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Men bouldering vs rock climbing shoes reddit. Loved the toebox, but hated how the midsole felt.
Men bouldering vs rock climbing shoes reddit. I used to buy them a half size down, but recently, I've been using my street shoe sized pair. Did you know that r/climbing also has a wiki on climbing shoes? Mens shoes often fit wider than women’s models, so maybe trying out men’s shoes too? I have wider feet, and I can usually get a good fit out of some but not all shoes by: evolv, Soill, unparallel, mad rock, and black diamond. any recommendations on good shoes that won't break the bank and are fairly versatile? I've been climbing for 4 weeks and am climbing 5. Has anyone had experience with these? I'm a late convert to the Drone, having bought my first pair recently. My question/s is what benefits of bouldering set you up, if at all, for outdoor stuff? I plan to use it mostly bouldering, but in better weather outside climbing as well. My rock climbing teachers recommended me the sportiva kubo. So I thought I’d share my experience for someone who’s new to climbing and trying to buy their first pair. With dozens of options, how do you sort them all out and pick the best beginner climbing shoe for you? Kind of a two-part question… For the future, when getting a new pair of climbing shoes, how much of a downsize would you go down from your first pair? Or would you even look to downsize? Also, how common is it for women to wear “men” climbing shoes? Is there really a difference between men & women’s? (Primarily an indoor bouldering gal, slowly getting into top rope if that helps at all Sportiva skwama leather (sized down 1. I have tried them and now I review, and rate them. I ended up with the men's force Vs (they go down into "women's" sizes, I wear a women's 5. You've been climbing for a few months, don't concern yourself with the model of shoe. Just wondering what the best shoes to get are. If you want improved smearing a softer shoe will help with that, something like the scarpa veloce is moderately downturned and very soft. At $115 (retail price), the Scarpa Origin climbing shoes are some of the most affordable on the market. Enter the La Sportiva Finale. Will I as I develop? What are the pros and cons of each? 2. Find one that fits you the best, pretty much anything is an improvement over the very entry level. So aggressive, sick edging power, but my feet Hello! Avid rock climber here. The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. That being said, it’s always nice to have two pairs of shoes. 5. You need to get the right shape for your toes. What Is Bouldering? Hello all! I wear a mens US size 10 in street shoes. Not clear how you differentiate bouldering and rock climbing in your mind (as others said here, bouldering IS rock climbing as well). Note that “bouldering” shoes might be used as “lead” shoes, and vice versa; in reality, most high-performance shoes will excel at both disciplines. Bouldering routes, also known as problems, are often steeply overhanging with powerful moves. But even the cheapest climbing shoes are miles better than rentals. rock climbing and discuss the implications in terms of difficulty, training safety, and equipment. That way you can see how the shoe feels on I’m going to say the issue is that you only started 2 weeks ago and jumped straight into buying some shoes, should have stuck with rentals for a bit longer to get through the fundamentals and let your feet become accustomed to wearing climbing shoes. Recently got my first climbing shoes and went for LS Zenits. This is just my opinion. It's become my favourite bouldering shoe. Here's everything you need to know about outdoor climbing shoes. Heel was awesome, always stayed in place. I think I'm definitely going to want to dry all forms of climbing in the future, in particular outdoor rope assisted rock climbing. I am looking for something slightly aggressive or aggressive, with Velcro, a nice heel cup, good sensitivity and good fit. There is no need for bigger shoes with these, in fact it's sometimes easier to get into the shoe because there is less friction (similar to how some people use plastic to get into new shoes). Thanks in advance for any recommendations or suggestions! TLDR: I exclusively indoor boulder. As a beginner, it's also better to fit for comfort or a snug but not painful sizing as the shoes will stretch out over use. Building the first version of this list was simple: we simply asked ourselves which shoes we wanted included, then pulled from the reviews we’ve written over the years. The softer rubber on the Comps might wear down faster if you're doing a lot of outdoor climbing so be aware of that. As for what shoe to buy, specifically, it'll help if you tell us what sort of routes will you be climbing, on what rock, will it be bouldering, sport or trad, and whether your feet are wide or narrow at the ball of the foot and at the heel, bulky or kinda flat, and which of your toes is longest :) The website shows that the boulder ones have a rubber on the top of the toebox, which makes the shoe more resistant to toehooks. They do have lots of I recently purchased my first pair of climbing shoes for indoor climbing after trying 20+ or so from different brands and models. Is this true? Nov 11, 2023 · Ready to leave the beginner shoes behind? A reliable pair of intermediate climbing shoes might be exactly what you need to take your climbing game to the next level. