Best bouldering shoes After testing dozens of bouldering shoes, the Scarpa Booster quickly emerged as my prized pair of go-to shoes when it mattered most. It’s all about fit, comfort, and performance. Feb 12, 2024 · The Five Ten Anasazi Lace Pink (a. The best climbing shoe overall Jun 1, 2023 · 3. Specifications; Alternative Pick 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. 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. Important Specs; 2. 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. 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. . Written by Austin Beck-Doss and Matt Bento Mar 10, 2025 9:59 a. 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 » Oct 1, 2020 · BEST FOR: SLAB SPORT CLIMBING. Specifications; Alternative Pick: Five Ten Kirigami; 3. Specifications; Alternative Pick: Black Diamond Zone LV; 4. 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. Features & Specs: 0. This shoe is designed to deliver the ideal blend of performance and comfort, making it a favorite among climbers of all ability levels. Key characteristics of indoor climbing shoes include; Feb 20, 2025 · In the world of climbing, finding the best shoes is like finding the perfect partner for your climbing adventures. Tenaya Tarifa: Best Indoor Sport Climbing Shoe. Important Specs; 3. 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. Sizing, Fit + Sensitivity; Stiffness and Downturn / Aggressiveness 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). 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. Jan 9, 2025 · Best Wide Climbing Shoes: Comparison Table. With its moderate fit, this shoe excels across a range of climbing disciplines, from sport and trad climbing to bouldering. Beginner shoes typically skimp on quality materials, but Scarpa's Italian-made Helix are an Dec 17, 2024 · Our Team's Climbing Shoe Picks. 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). Our top pick for 2023. 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. Name Score Check Price; Top. Important Specs; Alternative Pick: La Sportiva Maverink; 4. 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. Feb 17, 2021 · Best Budget Beginners Climbing Shoes 2025. Scarpa Instinct VS Women's: Best Women's Bouldering Shoe. The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. Sep 11, 2020 · The TC Pros are the best climbing shoes for climbing slab on Yosemite granite. 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 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. Aside from their similar designs, they are the cheapest pair on this list and are a popular favorite. Rubber: High-quality rubber, like Vibram XS Grip2, provides better grip and 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. Softer shoes will conform to those big plastic holds and smear on the sandpaper-textured wall with ease. Gear Reviews Overview Page 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. Sep 20, 2024 · The Souped Up was made with modern bouldering in mind. 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 9, 2024 · After thoroughly testing and comparing these climbing shoes designed for wide feet, here’s our verdict for different climbing scenarios: Best Overall: La Sportiva Skwama. Scarpa Drago LV: Best Shoe for Oct 1, 2020 · BEST FOR: VERSATILITY. Here’s how to choose the best climbing shoe for you. ET Nov 14, 2024 · The best climbing shoe is the one that fits well and supports your climbing style and goals. Important Specs; Alternative Pick: Butora Gomi; 5. Below you will find some of my favorite bouldering shoes right now. Mar 9, 2023 · 7 Best gym bouldering shoes for Intermediate climbers. Sep 25, 2021 · BEST ALL PURPOSE . May 27, 2025 · Best Climbing Shoes at a Glance. Find your perfect climbing shoes at REI. Feb 11, 2025 · These shoes climb nearly as well as the best shoes on the market, at a lower price. The best overall climbing shoe should be versatile and comfortable, yet capable of edging, smearing, heel hooking, and toeing into cracks. Nov 6, 2023 · But affordable climbing shoes don’t necessarily translate to poor quality. 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. Tenaya Tanta: Best Budget Bouldering Shoe. 8mm LaSpoFlex midsole (women’s model) 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. REI. The Tenaya Iati is a versatile climbing shoe that provides an ideal balance of comfort, precision, and performance. With slightly more rubber than the Flagship Pro, this model is even more smeary thanks to its RH split midsole and RS toe patch. La Sportiva Solution Comp: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Women. Evolv has continued to work with top athletes to develop more prototypes, including V15 crusher Ashima Shiraishi. Best Chalk Bags. Best for: Precision and Versatility. New shoes aren't comfortable like rented shoes which were broken in by 100+ of feet. Important Specs; 5. 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. 5. For best traction on the rock, they have a downturned design and a sticky rubber sole. Sep 17, 2021 · The climbing shoe that best incorporates all of the above is the La Sportiva TC Pro. This shoe has it all – precision, versititly, wide appeal and a winning marriage of comfortable fit with steep climbing performance. Five Ten has recently improved this shoe that is popularly known as “the Pinkies. If you are brand new to climbing, then I suggest heading over to our beginner bouldering shoe guide instead. Feb 19, 2021 · Best Intermediate Rock Climbing Shoes For Bouldering & the Gym. Tenaya Iati. We here at the Adventure Junkies will help you find the best women’s climbing shoes. 1. With climbing shoes there's no way I'll be able to buy online or just from recommendation. 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. Shape: Aggressive shoes work best for steep climbs, while neutral shoes are better for all-day comfort. k. Evolv Elektra: Best Beginner Climbing Shoe for Women. 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 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 10, 2023 · Best For: Diverse bouldering and single-pitch sport. The Best Bouldering Shoes in 2023. Climbing. Some of the leading climbing shoe brands — like Tenaya, La Sportiva, and SCARPA — are generally 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. List of the Best Bouldering Shoes. 