock Climbing. Specifications; Alternative Pick 5. Read on for our 2025 picks. Nov 11, 2023 · The five shoes I will share with you on this page are some of the best climbing shoes for intermediate climbers available in 2023, all of which are suited to a variety of foot shapes and climbing styles. 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 Mar 23, 2023 · Best Overall Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Katana Lace. a. Beginner shoes typically skimp on quality materials, but Scarpa's Italian-made Helix are an Mar 10, 2025 · From trad climbing to pockets to bouldering, the best climbing shoes just keep getting better. Our top pick for 2023. Mar 8, 2023 · 7 Best indoor bouldering shoes for beginners. Shop for Women's Climbing Shoes at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. However, relegating this model to the ranks of newbies sells its capabilities short as a low-cost all-around climbing shoe. Sizing, Fit + Sensitivity; Stiffness and Downturn / Aggressiveness Apr 2, 2023 · BUT, there's an important difference between these shoes which is their rubber compound that helps me to choose Scarpa Instinct VSR as the best bouldering climbing shoes. Over the past decade, our team has tested over 45 of the best climbing shoes for women. Scarpa Instinct VSR comes with a 3. Nov 6, 2023 · But affordable climbing shoes don’t necessarily translate to poor quality. Nov 7, 2024 · The best climbing shoes 2025. Feb 11, 2023 · The top 5 intermediate climbing shoes we recommend for 2025: Editor’s Choice: Scarpa Vapor V Upgrade Pick: La Sportiva TC Pro Best Value: Mad Rock Remora Best For Bouldering & Sport Climbing: Butora Acro Nov 11, 2023 · The rigidity of any climbing shoe is determined by the thickness and material used in the midsole and outsole. 8mm LaSpoFlex midsole (women’s model) Oct 1, 2020 · BEST FOR: VERSATILITY. For more of our top climbing footwear recommendations, check out the Best Climbing Shoes. For best traction on the rock, they have a downturned design and a sticky rubber sole. 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. This shoe has it all – precision, versititly, wide appeal and a winning marriage of comfortable fit with steep climbing performance. I didn’t have a shred of footwork technique in those first few months. Comfort is not king. With its moderate fit, this shoe excels across a range of climbing disciplines, from sport and trad climbing to bouldering. Designed with a simple, yet functional neutral profile and a form-fitting leather upper, the Five Ten Anasazi Lace are a comfortable, yet versatile pair of climbing shoes. La Sportiva Tarantulace: Best Budget Climbing Shoes for Beginners. Climbing shoes fall along various spectrums of downturn, stiffness, and comfort. Below you will find some of my favorite bouldering shoes right now. Section divider Ten Things You Need to Know About Climbing Shoes 1. Here's my complete guide to moderate climbing shoes. 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. 6 oz. Oct 1, 2020 · BEST FOR: SLAB SPORT CLIMBING. A good beginner transitioning to intermediate shoe, the Anasazi VCS offers a perfect blend of stiffness and sensitivity allowing you attempt those harder grades while still being able to feel the rock under your feet. SHOES DOWNTURN CLOSURE UPPER WEIGHT (PAIR) La Sportiva Katana Lace: Aggressive: Lace-up: Leather/Microfiber: 1 lb. Apr 24, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. The Pinks) are a traditional climbing shoe with a modern twist. List of the Best Bouldering Shoes. Everything changed after I bought my first pair of climbing shoes, the La Sportiva Finale. This is why most climbers have multiple pairs of shoes that work best on different terrain, climbing styles, and intensities. When it comes to sticking to the rock or plastic, the Stealth C4 Rubber does go to the extreme, offering maximum stickiness to help you “stick” your problems. Whether you’re a beginner exploring indoor walls or an experienced outdoor enthusiast tackling challenging routes, the right pair of bouldering shoes can make all the difference. Gear Reviews Overview Page Idk why people downvoted this comment, starting with the sensitive good shoes for bouldering is the only way to get used to sensitive shoes for bouldering, you can get in tarantulas or some other stiff shoes with no downturn and when you feel like you can climb better but your feet aren't helping you as much and you go for performance shoes you're almost back to 0 because you climb different Nov 6, 2023 · Designed in partnership with rock-climbing legend Chris Sharma, the Shaman is a high-performance shoe that helped usher in the surge of modern rock-climbing styles (think showy, dynamic movement). Sep 17, 2021 · The climbing shoe that best incorporates all of the above is the La Sportiva TC Pro. Feb 12, 2024 · The Five Ten Anasazi Lace Pink (a. If you want a shoe that will help you perform at your best, regardless of what you plan on climbing, then this would be my #1 recommendation. La Sportiva Miura VS Women's: Best Trad Climbing Shoe for Women. To help you find the best option for you, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite climbing shoe models on the market in 2025. k. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. Running shoes, for example, are not good for climbing, and if you ever tried to do rock climbing with … Best Cheap Rock Climbing Shoes & Bouldering Shoes under $100 for 2022 Read More » Feb 17, 2021 · Best Budget Beginners Climbing Shoes 2025. These are our favorite picks for rock climbing shoes, whether you're bouldering, sport climbing or trad climbing. Many people are flocking to the sport as it increases in popularity, and subsequently a great range of budget friendly climbing shoes under $100 have entered the market. Apr 22, 2025 · The Best Climbing Shoes for Women. Tenaya Tarifa: Best Indoor Sport Climbing Shoe. Jan 11, 2022 · This La Sportiva climbing shoe is often named one of the best beginner climbing shoes, and it is undoubtedly a winning choice for that purpose. Features & Specs: Leather Suede upper; 4mm FrixXion Black outsole ; May 14, 2021 · Rock climbing is a great way to stay fit, enjoy the outdoors and meet new and interesting people from all walks of life. Tenaya Iati. Find your perfect climbing shoes at REI. Five Ten has recently improved this shoe that is popularly known as “the Pinkies. Climbing shoes are a highly personal choice, and stiff shoes might not suit you or the type of climbing you are practicing. Pretty much the only shoe that fit semi-comfortably, due to my wide, flat Hobbit-esque feet. 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. More so than most other kinds of sport shoe, they need to fit perfectly – finding the best climbing shoe for your feet can mean looking at both female-specific shoes (narrower, lower in volume) and unisex versions in order to fine tune the fit. The Best Bouldering Shoes | Our Favourites. When I first started climbing, I was wearing a pair of sneakers, and I was all arms. ET Nov 14, 2024 · The best climbing shoe is the one that fits well and supports your climbing style and goals. La Sportiva Skwama Women's: Best Indoor Bouldering Shoes. tmxzzom kget dke kfx qejn eiaeat xlza agetkx jixhzlx ssixgmq nlerfm kjco gcergmz luvu nbysniy