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. I am genuinely curious if anyone who has no previous experience with sport climbing has watched the men's combined event and what your opinions are. 2K votes, 442 comments. The best advice we can give you for your climbing shoe purchase, is to try the shoes on in person before you buy them online. Laces or Velcro? I'm just a beginner, but I've climbed both and haven't noticed any difference in feel. That really helps for standing on large volumes. However I don’t think there’s a lot of higher performing shoes from BD that do something better than other climbing shoe brands like la sportiva, scarpa, etc. In our most recent update, our expert team compared 27 of today's most promising models while climbing across all disciplines, from gym and sport climbs to bouldering and long trad routes. But I also tried on a few more of theirs in both men's and women's and they all fit okay, so I would recommend you try anything Scarpa. Stiff vs. I am about a V4/5 climber. For starters, check out some all-around climbing shoes that offer all-day comfort. The only brand I have found that fits is Scarpa. Once again, definitely not a bouldering or overhung shoe, at least how I'm using it. Overly nerdy approach, lol. 8s. I love the Miuras and use them for hard bouldering and sport. And yes we are scared of falling. I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for a beginner to intermediate climbing shoe for the bouldering gym? La Sportive, Scarpa? Approach shoes would probably be better on slabby stuff, but if it's getting to the point where I can't get up something in my trail runners, I should probably be roping up and putting the climbing shoes on. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. Now i have to buy new shoes since my first shoes are pretty run down. But I notice your comment about your pair having XS Grip - maybe get them resoled with Edge? Outdoor climbing is a different beast where for each type of climb you may have a different shoe, but what about for those long days in the gym? What shoe do you use/recommend that manages to perform on boulder problems and walls alike yet doesn't get uncomfortable for those longer days of nonstop climbing? Have you tried either shoe on? It's not a case of anything works. I'd like to have a rough idea before I go pretty far to try them on. I bought them in the same size that I normally have (Eu44) but after climbing 4 sessions in them, they have only gotten more painful. Note: If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. These shoes are available at an affordable price and come equipped with a generous 5 millimeters of Vibram XS Edge rubber for enhanced durability. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. The cost of all these shoes can quickly become significant. If you can, find a store near you (climbing gyms will often sell shoes, if you're in America there's probably an rei near you) and try on different brands, since each will fit differently (different toeboxes, different heels, etc). Here's what you need to know. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. I am an beginner-intermediate in bouldering, will be new ro rock climbing. See full list on climbing. Look for a fit that's like slipping into a comfy pair of running It seems like this shoe is an update on the previous Tarantula velcro: The best-selling Tarantula climbing shoe is reinvigorated with additional features to help beginner climbers focus on bouldering and more complex climbing movements. I also prefer soft shoes to stiff ones, and prefer somewhat downturned shoes. 0 version. 2. Nov 10, 2023 · There's no shortage of awesome bouldering shoes in 2023. Mar 23, 2023 · The best rock climbing shoes for bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, plus everything you need to know before buying a pair The shoes you listed are all really different, some pretty soft and others quite stiff. Since you're shopping online, finding a pair that feels good right off the bat is super important. 