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. La Sportiva Kubo. Perfect balance of performance and comfort; Versatile enough for various climbing styles; Superior sensitivity without sacrificing fit; Best for Gym Climbing: Scarpa Veloce Nov 6, 2023 · There’s a good reason for why this shoe it so popular: The Scarpa Instinct VS is one of the best bouldering shoes for wide feet, both in the gym and on the rock. 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. Jul 29, 2022 · 2. La Sportiva Tarantulace: Best Budget Climbing Shoes for Beginners. 5 mm XS Grip 2 sole with a hand-constructed 2 mm XS Grip Heel. Important Specs; Alternative Pick: Ocun's Oxi S; 3. However, relegating this model to the ranks of newbies sells its capabilities short as a low-cost all-around climbing shoe. 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. 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. Many beginner and intermediate climbers found the Drifter as a mid-performance shoe despite being relatively flat. Mar 8, 2025 · The Butora Endeavor Rock Climbing Shoe may be just what you need if you’re seeking a high-quality rock climbing shoe that’s both comfortable and functional. 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. Read full article : The 6 Best Climbing Shoes of 2025: Staff Picks 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. Nov 7, 2024 · The best climbing shoes 2025. Important Specs; 6. 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. Leather: Leather is the most traditional material for a climbing shoe. 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. Important Specs; 4. Your choice of bouldering shoes will depend on several factors: Fit: Shoes should feel snug but not painful. La Sportiva Tarantula Boulder. The Booster excels on steep, demanding bouldering projects while also holding an edge surprisingly well with an aggressive downturn and an asymmetric shape. Climbing shoes fall along various spectrums of downturn, stiffness, and comfort. The shoe is also amazing at edging and climbing challenging vertical faces. ” 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. The Best Zero Drop Running Shoes of 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 Mar 8, 2023 · 7 Best indoor bouldering shoes for beginners. a. The Best Coolers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed The Best Coolers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed. 6 oz. I also preferred Velcros but twice ended up buying laced shoes because these models were just more comfortable than others. La Sportiva Skwama Women's: Best Indoor Bouldering Shoes. La Sportiva Miura VS Women's: Best Trad Climbing Shoe for Women. Mar 19, 2024 · To help you zero in on your needs, I put together this guide. 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. Posted by Melissa Kochanowsky February 19, 2021 December 11, 2021. Scarpa Men's Helix Rock Climbing Shoes. Scarpa Force V Women's: Best Beginner Shoes for Women. Even to this day, it is still regarded as one of the best-downturned climbing shoes ever made. Bouldering vs Rock Climbing. 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. 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. SHOES DOWNTURN CLOSURE UPPER WEIGHT (PAIR) La Sportiva Katana Lace: Aggressive: Lace-up: Leather/Microfiber: 1 lb. Apr 22, 2025 · We tested 19 pairs of women's climbing shoes from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Black Diamond, and others to find the best-performing models for your climbing style. La Sportiva Tarantula Jr: Best Kid's Climbing Shoes for Beginners. 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 Shop for Women's Climbing Shoes at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. Nov 30, 2022 · 2. 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 Feb 28, 2022 · Best Bouldering Shoe: Scarpa Booster. For more of our top climbing footwear recommendations, check out the Best Climbing Shoes. Jan 8, 2021 · 21 of the LATEST new and updated best climbing shoes Jan 2021. La Sportiva Theory Women's: Best Sport Climbing Shoe for Women. Gym climbing on modern features and dynamic moves to far volumes and holds is where they perform best. m. 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. Find out more about how we test and compare products. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. Top picks for beginners, intermediate, bouldering and under $100 plus COMPLETE buyer's guide! 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. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. Scarpa Instinct VSR comes with a 3. Choosing the Best Bouldering Shoes for Your Needs. 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. Mar 23, 2023 · Best Overall Climbing Shoe: La Sportiva Katana Lace. Downturned, soft, and stiff, but not to the extreme, the Five Ten Hiangle is a well-balanced all-around climbing shoe. It stretches the most These are our favorite picks for rock climbing shoes, whether you're bouldering, sport climbing or trad climbing. Made with a perforated vegan synthetic upper, these shoes provide breathability while maintaining durability. Specifically designed for hard bouldering, the Scarpa Instinct VSS addresses all the needs of the modern boulderer, while offering a snug and comfortable fit for the wide-footed Feb 26, 2025 · The Evolv Elektra Climbing Shoe offers a balance of comfort and performance, designed for climbers who need a reliable, versatile option. Read on for our 2025 picks. Apr 26, 2023 · Our Selection of the Best Climbing Shoes for Women in 2023. By Laura Lancaster. Best Climbing Harnesses. Important Specs; 7. 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. Comparison Table; 1. 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 Mar 10, 2025 · From trad climbing to pockets to bouldering, the best climbing shoes just keep getting better. Features & Specs: Leather Suede upper; 4mm FrixXion Black outsole ; 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. Feb 23, 2024 · Climbing shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment in your crag pack. Evolv Ashima: Best Bouldering Shoe for Kids. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee 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. The Pinks) are a traditional climbing shoe with a modern twist. In fact they are basically the official climbing shoes of El Capitan, having been designed by Tommy Caldwell for the Dawn Wall and used by Alex Honnold to climb the “Freerider” free solo style. The Solution represented a big leap forward in modern shoe design when it was first released in 2007. Evolv Venga: Best Indoor Climbing Shoe for Kids. Important Specs; Pros; Cons; 4. xare hvgntn txyxpr vakvuon kwux kzudlwv umhxaspkf fwyfr iwtpnx ngfpk