If you are in a hurry we recommend the La Sportiva Solution Comp as the best climbing shoe for modern bouldering and for both lead and boulder competitions. If you climb all kinds of routes, then we recommend the La Sportiva Katana lace for an all-round climbing shoe!
Finding the perfect climbing shoe can be tricky. It really depends a lot on what type of climbing you do. Even then its usually a good idea to have several pairs for different kinds of routes and even during one session. I personally often warm-up in one pair and (try) to send routes in an other pair. One climbing trip I actually climbed in mismatched shoes. I said it was because of the edge route that I was working on needed different kinds of shoes on each side of the edge. In reality it was because of a hurried packing.
All jokes aside I do recommend testing different kinds of shoes for different kinds of routes to find out what works best for you. In this review you can find a lot of information to get you started on the right direction to find the best climbing shoes for you!
Here is a list of the best climbing shoes reviewed in this article:
- La Sportiva Solution Comp
- La sportiva Katana Lace
- Scarpa Vapor V
- La Sportiva TC Pro
- Evolv Phantom
- Unparallel Regulus
- La Sportiva Gripit
- Tenaya Tarifa
- Evolv Shaman
- Butora Acro
- Butora Endeavor
If you are interested in the Katana Lace climbing shoes we do have a more thorough article on them:>>You can read more about the La Sportiva Katana Lace in our more in-depth review of the shoes by clicking here!<<
- Weight: 18.7 oz / 530 grams
- Materials: Leather, Vibram XS edge
- Closure: Laces
- TC stands for Tommy Caldwell
- Great for long routes
- One of the most popular multi-pitch and big wall shoes
- Comfortable
- Has extra ankle protection
- Not the most affordable
- Some people get achilles pain
- Not optimal for hard sport or bouldering
The best prices for the TC Pros :
The best prices for the Tenaya Tarifas:
Specs
- Weight: 1 lb. 1.6 oz. / 550 grams
- Neo Fuse rubber: Sticky rubber suitable for bouldering and sport climbing on steeper routes.
- Agressive down turn with ABS-injected mid sole.
- Triple fork velcro closure for quick on and off.
- High tension heel rand for a nice fit and to make sure your feet are secured nicely in the shoes from toes to heels.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Versatile
- Great for edging
- Good for pockets
- Good for cracks
- Sensitive shoe
- Not the most comfortable in a tight size
- The heel cup can be too large for some people
- Not the best breathability
The best prices for the Butora Acros:
- Weight: 19.2 oz. / 545 grams
- Materials: Neo Fuse rubber, Organic hemp lining, Leather
- ABS injected midsole
- Velcro closure
- Really affordable pricing
- Great for beginners
- Great for warm-ups or easier & longer routes
- Good edging
- Some people have had trouble finding the right size
- Not really good for tougher routes
The best prices for the Butora Endeavor shoes:
- Weight: 7 oz / 200 grams (per pair)
- Materials: Suede leather,
- Closure: Fast lacing
- Designed to eliminate pressure on growing feet
- comfortable
- Durable soles
- Good on edges
- Good for beginner kids whose feet are still growing
- Not great performance on technical routes
- Not good on cracks or pockets
- Not so durable lacing