1. That said, for indoor, especially bouldering the softer the rubber generally the better, so xsgrip 2 from La Sportiva/scarpa. Did you enjoy it? Do you see this as a future Olympic sport forever? What, if anything, did you not enjoy about it? Thanks for sharing your opinions! Velcro or Lace? I know that climbing shoes are usually a discouraged topic here, which I understand. It makes them an excellent first pair of climbing shoes for beginners or a comfy and versatile option for more advanced climbers. Specifically mens pants but if the women want to chime in with their favorite pair go ahead! I mostly use the bear bottom joggers but I'm sure there is something more comfortable out there. Mar 7, 2025 · If you’re overwhelmed by the variety of climbing shoes, our expert-vetted guide covers everything you need to know. The combination produces an outstanding value. They are amazing outdoor shoes and I think they stick even better to rock than plastic, but they are still really nice and sticky for indoor climbing. Brands like Scarpa and La Sportiva have some solid options. Loved the toebox, but hated how the midsole felt. Which is worse for finger joint health? Sep 16, 2024 · Climbing shoes are very different from street shoes. I’ve been climbing in la sportiva aragon (women’s) for the past 7 months - my first climbing shoes. I have narrow heels and have always had issues with my shoes chafing my heels. Climbing shoes are a little different to street shoes. I find it really hard to get a shoe which fits properly around the heel, width wise is usually OK but I seem to have quite flat heels so I always find that there is space underneath. Just kind of scrunched. There is hardly any shoe in existence better suited to outdoor climbing on really small holds than Katana laces, they're what Adam Ondra used on the Dawn Wall. The BD Momentum is the only shoe I’ve seen much of, as it’s a pretty solid and affordable shoe for newer climbers. 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 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Normal climbing shoes without a rubber are not made for toehooking and will be short lived if you do that, depending on your level of experience and style of bouldering. You often see this in both comp climbing and it has been shown before on pro climber vids where they wear one of each shoe depending on if they need stiff or soft. Jun 12, 2025 · We put 23 pairs of climbing shoes to the test on boulder problems, sport climbs, and traditional routes. Climbers use the term 'climbing' as a catch all, but non-climbers are more likely to be familiar with "rock climbing" (which usually means top roping), and boulders will use rock climbing to mean climbing with a rope to differentiate it from bouldering, although to a newbie it seems like bouldering is also be a form of rock climbing. Since you plan to climb only indoor you could even consider trying something softer (especially if you are a lighter climber). Evolv Phantom (size 9. The regular Solutions are good if you're trying to do outdoor climbing. The home of Climbing on reddit. Top contenders right now from looking around the web seem to be Dragos, Instinct VS, Solution Comps, Otakis, and Hiangle Pros, but I'm open to being sold on something else. Basically prolonged low stress (climbing) versus short intense stress (bouldering). I have never climbed in the instincts so I can’t comment on them. rock climbing shoes i just recently got into rock climbing and the place i go rents out shoes but they're not the highest quality. Nov 11, 2023 · Nothing beats climbing on real rock, but if you want to perform at your best, you're going to need the right kit for the job. I'm still kinda new to climbing, started about a year ago with bouldering, since 4 months im really into climbing and recently i started wit outdoor climbing. A subreddit dedicated to discussing and reviewing climbing shoes. But lately, my trainer told me that I need something that can squeeze more into the small foot holds. Feb 19, 2021 · We’ve reviewed all the best intermediate climbing shoes out there. After my last session, my toes have turned red and I can't bend them at the knuckle. Overall felt fine but just not super sensitive. I am looking for recommendations on an aggressive bouldering shoe with a small heel. A beginner pair of climbing shoes will run you about $100 and a high quality pair will be around $200. I recently started bouldering at an indoor place close to my home, I've been maybe 8 or 9 times over 6 weeks and I love it. Just looking for any potential suggestions for shoes for mostly indoor bouldering with a low volume heel, preferably on the softer side. In this review we look at the best shoes for bouldering — since shoes are the main driver of your performance when tackling that bouldering problem. Though even after reading CF's climbing shoes guide, I was still lost on one thing. 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 A subreddit designed to help those looking for rock climbing shoes. The past 6 pairs of climbing shoes I've purchased has been the Instinct V or VSs. For bouldering, you'd probably want more down turned shoes (but again depends on local rock) for heel hooking. Jul 29, 2022 · Unfortunately for beginners, the explosive growth of rock climbing has also led to the proliferation of new brands and models of climbing shoes for beginners. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. Instincts are a good allrounder. When it comes to picking out climbing shoes for beginners, comfort and price are key. Keep in mind everyone has different opinion on shoes varied by price, what everyone in their community has, foot shape, climbing style, etc. It's a tough choice but consider going for that $200 upgrade to start with. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I recently bought my first pair of aggressive climbing shoes, the scarpa instinct vsr's. It makes a huge difference how a shoe feels on vs off the wall. Apr 29, 2025 · We tested and reviewed the best shoes for long alpine scrambles, car-to-crag jaunts, and everything in between. Exactly what you need to know to buy your perfect climbing shoe! Jan 18, 2023 · The toes (and the shoe in general) will last much longer because of the harder compound. At the same Haven't seen any comparisons of how the OG compares to the 2. I prefer top-rope over bouldering and currently am not planning to ever climb outdoors. Seems most people like other shoes for indoor bouldering better. Find your perfect climbing shoes at REI. What are the best bouldering shoes for 2025? Here I bring you my top six picks. I love this shoe, but they've seen better days lol. Jul 7, 2025 · See our guide to the best rock climbing shoes of 2025, with reviews of the year’s top climbing shoes from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Evolv, Butora, and more. Miura VS are good all around shoes and will work great for both your sport climbing and bouldering. I've been climbing for about a year and a half now and I'm looking to buy a new pair of shoes (yay!). I've tried a number of different shoes, and each has had some issues: Sportiva Solution Comp (size 42EU). I would only recommend you buy shoes that you can try on, ideally from a climbing gym that will let you try on a pair and then go step on a hold. Additional Toe Rubber increases durability and toe-hooking capabilities, and an updated heel helps facilitate heel hooking. i mostly do bouldering indoors, but then again i just started so that could obviously change. These are a pretty basic shoe and have laces. I am looking for new shoes. 5US in regular shoes) and I love them. 9K subscribers in the climbingshoes community. It’s softer than Arpia and has a better range of attributes specific to indoor climbing, but loses that edge on smaller footholds that you will find on rock that the Arpia will be more capable of handling. Feb 28, 2022 · A comprehensive guide to the best bouldering shoes for no-ropes rock climbing based on features like stiffness, shape, style, and more. IMO, the futura is the best gym and general bouldering shoe ever made. Jan 11, 2022 · But for the types of hard, technical climbing that are most popular indoors and out (steep sport routes and overhung to vertical bouldering problems), this model has broad support as the best rock climbing shoes available. These were our favorites. Personally think it looks nice and Velcro closure is really nice to have for between climbs. Aug 5, 2024 · Here is a breakdown of 12 climbing shoes we’ll be seeing at the Olympics, by event, and why they’re a popular choice. Not in terms of thinness, but in toe splay - or lack of. Jan 22, 2025 · These are our favorite picks for rock climbing shoes, whether you're bouldering, sport climbing or trad climbing. This is because im softer shoes the structure and the sustain of the shoe is given for the majority by the feet constricted in it, while on stiffer models the sustain is given by the feet but also by the shoe rigidity. Need shoes, been doing a good amount of bouldering and indoor climbing. If you mean how they would perform, or is they are durable enough for outdoor climbing, that would be a valid question. I currently climb in la sportiva finale in a 6. In this article, we’ll define bouldering vs. Skwamas are also versatile shoes that I like a lot for bouldering. I got my first pair (scarpa vapor v's) for a fantastic price from a friend who bought them but decided they didnt like climbing. Have been climbing for Nov 30, 2022 · Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves short, difficult routes, climbed without a rope. In fact, there are so many that it’s hard to know which ones are the best climbing shoes that you should buy. There are so many different options of climbing shoes to choose from. I aim for a shoe I can use both, but this will be my very first shoe. Soft shoes for high end bouldering? Both. That being said, it's perfectly adequate, and I really do think the shoes are a great deal. Have been looking at a first climbing shoe to get as a beginner (V4), to progress in and wondering if the LS Tarantula Boulder shoes are any good in the bouldering gym? This is an odd one - went rock climbing today and discovered the shoes are pretty painful for someone wearing ‘barefoot’ shoes constantly for years. Climbers boulder outdoors, on natural boulders and cliffs, and inside on artificial walls at climbing gyms. My girlfriend got Scarpa Veloces and they are insanely sticky and excellent at pretty much any terrain (compared to rentals). 3 days ago · It’s a great time to be a rock climber. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. 691 votes, 162 comments. Mar 10, 2025 · The best climbing shoes just keep getting better. I've tried on everything at REI and found that my heels were getting rubbed raw from standing on my toes to test flexibility. Has anyone seen any barefoot style ‘wide’ climbing shoes that follow a proper foot shape? I know this isn’t the convention for climbing but darn it was tough to squeeze my foot Reddit's rock climbing training community. It's been a good experience, they are really comfortable and versatile for both climbing and short rock routes. 5-2 from street, good amount of stretch for the leather version) sportiva theory (1-2 sizes down), accommodates very easily cause of how soft they are) sportiva testarossa (-1 size) sportiva genius (-1) scarpa mago (pre ‘22 redesign, -1 size) evolv phantom lv (street size) tried on and seemed to fit well at a level of tightness I expect to work well LaSpo miuras for moderate to steep sport, skwamas for bouldering! LaSport is the best IMO, they fit my feet well (they are wide). 5US). 10 Asym's. So before committing it's a good idea to get to a place to try some on. The only reason where I ever actually felt a difference was leading 11d+ after a really good sweat. A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. Allow me to share some of the latest and greatest bouldering shoes, combined with a few time-tested classics, that will rock your world. All the little features and such won't make a difference when you get started anyway. Is there anything i have to consider since I plan to do alot of outdoor climbing in the future? Shop for Climbing Shoes at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Apr 10, 2022 · With the rise of bouldering gyms worldwide, especially in big cities, it’s essential to look at what bouldering exactly is and how it relates to rock climbing. Have a pair of each for what you need and when you need it. Check out our posts for advice and reviews. The only thing I'm not totally satisfied with is the rubber on the Momentum. Let's save you from the mistakes that most first-time buyers make. Pretty much the only shoe that fit semi-comfortably, due to my wide, flat Hobbit-esque feet. It looks like you are interested in climbing shoesplease check out this extremely thorough post about purchasing climbing shoes by u/jzunn here. The way the rubber wraps over the toe means the shoe will last forever, mine are more than 6 years old and everything but the toe is falling apart. Make sure your heels are able to stay in the heel cups. I'm looking for some new climbing pants. But boulder problems can also involve slab climbing on thin holds and smears that require However, I have special socks for climbing that are very thin and made from synthetic material (some people also use ballerina socks or runner's socks). I tried a madrock lotus and found them had too much material, it was It’s the first purchase I would make in terms of climbing, besides a membership at a gym lol Reply reply LiveMarionberry3694 • I got shoes when I got a membership, but a large part in that was because my gym was running a special where you get a harness, shoes, chalk bag etc. I read many people destroyed their first shoe quickly. Jan 2, 2024 · Climbing shoes aren't cheap, and dedicated climbers can wear through more than a few pairs a year. Apr 16, 2025 · So we thought we’d compile a list of our favorite sport climbing shoes—the shoes that our editors and testers choose to climb in when we’re not testing new shoes. Edit: Talked to a dude at the gym, tried on several different pairs of shoes before finally getting a pair of 5. com Apr 16, 2025 · For over a decade, our climbing experts have tested over 75 shoes side-by-side to bring you the most comprehensive climbing shoe review in existence. They have broken in now and are pretty comfortable but one thing I would note is that different shoes will feel good for different things. I ordered it true to my street shoe, and it still fits snug while allowing comfort. Read on for our 2025 picks from La Sportiva, Scarpa, and more! I'd just go into your nearest REI/store with climbing shoes, try on a bunch, and buy one that fits perfectly (online or in store). ioyunzuxxdodrhtwhstwejhvvycstfsohnpbgqtxoshwmpxmhkmzywrpqry